Why do you need to make pets vomit? Although vomiting is one pet symptom that indicates sickness, there are times when your beloved fur baby needs to regurgitate something he’s eaten. Find out how and most importantly, why, you should make pets vomit here.
Make Pets Vomit | How To Do It & Why
Be Cautious—Know When To Make Them “WHOOPS”
It’s true that our pets vomit more efficiently than many other critters in the wild. Usually, we consider vomiting to be a symptom of illness and not something to be encouraged. There are times. However, that pet vomiting can save the life of a dog or cat.
Poisons and foreign objects can make dogs and cats very ill or even worse, cause death. Swallowed objects can cause traumatic damage to the esophagus or stomach. If the pets don’t naturally vomit in these instances, it’s up to pet parents to make sure they empty their stomachs of toxic substances.
However, there are other situations where vomiting may cause more problems. Caustic substances can burn going down as well as when they come back up. Also, some plant poisons cause throat and tongue swelling, which makes it dangerous to induce vomiting. Finally, the item must be in the right position in the stomach for vomiting to work, so timing is critical. Once it’s too far into the digestive tract, other options are needed.
What’s Safe To Vomit
It’s important to know which substances can be expelled back out through your pet’s throat and mouth. These won’t cause swelling or burning in the throat. If your pet swallows any of the following items, you can induce vomiting without any fear of causing more damage to their internal organs.
Plants:
- Belladonna
- Datura
- Henbane
- Jessamine
- Jimson weed
- Crown of thorns
- English ivy
- Daffodil
- Tulip
- Wisteria bulbs
- Foxglove
- Larkspur
- Lily of the valley
- Monkshood
- Oleander
- Holly
- Lily
- Rhubarb
- Walnut Hulls
- Yew
Toxins:
- Antifreeze
- Baker’s chocolate
- Coal-tar products (phenol disinfectants, Lysol, treated wood, fungicides, tar paper, photographic developer)
- Flea products (if swallowed)
- Lead (paint, ceramics, linoleum, golf balls)
- Pain medicine (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
- Other medication
- Pest baits (strychnine, vitamin D, warfarin, arsenic, bromethalin, cholecalciferol, metaldehyde, phosphorus, sodium fluoroacetate, zinc phosphide)
Foreign Objects:
- Any non-sharp, non-metal object (if swallowed within past two hours; the stomach empties into the intestines after that, and vomiting won’t help).
What’s Dangerous To Vomit
On the other hand, some plants and substances could do more harm if they’re forced out through the mouth. They could burn the trachea or cause internal swelling and bleeding. These items should be removed surgically or through other means with help from a vet.
Plants:
- Azalea
- Caladium
- Dieffenbachia
- Philodendron
- Jerusalem cherry
- Mother-in-law’s tongue
Toxins:
- Acids (bleach, drain cleaners)
- Alkalis (ammonia, laundry detergent)
- Petroleum products (motor oil, gas, turpentine, paint, paint thinner, paint remover, lighter fluid, kerosene)
Foreign Objects:
- Sharp objects
- Metal objects (coins, batteries, etc. must be surgically removed, and pet must be given chelating drugs to remove poisons)
How To Make Pets Vomit
In many cases, going to the veterinarian may still be the best option, since they have options for more efficiently inducing vomiting. While cats seem able to puke on their own with no problem, they can be challenging to force when the need arises. There are tips you use to make pets vomit more efficiently at home.
Give Them Some Food
That seems counter-intuitive, but offering a meal helps to dilute the poison and delay its absorption. When your pet has swallowed a solid object, food can also help pad any edges. Also, it’s much easier to get a cat or dog to upchuck when the stomach has something in it.
Offer Hydrogen Peroxide
Hi, my name is jack and while mom was out I ate four chocolate donuts so now she’s pouring hydrogen peroxide down my throat and waiting for me to vomit. I’m such a good dog. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/JrtNnn5PZH
— Amy the Christmas Grinch (@badwoolfe) November 8, 2017
Give 3% hydrogen peroxide with an eyedropper, syringe without a needle, or even a squirt gun or turkey baster. The liquid tastes foul and foams. Hydrogen peroxide usually gets dogs to vomit in about five minutes or so. You can repeat this dose two or three times, with five minutes between doses. Give 1 to 2 teaspoons of peroxide for every 10 pounds that your pet weighs. Only try one time with cats, or else you’ll just hiss them off. It’s better just to take your cat to the vet if one dose doesn’t work.
Try Some Syrup
Syrup of Ipecac is useful for dogs but not for cats. Ipecac takes longer to work than hydrogen peroxide, though, and the dose should only be given once. Give one teaspoon for dogs less than 35 pounds, and up to a tablespoon for larger dogs.
Salt The Tongue
When nothing else is handy, you can try putting table salt on the back of the dog’s tongue. Only give one teaspoonful at a time for little pups or a tablespoonful for adults. Repeat in three minutes if the first dose doesn’t work.
Knowing why and how to make pets vomit can be a lifesaver. Watch Dr. Justin Lee show how to induce vomiting in your dog:
Call the veterinarian for further instructions after the pet has emptied their stomach. If you can’t make pets vomit after a couple of tries, prompt veterinary care is even more important. In cases of suspected poison, take a sample of the vomit with you to the veterinarian to analyze and offer an antidote or other follow-up measures.
Have you tried to make pets vomit? Share your experience to use in the comments section below.
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