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My dog swallowed a stuffed animal. Should I use hydrogen peroxide?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 75 lbs

My lab swallowed a very small stuffed animal. Should I make him throw up with hydrogen peroxide?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Catherine Stecyk

Veterinarian

Published on April 23rd, 2019

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If it has been under 2 hours since he ate the small stuffed animal, I would recommend inducing vomiting with hydrogen peroxide. You can give 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds, so if Barney weighs about 70 pounds, this would be 7 teaspoons. You can use a turkey baster to get it in his mouth. If he doesn’t vomit within 15 minutes, you can give him another 4 teaspoons and see if this works. Do not give any more than this total amount. If he still does not vomit, I recommend bringing him to a veterinarian who can use injectable medication to induce vomiting. The biggest concern with ingestion of a toy is an intestinal obstruction or blockage, which is a surgical emergency. If you cannot get him to a veterinarian now, I recommend watching for signs of obstruction including vomiting, lethargy, decreased appetite, drooling, etc. If you see these signs, he should be seen, and your vet may recommend x rays to look for evidence of an intestinal blockage. Also, monitor his feces for the next 1-3 days to look for the toy. I hope this is helpful!

8Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on May 3rd, 2017
I don't recommend inducing vomiting at home. That's because hydrogen peroxide, which is what is used to induce vomiting, can and does cause gastritis and esophagitis often worse than the original problem. In addition, the foreign body could be lodge in Guy's esophagus or he could aspirate it, leading to an emergency situation which you cannot treat on your own. If you are concerned that the plastic piece is too big for him to pass, take him into a vet now. The vet can safely inducing vomiting with a shot. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on April 25th, 2020
Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Ebi. Poor girl! More than likely, this will pass without problem. Do not induce vomiting, as these plastic pieces could do damage to her esophagus on the way out. Monitor her for now. If you see vomiting, diarrhea, blood in her poop. lethargy, or a loss of appetite, then I would take her into the vet. I hope this helps!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Stephanie Echols, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 27th, 2017
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It will likely pass because it is soft and small. I would not recommend making him vomit. You should see it in his feces in the next 24-48 hours. If he starts vomiting, having diarrhea, or acing lethargic, I would have him seen by a vet. In the meantime, I would throw away the toy and I would not give him another stuffed toy until he learns to not destroy it. My dogs never learned that so we just don't have stuffed toys! I recommend Nylabones and Kong toys for chewing. Good luck and kisses to Bennett!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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