True or False: If your pet ate something toxic, you should make them vomit.

Answer: False.

NEVER make your pet vomit after they eat something toxic unless your veterinarian has advised you to do so. 

While it may seem like a good idea to act quickly and make your pet vomit, there are many instances when it can do more harm than good and can be quite dangerous. If your pet has consumed a product like gasoline, kerosene or brake fluid, making them vomit can cause aspiration pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs caused by an inhaled material), resulting in respiratory distress. Corrosive products such as drain cleaners or lime-away cause corrosive damage going down—and coming back up—by burning the esophagus. If your pet is already showing signs of poisoning (e.g., incoordination or having seizures, etc.), inducing vomiting may be too late and could cause aspiration pneumonia. 

The best thing you can do is contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (1-888-426-4435) explaining the type of toxin, the amount and how long ago it was ingested. With this information, they can advise you whether or not you should induce vomiting before bringing your pet into your veterinarian. If inducing vomiting is indicated, it is important to not delay going to the veterinarian where safe and effective products can be given to stimulate vomiting. 

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