How to Make a Dog Throw Up Quickly and Safely

If your dog ingests a potentially toxic substance, knowing how to make them throw up quickly and safely can seem like a critical skill. However, inducing vomiting should never be done lightly or without proper guidance. While it may help in certain situations, doing it incorrectly or at the wrong time can cause severe harm to your pet.

How to Make a Dog Throw Up Quickly and Safely?

Vomiting is generally only beneficial within a narrow window of time after ingestion — ideally within 1 to 2 hours. After that, the substance may already have passed into the intestines, rendering vomiting ineffective.

Moreover, some substances are corrosive or can cause more damage if vomited. For example, products like bleach, caustic cleaners, or hydrocarbons (like gasoline) can burn the esophagus or cause aspiration pneumonia when vomited. Likewise, sharp objects may injure the gastrointestinal tract on the way back up.

The most commonly recommended home emetic is 3% hydrogen peroxide, at a dose of approximately 1 mL per pound (2.2 mL/kg) of body weight, with a maximum of 45 mL. Hydrogen peroxide irritates the gastric lining and typically causes vomiting within 10–15 minutes.

The dog should be walked around gently after administration to increase the chances of emesis. If vomiting doesn’t occur after one dose, a second dose may be considered, but only under veterinary supervision. Giving too much hydrogen peroxide can lead to gastritis, ulceration, or in rare cases, aspiration pneumonia.

It’s crucial to remember that not all dogs are candidates for emesis. Dogs showing signs of neurologic impairment (tremors, seizures, depressed consciousness), those that have already vomited excessively, or dogs with respiratory distress should never be made to vomit. Additionally, brachycephalic breeds, like Bulldogs and Pugs, are more prone to aspiration and should be handled with extra caution.

Even if vomiting is successfully induced, follow-up veterinary care is often necessary. In many poisoning cases, activated charcoal, IV fluids, bloodwork monitoring, or even hospitalization may be required to prevent complications.

In short, acting quickly is important, but you should always call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline first. They can guide you on whether emesis is safe and appropriate for your specific situation. Trying to make your dog throw up without this guidance can turn a bad situation into a life-threatening one.

Scientific References:

1. Khan, S. A., McLean, M. K. (2012). Toxicology of commonly encountered xenobiotics in dogs and cats. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 42(2), 315–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2011.12.005
   

2. Dorman, D. C., & Lavach, J. D. (2000). Hydrogen peroxide as an emetic in dogs: efficacy and safety. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 216(5), 643–646. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.216.643

About the autor

Felipe Garofallo is a veterinarian in Brazil, specialized in orthopedic and neurosurgical care for dogs and cats. He is also the founder of Ortho for Pets – Veterinary Orthopedics and Specialties.