Save Your Dog’s Life

We love our dogs! We love to give them gifts and do not need a special occasion to offer a favorite chew, a ride to their favorite place, or a new bed (or two or three). There is another gift that you can give your dog, however, that may be life saving and can be acquired with less than $1.00 and only a few minutes of your time. It is a gift that your dog, and you, will be grateful especially if you never use it. That is the gift of a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and the knowledge of how to use it to induce vomiting in the event of ingestion of a toxic substance.

Occasionally I get a phone call from someone whose golden retriever has eaten something it shouldn’t. This will not surprise anyone who knows golden retrievers. No matter how careful you are, no matter how cautiously you put potential dangers in a place that you are certain is out of reach, many golden retrievers will figure out how to reach it. I have seen dogs reach the top of a refrigerator, defying the beliefs of us silly humans that a dog is not going to climb on the kitchen counter. To some dogs, that looks like a fun new agility obstacle. To a cat, it’s an invitation and the stored item quickly will be moved to the dog’s level by a curious feline. Children and unwitting guests also can move things putting something dangerous in easy reach of your dog. Remember that pack of sugar-free, xylitol infused breath mints left on the end table? In a nutshell: stuff happens, and some of that stuff can be deadly. What do you do? This is no time to comb the internet looking for instructions especially since we know a great deal of what you find there is questionable at best. It also is not the time to wish you were better prepared, especially when preparation will cost you only a few minutes of time and less than $1.00. In many situations, the owner calls the vet and is then directed to call poison control. Upon reaching poison control you may be on hold for a time. The clock is ticking and you are getting increasingly more anxious. In reality, it may only be a few minutes, but knowing you are dealing with a potential life threatening emergency makes any delay nearly unbearable. You finally talk to someone at poison control, provide all the detail about the ingestion you can, and then are directed to try to get the dog to vomit. You will save precious minutes if you are prepared to do so. That means having a fresh, unopened, unexpired bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide where you can find it quickly. Attached to that bottle should be the directions and the equipment you need to use it properly. A few minutes of preparation now could save your dog’s life.

If you do not have an emergency kit for your dog, this could be a good start for one. For poisoning, a simple setup is to place that fresh bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a zip closure plastic bag. Include in that bag written instructions for dose, how to administer it, a measuring device such as a large oral syringe (no needle), and the number for poison control. (While you think of it, program that number into your phone now.) Put this bag in an easily accessible location where you always will be able to find it quickly. Think of it like a fire extinguisher. You need to get to it without losing time and need to always know where it will be and how to use it. Even if this does not seem like a challenge now, think about how you would feel if you found your dog cleaning up the remnants of a large chunk of bakers chocolate it found or a bowl of grapes. How clearly will you be thinking? What about someone else who might be in your house, perhaps a house sitter or mid-day dogwalker? It also is easy to grab to take along when you travel. Everything is together. This is the dog’s peroxide. It should stay sealed and be replaced by a new bottle when it expires. Your dog eats something it shouldn’t, grab the bag and everything is right there including directions to call poison control. BUT: Read on – there are times you absolutely should NOT use the peroxide to induce vomiting.

1. Make sure no more than two hours has elapsed since the ingestion. If in doubt or close to two hours or more, head directly to an emergency vet.

2. Call poison control right away and await their guidance. (Be prepared to make payment as there may be a charge). You will be given a case number. Write that down as it will help your vet continue treatment for your dog. In most cases you do have some time to act, so wait for directions from poison control.

3. Vomiting is not always the answer, but it is common enough to warrant having your kit with your peroxide bottle ready and knowing what to expect.

4. IF directed to induce vomiting, most likely you will be told to administer hydrogen peroxide at the dose of (for larger dogs) 1 Tablespoon per 15 lbs of dog weight, up to an absolute maximum of 3

Tablespoons. Do not exceed 3 Tablespoons regardless of dog weight. It is important to measure accurately, so a reliable measuring device such as a marked syringe is very helpful here.

5. The peroxide can be administered directly by gently squirting it into the back of the mouth, but do so carefully so the substance is not inhaled. Another approach is to soak a piece of bread with the appropriate dose and feed that immediately to the dog.

While that might seem more appealing than squirting peroxide in the dog’s mouth, there may be less control over how much the dog actually consumes.

6. Watch for vomiting. If no vomiting after 15 minutes, repeat the same dose of peroxide.

Ensure the dog does not again consume anything that is vomited.

7. If no vomiting occurs after the second dose, head to the nearest vet ER or your regular vet, whichever is closest. Do not administer more than 2 doses.

• The substance swallowed is caustic or corrosive as these do damage going down and a second time when they come back up. Such substances include petroleum products such as gasoline, lighter fluid, motor oil; corrosive chemicals such as drain cleaners, other cleaning preparations, or batteries, as a few examples. Also do not induce vomiting in the case of swallowing magnets.

• The dog is acting strangely and you think might have ingested something dangerous but you really don’t know what the problem is or what they might have swallowed.

• The dog already is vomiting, is lethargic or slow to respond, is having trouble swallowing, there are any changes in breathing or there is seizure activity or other disturbing signs such as tremors or hyperactivity.

• There are medical problems that would make vomiting too risky, such as brachycephalic breeds, or dogs with esophageal problems (such as megaesophagus), laryngeal paralysis, or collapsed trachea, as these increase the risk for aspiration (getting vomited materials into the lungs). • The item ingested is not toxic. This can wait for veterinary advice and, depending on the item, surgical intervention may be needed. Plenty of dogs have been known to eat rocks. Magnets are a particularly good example. They are not usually toxic but can cause damage to the intestinal tract and vomiting could compound the problem. Contact a vet promptly in such cases.

If no emergency services are available in your area, consider a televet visit. There are several services available and your vet may have a recommendation for whom to contact for after-hours care. Keep these numbers handy or programmed in your phone.

Prevention is always the best approach. But when that isn’t enough, remember to contact poison control first before proceeding with care for an accidental ingestion. Your time with them will be much more productive if you have on hand the 3% hydrogen peroxide and are prepared to use it if directed. It just may be the best gift ever for your dog.

Poison Hotlines and resources:

ASPCA 888-426-4435 https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animalpoison-control Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com