Hydrogen Peroxide Dose to Induce Vomiting in Dogs
The vet-recommended 3% hydrogen peroxide dose by body weight — gated behind a mandatory safety checklist. This is not a shortcut around your vet.
STOP — CALL A VET OR POISON CONTROL FIRST
Inducing vomiting is dangerous and sometimes fatal. Do NOT induce vomiting if your dog has swallowed any of the following — vomiting will cause severe damage on the way back up:
- Caustic substances — bleach, drain cleaner, batteries, detergents, oven cleaner
- Petroleum products — gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, lighter fluid
- Sharp objects — bones, glass, needles, plastic shards
- More than 2 hours have passed since ingestion
- Your dog is unconscious, lethargic, seizing, or struggling to breathe
- Your dog is a brachycephalic breed (Bulldog, Pug, Boxer, Pekingese, Frenchie) — high aspiration risk
📞 Call first:
- • ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (fee may apply)
- • Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
- • Your nearest 24-hour emergency vet
This calculator only gives a dose IF a veterinary professional has told you to induce vomiting at home. Use only fresh, in-date 3% hydrogen peroxide — never higher concentrations.
Formula: 1 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of body weight, never exceeding 45 mL total. Source: ASPCA, Merck Veterinary Manual.
Your dose
Enter your dog's weight and tap Calculate dose.
How it works
The vet-accepted home dose is 1 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide per pound of body weight (roughly 2.2 mL per kg), capped at 45 mL total regardless of how large the dog is. Larger doses do not work better and increase the risk of esophageal injury.
After dosing:
- Walk the dog gently — movement helps the peroxide foam and trigger vomiting.
- Vomiting usually begins within 10–15 minutes.
- If no vomiting in 15 minutes, the dose may be repeated ONCE — never a third time.
- Whether or not your dog vomits, get to a vet. Decontamination at home is the start, not the end.
If at any point your dog has trouble breathing, collapses, or vomits blood: stop and call emergency.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is hydrogen peroxide safe to induce vomiting in dogs? +
It can be — but only under veterinary direction and only with fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide. Inducing vomiting at home is dangerous if the dog has swallowed caustic, sharp, or petroleum-based substances; in those cases vomiting causes more damage on the way back up than the substance did going down.
What percentage of hydrogen peroxide should I use? +
Only 3% hydrogen peroxide, the kind sold at drugstores. Never use higher concentrations (food-grade 35%, hair-bleach grade) — they can cause severe chemical burns to the mouth, esophagus, and stomach.
When should I NOT induce vomiting? +
Do not induce vomiting if the dog swallowed caustic substances (bleach, drain cleaner, batteries), petroleum products, sharp objects, or if more than 2 hours have passed since ingestion. Also avoid in unconscious, seizing, or brachycephalic (Bulldog, Pug, Boxer) dogs because of aspiration risk.
How fast does it work? +
Vomiting usually starts within 10–15 minutes. Walking the dog gently can help. If nothing happens in 15 minutes, a single repeat dose can be given — but only one. If still no vomiting, stop and get to a vet.
What if my dog doesn't vomit? +
Do not give a third dose. Go to the vet — the dog still needs decontamination, and they can use apomorphine, which is far more reliable and safer than continued peroxide.
Can I use salt, mustard, or syrup of ipecac instead? +
No. Salt can cause life-threatening sodium toxicity. Mustard is unreliable. Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended in veterinary medicine. 3% hydrogen peroxide is the only over-the-counter agent that is currently recommended — and only under vet direction.
Related tools & reading
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