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My dog ate rat poison. Should I induce vomiting at home or go to vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 11 years old | 80 lbs

My adult lab chewed on a rat poison block, I got it out immediately, but tiny pieces of it broke apart from it. I wiped her tongue and teeth right after but should I give her something to induce vomiting ?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 19th, 2016

Oh no poor Sophie! Definitely induce vomiting using 3% hydrogen peroxide at the dose of 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds. Repeat every 15-20 minutes, up to three times, until Sophie vomits. If she doesn't vomit after doing this three times, get her into a vet right away. Even if she does vomit, I would still take her into the vet right away. She will need activated charcoal to prevent absorption of any toxins still in her stomach, and she will need vitamin K injections to enable production of blood clotting factors.

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    Answered By Christie Long, DVM

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on

    You should take Sophie to an emergency vet and have them induce vomiting there. Doing so at home is quite problematic - hydrogen peroxide can cause fairly severe gastritis (stomach inflammation) and esophagitis (esophageal inflammation) and can sometimes cause worse problems than the original one. Take her in right away, and they can give an injection - apomorphine -which will immediately and easily induce vomiting.And they can also give activated charcoal to absorb any of the poison that made it into the small intestines, and then start Vitamin K tablets to help counteract the poison. Take her in now to get the appropriate treatment.

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