A dog’s penchant for eating anything that catches his fancy can increase his risk of eating substances that are poisonous. In most cases of poisoning, it is best to make the dog vomit because most poisons will take a few hours to be fully absorbed from the digestive tract. Induced vomiting is usually useful for up to 2 hours after consumption.

To induce vomiting, give the dog some mustard or very salty water, making sure that he swallows it. Some veterinarians recommend placing some washing on the back of the dog’s tongue. Washing soda is different from caustic soda or washing powder. When giving solutions to your dog, make sure that the fluid is swallowed and does not reach the lungs for this can only lead to serious complications.

Pet owners should take note, however, that there are cases of poisoning when inducing a dog to vomit is not recommended, such as when the dog has swallowed a caustic substance, which can only damage the throat when it is forced back up. In all cases of poisoning, make sure to contact your Fort Collins, CO veterinarian with exact details of the poison as well as the quantity consumed by your pet.