How to Make a Dog Throw Up

First, if you can get your dog to a veterinary clinic quickly and safely (yours or an emergency vet), do that instead of inducing vomiting at home. Call a pet poison help line, too. Provide them with as much information as possible, including your dog's body weight, breed and health status, as well as what he swallowed, how long ago and how much. The hotline can advise you if it is safe to induce vomiting based on that information.

Once you know it's safe to make your dog throw up, and there's no risk of something like aspiration pneumonia, there are still several things to know.

First, experts agree that hydrogen peroxide is the safest way to induce vomiting in a dog, so, it's the only method we'll cover here. This common household substance can cause vomiting by irritating a dog's digestive tract. If it works, it should remove about half the contents of the dog's stomach in about 15 minutes.

Again, call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline for guidance. If your dog hasn't eaten in the last couple of hours, feeding him a small meal may help induce vomiting. Make sure your dog is as comfortable as possible; they may vomit for as long as 45 minutes.

If the dog throws up, collect the vomit, both to keep your dog from eating it (yes, gross!) and to take it to your veterinary hospital for examination. Watch your dog for adverse reactions, including excess vomiting for more than 45 minutes, diarrhea, lethargy or bloating. Be aware also for difficulty breathing, which can be caused by aspiration pneumonia.

Consider having pet-safe liquid respiratory supplements on hand in your first aid cabinet to soothe your dog's throat after inducing vomiting. Call your vet for further advice when the dog is finished vomiting.

Again, being prepared for emergencies beforehand is useful. Keep a bottle of unopened, 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution with your first aid supplies. A new bottle of hydrogen peroxide will be far more effective than an old, opened bottle, which could be flat.

Here's when you should almost never induce vomiting:

Seeing a veterinary professional is always the best choice if you can get your dog to one quickly and safely. The Pet Poison Helpline lists several other times when you should head to the vet instead of inducing vomiting:

So why would you want to induce vomiting in the first place? Well there are specific things dogs can't eat, but they still do. Foods like chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins and avocados, as well as foods containing xylitol, are all toxic to dogs. But you should still be OK inducing vomiting if your dog eats them, as long as he isn't exhibiting symptoms of a seizure or another emergency.

But you should also keep in mind other things, like plants, that are toxic to dogs. Even if you do not have them in your home, your dog may encounter them — and eat them — outdoors. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a comprehensive list of plants to avoid.

And never use human remedies or solutions to induce your dog to vomit. Solutions that include foods like salt, mustard, olive oil, bread and milk aren't necessarily bad for dogs, but they can make the situation worse. And never stick your fingers down the dog's throat, either.