Use Caution When Administering Hydrogen Peroxide to a Dog
It is essential that you consult a veterinarian before giving your dog hydrogen peroxide. There are many cases when it can cause more damage and even be fatal.
Do NOT administer hydrogen peroxide to dogs that:
If you are unsure, play it safe and ask your vet or contact the ASPCA poison control number at 888-426-4435 (a $65 consultation fee applies). They should give you directions.
Which Type of Hydrogen Peroxide Should I Use on My Dog?
Hydrogen peroxide, as the name implies is simply a liquid composed of hydrogen and oxygen (H2O2). It comes in different concentrations, some of which can be potentially toxic to dogs.
The correct percentage to induce vomiting in dogs is the 3% solution. This means it contains 97% water and 3% hydrogen peroxide. Most household peroxide sold at stores in the brown bottle is 3%, but it doesnt hurt to double-check!
You may be alarmed to read on the label that hydrogen peroxide is toxic. Before second-guessing your vets recommendation to use it on your dog, understand that veterinarians report that it is safe to use for this purpose. According to veterinarian Dawn Ruben, because of the fact that the internally administered hydrogen peroxide is vomited up and does not remain in the body, it is safe to use.
Note: Until recently, hydrogen peroxide was thought to be an effective treatment for wounds. However, research has shown that this can damage cells that are needed for healing. So if you keep hydrogen peroxide in your pet first aid kit, it should be only there to induce vomiting.
Veterinarians often cringe when pet owners find information (or shall I say “mis-information”) on the Internet. Unless it comes from a reputable source, please be smart about what information you use when it comes to medical treatment of your dog or cat (or kid or family member!). That said, I want you to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff, so you can provide the best care for your pet. As a toxicologist, I see a lot of accidental poisonings in dogs and cats. That’s because common household items can be really dangerous to your pets (like grapes, raisins, chocolate, human medications, pain medications, chemicals, etc.). With that, I see people trying all different methods to induce vomiting in their dog or cat. Some methods can be life threatening. Some methods can be dangerous. Some methods can make your pet worse. And some just plain don’t work. So, when it comes to trying to induce vomiting in your pet, please take heed! If your pet got into something poisonous, you always want to call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center first. Why? Because sometimes you can cause more injury or harm if you induce vomiting when it’s not appropriate.
Again, always check with your veterinarian or an animal poison control center first prior to inducing vomiting. Sometimes it can be too late or can cause more harm if you induce vomiting inappropriately. Cat owners should be aware of the following: There’s nothing you can safely give to CATS if they’ve eaten something poisonous. Products like salt, mustard, syrup of ipecac, and hydrogen peroxide aren’t safe to give in cats, and you need to seek immediate veterinary attention if your cat ate something poisonous. Your veterinarian has more effective drugs called alpha-adrenergic agonist drugs to help induce vomiting. So, for dog owners, just how much hydrogen peroxide do we give? Keep in mind that you can give too much which can result in bloody vomiting and uncontrollable vomiting. You always want to use the correct amount. In general, the dose of hydrogen peroxide in dogs is approximately 0.5 – 1 ml per pound weight. If your dog weighs 50 pounds, you can give 25 – 50 mls of fresh, non-expired hydrogen peroxide orally, once. Keep in mind that 15 mls = 1 tablespoon (or 5 mls = 1 teaspoon), so this would be approximately 1.5 – 3.5 TBSP. When in doubt, make sure you check with your veterinarian first. Always be safe and never rely on Dr. Google alone!