by Megan Kingsley

Created on: June 15, 2009   Last Updated: June 16, 2009

Let's face it, sometimes dogs get into things they shouldn't. When this happens, it's wise to know what to do, particularly if your dog has swallowed something toxic.

Upon noticing what has or may have been swallowed, contact your veterinarian at once. Depending on what was ingested and time of ingestion, you may be able to make the dog vomit before or instead of seeing the vet; or that may be the wrong approach. If more than an hour has passed since ingestion, if the substance is unknown, is a caustic or petroleum product, is a choking hazard, or the dog is already in distress or is choking, you need to get to an emergency vet clinic immediately. Do not waste time attempting to make your dog vomit at home.

One of the safest ways to induce vomiting in a dog is with hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to purchase the 3% hydrogen peroxide, instead of the higher-strength for hair coloring use. 3% peroxide is widely available, and can be found inexpensively at any pharmacy. Usually it is packaged in a brown bottle to protect the contents from light. The label will say the product is toxic, but it is relatively safe for this purpose.

Another item you may wish to have on hand is an oral syringe. These can be purchased at farm stores, pet supply stores, pharmacies or vet clinics. Visit with your vet about what size to have on hand for your pet. Generally, you want a syringe capable of holding at least 25-30 ml or cc of liquid for a medium-sized dog. Getting foul-tasting liquid down the dog is far easier with a syringe than with a spoon. In a pinch, a turkey baster will work, but you'll need to premeasure the dosage.

Every month or so, test your peroxide for freshness. Put a little in your mouth and swish it around before spitting. If it doesn't fizz, throw it out and replace the bottle. Only fresh peroxide is effective. If your dog is fussy about having his mouth handled, get him used to that now. Smear some peanut butter on your fingers, open his mouth, and rub the peanut butter along his gums. Repeat every few days at random times until he no longer resists. Fill your syringe with chicken broth and 'dose' the dog a few times so he becomes accustomed to the procedure and does not always associate the syringe with foul tastes and an ill feeling. These simple precautions can save valuable time in an emergency.

Keep your hydrogen peroxide and oral syringe, spoon, or turkey baster in an easy-to-find area away from light, and tape a label on the side of the bottle noting

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