You just found a torn chocolate wrapper on the floor, and your dog is looking guilty. When your dog eats something they shouldn't, panic sets in fast. Your first instinct might be to make them throw it up immediately, but that's not always the right call.
The most important step? Call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline right away.
Emergency Contacts:
Your veterinarian (always the first call)
ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661
What to Do First If Your Dog Eats Something Toxic
Before you do anything else, take a breath. Panicking won't help your dog, but quick, calm action will.
Step 1: Identify what they ate. Check the packaging if possible. Note the product name, active ingredients, and approximate amount consumed.
Step 2: Estimate when it happened. Was it 10 minutes ago? An hour? This matters because inducing vomiting is only effective within about 2 hours of ingestion.
Step 3: Call your vet or poison control. Describe exactly what your dog ate, how much, when it happened, and your dog's weight. They'll tell you whether to induce vomiting, come in immediately, or monitor at home.
Step 4: Follow their instructions. The wrong decision (making your dog vomit when you shouldn't, or waiting when you should act) can cause serious harm.
You might not always witness the moment your dog gets into something. Sometimes you find the evidence later: a chewed-up pill bottle, an empty candy bag, or a suspicious pile of vomit. Even if you're not sure what happened, call your vet. They can help you assess the risk based on symptoms and circumstances.
When Vets May Recommend Inducing Vomiting
Generally, your vet may recommend inducing vomiting if your dog ate something toxic within the last 2 hours and is alert and conscious.
The goal of inducing vomiting (known medically as emesis) is to remove the toxic substance before it gets absorbed into your dog's bloodstream. Timing matters here. Once something passes from the stomach into the intestines, vomiting won't help.
Your vet may advise inducing vomiting if your dog recently ingested:
Chocolate (especially dark or baking chocolate)
Grapes or raisins
Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum, candy, and some peanut butters)
Certain medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antidepressants)
Rat poison or rodenticides
Antifreeze (if caught very early)
Toxic plants (sago palm, azaleas, tulip bulbs)
Even if your dog ate something on this list, don't induce vomiting without talking to a vet first. The specifics matter: the type of chocolate, the amount of xylitol, your dog's size. Your vet can quickly determine the actual risk level.
When You Should NOT Make Your Dog Throw Up
Do not induce vomiting if more than 2 hours have passed, if your dog ate something caustic or sharp, or if they're showing neurological symptoms.
Making your dog vomit at the wrong time can cause serious, even life-threatening, complications. Here's when you should skip inducing vomiting and head straight to the vet:
More than 2 hours since ingestion: After about 2 hours, the substance has likely moved from the stomach into the intestines. Vomiting won't bring it back up, and you'll just be putting your dog through unnecessary stress.
Caustic or corrosive substances: If your dog swallowed drain cleaner, bleach, oven cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, or batteries, do NOT induce vomiting. These substances can burn the esophagus on the way back up, causing severe damage.
Sharp objects: Glass, plastic shards, bones, needles, or anything with pointed edges can puncture or lacerate the esophagus during vomiting. These require veterinary removal, often via endoscopy or surgery.
Petroleum products: Gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, and similar hydrocarbons are dangerous if inhaled into the lungs during vomiting. This can cause a serious condition called aspiration pneumonia.
Neurological symptoms: If your dog is lethargic, disoriented, having seizures, or appears comatose, do not attempt to induce vomiting. They may not be able to protect their airway, increasing the risk of choking or aspiration.
Brachycephalic breeds: Dogs with flat faces (Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs) have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia due to their airway anatomy. Your vet may recommend alternative decontamination methods.
Pre-existing conditions: Dogs with megaesophagus, laryngeal paralysis, or recent abdominal surgery should not have vomiting induced at home.
Already vomiting: If your dog is already throwing up on their own, there's no need to induce more vomiting. Focus on getting them to a vet for supportive care.
How Veterinarians Induce Vomiting in Dogs
If you can get to a veterinary clinic, that's always the safest option. Vets have access to medications that are more effective and easier on your dog's stomach than home remedies.
