Tips to make your pup vomit if he swallowed a foreign object
It can be terrifying to find out your dog swallowed something he shouldn’t have — whether he got into the Halloween candy or scarfed down something inedible — but learning how to make a dog throw up can turn a scary situation into a close call. First things first, you should always call your veterinarian if you suspect your pup ingested a foreign object. Then, you can take advantage of one of these at-home techniques for inducing vomiting if your vet gives you the go-ahead. Contents
Learning how to make a dog throw up shouldn’t be taken lightly, even if you feel confident you know what you’re doing. Swallowing foreign objects can lead to many complications, so you want to make sure you won’t make the situation worse. This is another reason your vet should be your first phone call. Heres how to make a dog throw up–safely and at home.
My dog ate a sock – and it came out the other end!
Socks are, for the most part, indigestible. If they make it out the other side they’ll do so largely unharmed, and unabsorbed. But this doesn’t mean you should leave your dog’s digestive system to it when it happens.
In fact, this indigestible quality is why socks are so dangerous in the first place. Digestive systems, our own or our dogs, dissolve everything into a malleable paste so it can pass freely through the intestines, and nutrients can be easily absorbed. The intestines are therefore not equipped to manage anything that holds its shape such as an item of clothing.
This is bad news for a dog, as a sock might become lodged in this area. The health implications of this occurrence are disastrous, and we’ll go into this a little later. First, for anyone asking ‘my dog ate a sock what do i do?’ lets look at what course of action you should take if your dog swallows a sock.
What if you’re not sure if your dog ate a sock?
Not sure if your dog ate a sock, or swallowed something else? Because some types of items are difficult to see on an x-ray, and because dogs sometimes swallow things without their owners realizing it, your veterinarian might elect to take a look at the stomach with an endoscope. “Sometimes, I go down there with a scope because I think they have bowel disease or chronic inflammation, and I say, ‘Oh! Look, there’s a ball down here!’” Dr. Diehl says.
One outcome you really hope to avoid is an intestinal obstruction, where the sock lodges somewhere in the intestines, causing a blockage. An obstruction is serious and it requires surgery to remove the item. The tricky thing about intestinal obstructions is you might not realize your dog has one if you didn’t actually witness him swallowing a sock or something he shouldn’t.
How to induce vomiting in your dog | Dr Justine Lee
Our family are proud owners of an 8-month-old puppy who, like most young dogs, seems to get into everything. The pup has gotten into a hair tie once, and swallowed socks twice. I learned from previous experiences that if a dog swallows something inappropriate, giving them some oral hydrogen peroxide will get them to vomit fairly soon. The second time the dog ate a sock was two days ago and he didn’t vomit so hopefully he will be OK. Can you comment on doing that and how much to give?
The other question I have is about how toxic a bullfrog is to a dog, especially if they ingest the frog. My son called me the other day freaking out and swore he saw the dog with a bullfrog in his mouth but wasn’t sure if he ate it. The dog seems fine so hopefully nothing more will develop.
It is quite common for dogs to eat all sorts of things around the house and socks are a common item to ingest. A sock can get stuck in the stomach or intestines and require abdominal surgery to remove it if either inducing vomiting or retrieval with an endoscope are unsuccessful.
If your dog ingests something that can safely be vomited provided it is not sharp or caustic, 3% hydrogen peroxide can be given safely. Doses published vary from one teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight up to one teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight, but I prefer one teaspoon per 10 pounds. Do not exceed 3 tablespoons even if a dog is over 50 pounds. One can start at a low dose and repeat one or two times to get the dog to vomit but not more than that.
If you are sure the dog swallowed the object, and it does not come up, then veterinary evaluation is indicated. Are you sure the puppy ate the second sock? If so, and it hasn’t come up or out, then you should have the puppy seen. Most importantly, make sure all family members are mindful of what is left lying around that the dog might swallow.
As for the bullfrog, some frogs and toads can be very toxic to dogs. Toads are typically a greater risk than frogs since they secrete stronger toxins. If the dog ate a toxic amphibian, signs might have included foaming in the mouth, vomiting, neurological manifestations like a seizure or paralysis, and more. If your pup is fine, then my guess is he didn’t eat the frog, or it was luckily a non-toxic species. If a dog has such an animal in their mouth, it is always wise to flush out the mouth with fresh water being careful not to let the dog swallow the water being used. Hopefully your pup will stop putting everything in his mouth soon but for now, get him some more things to put in his mouth that are safe.
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.