Hold the hydrogen peroxide

When it comes to patients, clients can never know what their pet can help themselves to, especially when it is dropped on the floor or left on the counter, causing a potentially toxic situation. However, there are scenarios not entirely the pet’s fault that could also be dangerous, such as accidentally giving the wrong medication or ingesting food that is fine for humans but toxic to pets.

For some pet owners, the first thought when realizing the possible toxic situation their pet is now in is to induce vomiting, but Pet Poison Helpline experts are recommending calling a professional before trying anything at home.

"Many pets are motivated by food, especially dogs, so when something is dropped or left on the floor, they assume it is edible" explained Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of veterinary medicine at Pet Poison Helpline. "We've had many pet owners who call us because they've dropped or given their pet the wrong medication. Dogs are also curious by nature, and explore new things with their mouths, often leading to unfortunate ingestions. If your pet does have an accidental poisoning, you may cause more harm by inducing vomiting on your own."

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Pet Poison Helpline shared a recent case where the pet owner accidentally gave her dog her human cancer medication and once she realized her mistake, she had her dog drink a ‘dangerous’ amount of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. While the pill was retrieved, the dog had continued to vomit and not eat and the hydrogen peroxide did significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal system. Luckily, the pet was treated with medication and returned to full health.

According to the release, in certain situations, dogs are the only animal that may be able to have a vomiting attempted at home with hydrogen peroxide because if given to other species, like cats and birds, it can be fatal. Even in the case of dogs, negative effects can occur so veterinary professionals need to make sure their clients know to never attempt to induce vomiting without consulting a veterinary professional or Pet Poison Helpline.

In a Pet Poison Helpline case from Pennsylvania, an owner called after his Sheltie ate some raisins before his owner could stop him. Grapes, raisins, and currants are toxic to dogs, and even the smallest amount of these foods ingested can cause severe, acute kidney failure.

"Fortunately, the owner called Pet Poison Helpline before trying to induce vomiting at home,” Schmid said. "We were able to walk him through the process of administering the correct amount of hydrogen peroxide, and he was able to safely retrieve the raisins before they caused any harm."

Hydrogen peroxide is a legitimate treatment that can be lifesaving for pets, but it is always more ideal for induced vomiting to be done by a veterinary professional. Each installment of Pet Poison Helpline's Toxin Tails features a case where the pet featured makes a full recovery from the poisoning.

Reference

1. If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic, Hold the Hydrogen Peroxide. News release. Pet Poison Helpline. April 9, 2025. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/if-your-pet-eats-something-toxic-hold-the-hydrogen-peroxide-302423659.html