Apomorphine is the most commonly used medication to induce vomiting in dogs. It's given as an injection or placed in the eye (where it's absorbed through the conjunctiva). According to a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, apomorphine successfully induces vomiting in about 94% of dogs, typically within 15 minutes.
Clevor (ropinirole) is an FDA-approved eye drop that causes vomiting in about 95% of dogs. It's a newer option that some clinics prefer because it's easy to administer and doesn't require an injection.
After your dog vomits, the vet may administer activated charcoal. This isn't the same as charcoal for grilling. It's a specially processed powder that binds to toxins in the digestive tract, preventing absorption. The toxin attaches to the charcoal and passes through the intestines without entering the bloodstream.
Depending on what your dog ate, they may also need:
IV fluids to support kidney function and flush toxins
Blood work to monitor organ function
Medications to protect the stomach lining or control symptoms
Overnight observation for serious ingestions
Getting to a vet is worth the trip. Even if inducing vomiting is successful, your dog may need additional treatment. Emergency toxin treatment typically costs $300-$3,000 or more depending on the substance ingested, how quickly you act, and whether hospitalization is needed.
Emergency At-Home Method: Hydrogen Peroxide
Only use this method if directed by a veterinarian or poison control, or if you absolutely cannot access veterinary care.
If you're in a remote area, it's the middle of the night, and you can't reach any veterinary professional, 3% hydrogen peroxide can be used to induce vomiting in dogs. But this should be a last resort, not your first choice.
Hydrogen peroxide works by irritating the stomach lining, which triggers vomiting. It's not gentle. Studies show it can cause inflammation and even ulcers in the stomach. But in a true emergency where the alternative is letting a toxin absorb, the benefit may outweigh the risk.
Important: Only use 3% hydrogen peroxide, the kind sold at pharmacies for first aid. Never use higher concentrations (like hair developer) or "food grade" hydrogen peroxide, which can cause severe tissue damage.
Hydrogen Peroxide Dosage for Dogs
Dog Weight | Dosage |
5-10 lbs | 1-2 teaspoons |
15-20 lbs | 3-4 teaspoons |
25-35 lbs | 5-7 teaspoons |
40-45 lbs | 8-9 teaspoons |
Over 45 lbs | 3 tablespoons maximum |
The formula: 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight, up to a maximum of 3 tablespoons (45 ml) regardless of your dog's size.
How to Administer
If your dog hasn't eaten recently, offer a small amount of food first. Having something in the stomach makes vomiting more productive.
Measure the correct dose using a kitchen measuring spoon.
Use an oral syringe or turkey baster to squirt the hydrogen peroxide into the side of your dog's mouth, between the back teeth. Avoid squirting directly down the throat, which can cause choking.
Walk your dog around gently. Movement helps the hydrogen peroxide mix with stomach contents and stimulate vomiting.
Wait 10-15 minutes. Most dogs vomit within this window.
If no vomiting occurs after 15 minutes, you can give one more dose. Do not give more than two doses total.
If your dog still doesn't vomit after two doses, stop and go to the vet. Additional hydrogen peroxide won't help and will only irritate the stomach further.
Stay with your dog during and after vomiting. Don't let them re-eat what they've thrown up.
Even if vomiting is successful, you should still contact a vet. Hydrogen peroxide typically only removes about 40-60% of stomach contents, so some toxin may remain. Your dog may need activated charcoal or other treatment.
What to Expect After Your Dog Vomits
After your dog vomits, whether at home or at the vet clinic, expect some lingering effects.
Vomiting may continue for up to 45 minutes. The hydrogen peroxide continues to irritate the stomach for a while, so don't be alarmed if your dog has multiple episodes of vomiting after the initial dose.
Some stomach irritation is normal. Your dog may seem uncomfortable, drool, or act nauseous for a few hours afterward.
Withhold food for 2-4 hours after vomiting stops to let the stomach settle. Offer small amounts of water to prevent dehydration, but don't let them gulp large quantities, which can trigger more vomiting.
Reintroduce food gradually with a bland diet: boiled chicken (no skin or seasoning) and plain white rice. Feed small portions for 24-48 hours before transitioning back to regular food.
