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In this lesson, we're going to discuss whether or not you should induce vomiting in your pet following the ingestion of a toxic substance. We'll also go over how exactly you can induce vomiting in your pet, if your vet or Animal Control has given you clearance to do so.

At the end of the lesson, we'll provide you with a Word about some of the everyday items you carry around with you that may dangerous to your dog or cat, including items you may not consider dangerous at all.

If your dog or cat ingests a toxic substance, it may be important for you to induce vomiting as soon as possible to avoid further absorption or digestion of that toxin. However, it's important to understand that inducing vomiting isn't always recommended in every situation.

Pro Tip #1: For that reason, we advise you to contact Animal Poison Control or your local veterinarian for guidance on whether or not you should try to induce vomiting. And in case you didn't get the number from a previous lesson – ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline: 1-888-426-4435. Remember to put this into your contact information part of your pet first aid kit.

If You are Recommended to Induce Vomiting

Pro Tip #2: If vomiting is recommended for your pet by either your vet or Animal Poison Control, and you are more than 10 to 15 minutes away from the nearest veterinarian facility, you still want to ensure that your pet is breathing normally, isn't depressed or overly anxious, and is fully conscious before attempting to induce vomiting.

How to Induce Vomiting

Items you'll need to have on hand, meaning in your pet first aid kit, are 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and a syringe or turkey baster. Then simply follow the steps below.

  1. Get your items from your pet first aid kit and measure out your dose, which is 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide per 10 pounds of your pet's body weight and put it into the syringe or turkey baster.
  2. Hold your pet firmly and squeeze the hydrogen peroxide into the side of your pet's mouth. This should get him or her to swallow the liquid easier.
  3. Once you've given the dose of hydrogen peroxide, transport your pet to the nearest veterinarian facility, while also monitoring your pet to see if he or she does vomit.

Pro Tip #3: Your pet should vomit within 15 minutes, but this isn't always the case. If your pet doesn't, you can repeat the dose once more, ideally while in transit so as to not lose any more time.

If two doses of hydrogen peroxide do not prove successful in inducing your pet to vomit, by now you should be getting closer to a veterinarian facility, and once there, they will have the proper medications that should help induce vomiting. Otherwise, your pet may need to have his or her stomach pumped.

A Word About Pet Dangers We Carry with Us Everyday

The number of everyday items we all lug around that may be toxic for your pets may surprise you. Think about the items you carry in your bag, purse, or backpack each day – those sweets for the afternoon doldrums, medications, car keys, hand sanitizer, cell phones, and so much more.

Now ask yourself, while also looking into your bag, which of these might be toxic to my pets? Any ideas?

Well, pet expert Cara Armour can help you figure out which of your daily items are toxic to pets, in an important blog article she wrote for the ProPetHero blog: The Pet Dangers We Carry with Us Everyday.

Your pets may be at risk without you knowing it, especially if you have pups or kittens that tend to be more curious than older dogs and cats. The good news is that you've learned about many poisons or toxins that you should keep away from your pets in this course.

The top five items you should store as safely as you can include:

  • Chocolate
  • Xylitol (remember to check ingredient labels)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Prescriptions and over the counter medications
  • Asthma inhalers

Asthmas inhalers apparently smell appealing to pets and kind of look like chew toys, but when it comes to puppies, what doesn't look like a chew toy? The problem is that if your pet gets into your inhaler, the repercussions can be quite serious.

While you now know the items to store more safely in your purse, bag, or backpack, we probably all would agree that accidents still happen. If you follow that link above to the full article, Cara also shares with you what to do if your pet does get into your bag and accidently ingests or is exposed to a toxin or poisonous substance.