How To Make A Dog Throw Up? Is It OK To Make Your Dog Throw Up?

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Marissa Prizio attended the University of New Hampshire and earned a bachelor's degree in biomedical Animal Science. Marissa has always enjoyed writing; she was even mixing literature classes into her science major in college. During her writing career, she has edited eBooks, written for a variety of websites, and created audio-visual courses for sustainability.

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Updated on: 05/09/2022

Dogs can be very intelligent companions, but most of them are not very clever when it comes to consumption. All dog owners have experienced the horror of discovering that their pet has swallowed a foreign object or toxic food item. Once they swallow something they shouldn’t have, the focus quickly shifts to wondering how to make a dog throw up.

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Inducing vomiting may sound simple at first since it can be easy to do with humans, but canines are a bit more complex. You also need to consider whether induced vomiting is going to help or hurt your pup since it can make some situations even worse. Here is everything you need to know about induced vomiting in dogs so you can make the best choice for your pet’s health in an emergency.

When it is a good idea to help a dog throw up?

Inducing vomiting is not a cure-all but it can be the best solution to certain situations. Your first priority should be attending a veterinary hospital or at least getting in contact with your vet. Even if vomiting is the best option, you should never induce vomiting without the supervision of a vet.^[1] ^[2] This form of treatment for accidentally ingested toxins is best managed with immediate medical attention.

If despite your best efforts, veterinary care is too far away, your vet may walk you through how to make a dog throw up safely. Having pet vomit as a treatment that may be used if your pet got into the medicine cabinet and ate prescription medicine, consumed rat poison, or ate a toxic food item.^[3] If dogs vomit these toxins up before they can be digested, then they are less likely to suffer the effects of toxicity.

Depending on what your dog ingested and how long ago the dog ate a threatening item, vomiting may do more harm than good.^[1]

When it is a bad idea to help a dog throw up?

Even if you make a dog throw up properly there are still scenarios where it can cause additional harm. The risk involved with vomiting is dependent on what your dog ingests and their body.

Certain items can cause excessive damage if they are forced back up the esophagus through induced vomiting.^[1]These items generally include sharp objects, like glass, bone shards, and hard angular fragments of plastic. It is bad enough that these items went down into a pup’s intestinal tract, but having them come back up, coupled with the force and contractions associated with vomiting, can cause internal lacerations that are difficult to treat. In such scenarios, veterinary advised treatment and possibly surgery are the only options, no at-home remedy is equivalent.

Photo by Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash

A corrosive chemical is just as dangerous as sharp objects when it comes to vomiting.^[1] While the ingestion of items like antifreeze and other acids is hard on the stomach, they can be twice as damaging if they are put back in contact with your dog’s throat through vomiting. This can severely damage your pet’s upper digestive tract, including the tongue and will only make matters worse. Veterinarians have special protocols for handling corrosive toxins.

It is also bad to help a dog throw up if they have any form of restricted airway or breathing issues. This is generally specific to brachiocephalic breeds like pugs or boxers since they have a greater risk of experiencing aspiration pneumonia after vomiting.^[1] Even if this causes a toxin to be expelled, it can result in a new life-threatening condition, so it is best to treat pups with breathing issues or short airways with veterinary guidance.^[5]

Another group of dogs who are at risk of the increased harm from vomiting includes those who are unconscious, delirious, or not fully responsive. This may result from a seizure or the effects of an ingested toxin. Regardless of why your dog is not in a fully alert state, they should not be made to vomit.^[1] Vomiting in such a state is likely to cause aspiration pneumonia in any breed or can cause them to choke. Pets in such a condition require immediate medical attention.

How to induce vomiting using Hydrogen Peroxide

If you search how to make a dog throw up, you will likely find the most literature favoring hydrogen peroxide. Most pet owners have retained this information to some extent, and it is their first thought when their pet ingests something problematic. The American Kennel Club recommends administering one teaspoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide per 5 pounds of your dog’s weight to induce vomiting.^[1] You will need to squirt this between your dog’s back teeth to help them ingest it, as it is not very palatable.

This recommendation should be verified by your vet’s office before being administered because hydrogen peroxide can be a harmful substance and damage a dog’s stomach if higher concentrations are used or if too much is administered.^[4] In some cases, a second dose may be recommended by your veterinarian, but if your using more than 3x hydrogen peroxide, there is a reason for concern.

Pet owners can be best prepared for this emergency by having an accurate record of their pup’s body weight, a plastic dosing syringe, and their veterinarian’s number easily accessible.

How to Make a Dog Throw Up Without Hydrogen Peroxide

There are plenty of internet recommendations for learning how to make a dog throw up without hydrogen peroxide, but no recommendation is as trusted as that of a veterinarian who knows your pet’s history. If your vet recommends that you make your pet throw up using 3% hydrogen peroxide and you do not have any, don’t improvise.^[2]

Instead, you should act fast and get your pet to a vet as soon as possible. Once there, your dog can be monitored, be made to vomit safely and even receive aftercare like IV fluids.^[1]

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How to Induce Vomiting in a Dog?

When dogs eat toxic substances, they may start vomiting on their own. This can be a best-case scenario for foreign objects or toxins that do not pose a threat to your pet when they come back up in dog vomit.

If your dog doesn’t expel toxic substances they have consumed on their own, it is generally time to induce vomiting. This is best done at an emergency clinic where proper veterinary care can be administered; however, they may be cases where acting on time can save your dog’s life, and a veterinarian may recommend you make your dog throw up at home.

Provide your veterinarian with a description of what was ingested, your pet’s current body weight, and any reactions to the currently occurring substance.^[4] This will help your vet decide what to do next and how to advise you. It may also help to have a small meal on hand in case it is recommended that you feed your dog prior to vomiting, as this can help them vomit and bring up toxic substances.^[1] You should also be prepared for a feeding schedule consisting of a bland diet for a few days after such an ordeal to help your dog’s stomach heal.

FAQ

Is it OK to make your dog throw up?

Pet parents should never make their dog throw up without the guidance of a vet. Regardless of what your pup ingested, you should attempt to attend or contact a veterinary clinic for appropriate treatment.

Can you make a dog throw up with your finger?

Dog owners may think that triggering the gag reflex is the easiest way to induce vomiting in a dog; however, that would be incorrect. A dog’s mouth is much different than a human’s, and they do not have a gag reflex. Trying to use your finger will not help and may even hurt your pet or result in someone getting a bit.^[2]

How do you make a dog throw up with salt?

You should never attempt to make your dog throw up using salt or salt water. If your pup ingests too much salt they may vomit, but it can also cause serious complications.^[2] Consult your veterinarian before attempting to make your pet vomit in any way for proper guidance and safe treatment.

Can baking soda make a dog vomit?

Baking soda may make your dog throw up, but it can also be toxic if ingested too much.^[6] Do not give your pet baking soda to help them vomit without a veterinarian’s supervision, which could result in worsening your pet’s condition rather than helping them.

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