Collect a sample of the vomit if you can. This might seem unpleasant, but it helps your vet confirm what came up and whether further treatment is needed.
When to Seek Emergency Care After Vomiting
Contact your vet immediately if you notice:
Blood in the vomit (bright red or dark, coffee-ground appearance)
Vomiting continuing beyond 45 minutes
Lethargy or weakness
Difficulty breathing
Collapse or loss of consciousness
Diarrhea with blood
Symptoms of the original toxin (tremors, seizures, rapid heart rate)
Even if you feel your dog fully emptied their stomach with the induction of vomiting, still see your vet. It’s an important measure that can catch issues you might not recognize. For example, I’ve seen a dog that ate rotten compost that contained a neurogenic mycotoxin, which is a toxin that affects the neurological and muscular systems. They induced vomiting at home and thought everything was fine until the dog showed up with tremors a few hours later. The pup required a couple of days in intensive care until he became stable enough to walk again. Had the owners brought him in immediately after inducing vomiting, further treatment by veterinary team may have ended the story sooner and with less stress to the dog.
Methods You Should Never Use
Some home remedies for inducing vomiting are outdated, ineffective, or outright dangerous:
Salt: Giving your dog salt to induce vomiting can cause sodium poisoning (hypernatremia), leading to tremors, seizures, and even death. Never use salt.
Ipecac syrup: This old-school remedy can cause serious heart complications, including abnormal heart rhythm and dangerously slow heart rate. It's no longer recommended for pets or humans.
Sticking fingers down the throat: Dogs don't have the same gag reflex as humans. This doesn't work, it's traumatic for your dog, and you risk getting bitten.
Olive oil: This can cause pancreatitis and doesn't reliably induce vomiting. If your dog does vomit after olive oil, they're at higher risk for aspiration pneumonia.
Higher-concentration hydrogen peroxide: Concentrations above 3% can cause severe burns to the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Only use pharmacy-grade 3% hydrogen peroxide.
What About Cats?
There is no safe way to induce vomiting in cats at home. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to cats and can cause severe internal damage.
While hydrogen peroxide irritates the stomach lining in dogs enough to trigger vomiting, it has a much more dangerous effect in cats. It can cause severe hemorrhagic gastritis (bleeding and inflammation of the stomach) and can actually kill healthy tissue in the stomach and esophagus, a condition called necrosis.
If your cat ingests something toxic, take them directly to a veterinarian. Don't wait. Don't try home remedies.
Veterinarians use different medications to induce vomiting in cats, such as xylazine or dexmedetomidine, which must be administered in a clinical setting.
For more information, see our complete guide: How to Induce Vomiting in Cats
When in Doubt, Call Your Vet
If your dog eats something toxic, call your vet or poison control first. Always. They can assess the specific situation and tell you exactly what to do. Inducing vomiting isn't always the right answer and doing it at the wrong time can cause serious harm.
At-home methods like hydrogen peroxide should only be used when you can't access veterinary care and the clock is ticking on a known toxin. Even then, follow up with a vet as soon as possible.
The best approach? Prevention. Keep medications, toxic foods, and household chemicals stored securely out of your dog's reach. But when accidents happen (and they do), knowing what to do and what not to do can make all the difference.
Cost to Induce Vomiting in Dogs
Emergency vet visits for toxin ingestion can be stressful and expensive. These are some estimates of costs from 2025.
Service | Estimated Cost (2025-2026) |
Emergency Exam Fee | $150 – $250 |
Professional Emesis (Apomorphine/Clevor) | $100 – $300 |
Activated Charcoal & Decontamination | $150 – $400 |
IV Fluid Therapy (per 24 hours) | $300 – $800 |
Diagnostic Blood Panels | $200 – $500 |
Overnight Hospitalization/Monitoring | $600 – $1,500+ |
Pet insurance can help cover the cost of unexpected poisoning emergencies, diagnostic tests, hospitalization, and follow-up care, so you can focus on getting your dog the help they need. Whether it’s Tylenol ingestion or your dog ate a sock, you’ll be glad you have Embrace ready to help!