Worked out in partnership with US veterinary guidelines (ASPCA, AKC, Merck). If a vet has told you to induce vomiting at home, use this tool to get the exact safe dose for your dog's weight. Do not use without vet approval.
Never induce vomiting without vet approval. Some substances become more dangerous when vomited (sharp objects, corrosive chemicals, oily liquids). Some dogs shouldn't be made to vomit (brachycephalic breeds, already symptomatic, unconscious). Call first.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
Both operate 24/7 and charge a consultation fee. Worth every penny in a real emergency.
Answer these three questions honestly. If the answer to any is "no" or "I'm not sure" — don't induce vomiting. Go to the vet instead.
This includes: Pugs, Bulldogs (French, English, Boston), Boxers, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. These breeds have a high risk of inhaling vomit into the lungs (aspiration pneumonia) and should go to the vet instead.
By using this calculator you confirm you've read the warnings above.
3% hydrogen peroxide irritates a dog's stomach lining, triggering vomiting within about 10–15 minutes. It's the only at-home vomiting agent that's considered reasonably safe for dogs by US veterinary guidelines — but only when used correctly, on the right substances, and with vet approval.
The standard US veterinary dose is 1 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of body weight (or 1 teaspoon per 5 lbs), with a hard maximum of 3 tablespoons (45 ml) regardless of how large the dog is. For small dogs (under 10 lbs), always get specific vet instruction before dosing — the margin for error is small.
In any of these cases: go directly to the vet. They have safer emergency vomiting drugs (apomorphine for dogs) and can protect the airway if needed.
Only use 3% hydrogen peroxide — the standard brown-bottle first-aid solution from any US drugstore. Check the label carefully:
Hydrogen peroxide loses potency over time, especially after the bottle is opened. To test an older bottle: pour a small amount down the sink — it should fizz and bubble actively. If it doesn't fizz, it's expired and won't work.
The easiest and safest delivery method is an oral syringe or turkey baster — something with a nozzle you can insert into the side of your dog's mouth (between the back teeth and cheek). Lift the lip gently, insert the nozzle, and squirt the measured amount slowly into the cheek pouch so your dog can swallow naturally.
Don't squirt directly at the back of the throat — this can cause choking or aspiration. And don't try to "chase" your dog to give them the dose; stress makes aspiration more likely. If your dog fights you, stop and go to the vet.
Most dogs begin drooling heavily within 5 minutes, then start vomiting at 10–15 minutes. Vomiting typically lasts 20–45 minutes and produces 3–5 rounds. The initial vomit is often foamy white (stomach fluid plus hydrogen peroxide foam) followed by actual stomach contents in the next rounds. This is normal.
Call your vet immediately if:
Even a successful at-home vomiting session isn't the end of the emergency. Vomiting typically removes only about 50% of what's in the stomach — the rest is already absorbed or has moved into the intestines. Your vet may still need to:
Treat at-home vomiting as step 1 of the emergency, not the whole emergency.
Post-ingestion hospitalization (IV fluids, blood work, charcoal, overnight monitoring) typically runs $800–$3,000 even without surgery. Pet insurance covers most of it — if you had the policy before the incident.
Learn about vet costs & insurance →No. Salt vomiting is an old-fashioned home remedy that can cause severe salt toxicity, electrolyte imbalance, brain swelling, and seizures. Multiple US veterinary sources (ASPCA, AVMA, AKC) explicitly recommend against it. Use only 3% hydrogen peroxide, and only with vet approval.
Mustard and baking soda rarely work and aren't reliable. Syrup of ipecac was historically used but is now considered unsafe — it can cause prolonged vomiting and cardiac issues. Modern US veterinary guidance specifies 3% hydrogen peroxide or vet-administered apomorphine only.
Call a poison hotline first — ASPCA on (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Both are staffed 24/7 by veterinary toxicologists who can triage based on what your dog ate, when, and your dog's health. The consultation fee is worth it. Only induce vomiting yourself if you have no way to reach a vet or poison line and the substance is known to be safe to vomit.
Puppies under 6 months, dogs under 5 lbs, and very old dogs are higher-risk for aspiration pneumonia. Go to the vet for induced vomiting in any of these cases rather than doing it at home.
Chocolate is on the safe-to-induce-vomiting list, but first use our chocolate toxicity calculator to check if the dose is actually dangerous. Small amounts of milk chocolate in large dogs often don't require vomiting. The calculator will tell you if you need to act.
Generally no — after 2 hours, most substances have moved past the stomach and into the intestines. Vomiting at that point is painful, ineffective, and risks aspiration. Your vet may have other options (activated charcoal, IV fluids, specific antidotes) depending on what was eaten.
Yes — apomorphine is a prescription injectable that vets use in the clinic. It's faster (acts within 2–5 minutes), more reliable, and easier to control than hydrogen peroxide. If you can get to the vet quickly, that's always the better option. Hydrogen peroxide is the at-home backup when the vet is unreachable.
Dosing and safety guidance on this page is compiled from:
Doses are general guidance — individual dogs vary, and the specific substance ingested changes whether vomiting is appropriate at all. When in doubt, always call your vet or a poison hotline before acting.