the best option for wound care.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Induce Vomiting in Dogs
The one use for which we can recommend hydrogen peroxide, based on the science, is as an emetic – to cause vomiting in dogs.
In fact, this is veterinarians’ preferred way of inducing dogs to throw toxic substances up.
But you’ll still want to call your vet or poison control center first, to make sure inducing at home is appropriate.
Do not induce vomiting without checking.
Some items if thrown up with potentially cause choking or further damage if caustic.
Always speak to your vet to confirm before inducing vomiting.
H2O2 is still toxic in large quantities, and must be carefully dosed.
A 3% solution is effective in inducing vomiting in more than 90 percent of dogs. In those dogs, around 48 percent of ingested agents are recovered.
There are some side effects, but these are mild and self-limiting. This makes hydrogen peroxide often the best option for making dogs throw up.
So, if your dog has eaten something toxic, and you want to try getting it out, here’s how to make a dog vomit with hydrogen peroxide.
Simply get him to swallow some 3% hydrogen peroxide.
The amount of hydrogen peroxide you use is important. So how much hydrogen peroxide will you need to make a dog vomit?
Most vets say that you should stick to a 0.5-1 ml (depending on the size of your dog) dose of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of weight. Do not exceed 50 mL no matter what.
How long will it take to get your dog to vomit after it ingests hydrogen peroxide?
It may only take a minute or two, but it can be 20 or up to 40 minutes before she sends it all up again.
How to Make Your Dog Vomit Without Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide for dogs is by far the safest way to induce vomiting, even though you have to be careful doing it.
Most other ways to make your dog vomit without hydrogen peroxide can be dangerous – like putting a finger down her throat, or giving syrup of ipecac or salt.
Definitely don’t use caustic chemicals like drain cleaners to do this. Avoid petroleum and hydrocarbon distillates such as gasoline, which can be inhaled into the lungs.
Your best bet, if you have no hydrogen peroxide, is to call your local poison control center for pets. They can walk you through other options that you may have available to you.
But please consult a vet as soon as you can.
Under some circumstances, you can do more harm than good when inducing vomiting the wrong way or at the wrong time.
And if you give too much, you can also create additional problems.
Your dogs health isn’t something you should be experimenting with.
How to Clean Dog Ears with Hydrogen Peroxide
The jury is still out on whether or not hydrogen peroxide is good for treating ear infections and for keeping ears clean.
But, for the most part, vets advise going with a solution specially designed for cleaning ears, rather than using a homemade hydrogen peroxide ear cleaner.
If your dog has an ear problem, you need to take him to the vet. It might not be caused by what you think, and they will have the best solutions.
Some vets will tell you that hydrogen peroxide’s antibacterial qualities can help remove bacteria and it is relatively safe.
But because the solution quickly degrades to water after bubbling, it can also provide a moist environment inside the ear that allows bad bacteria to flourish.
Hydrogen peroxide may soften, but does not dissolve waxes and oils. Also, it does not kill infections as well as alcohol does.
Additionally, using too much or using hydrogen peroxide inappropriately can cause irritation to a dog’s skin.
Hydrogen peroxide for dogs does not kill dog ear mites.
Your best bet is to go to your vet and get medication specifically designed to treat your dog for ear mites.
If it looks like your dog may have an infection, you should see a vet for advice on what to use, and to make sure the ear infection isn’t a sign of something more serious.
How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Remove Your Dog’s Tear Stains
You may find that some people use hydrogen peroxide to remove tear stains on their dog’s faces.
That