Which emetic is used to induce vomiting in dogs and is administered as a tablet placed in the conjunctiva?

• A. Methadone
• B. Apomorphine
• C. Hydrocodone
• D. Codeine

Answer: (B)

Apomorphine is the veterinary emetic used to induce vomiting in dogs, and it is commonly given as a small tablet placed in the conjunctival sac. The conjunctival route allows the drug to be absorbed quickly through the eye’s mucosa and into the systemic circulation, where it stimulates dopamine D2 receptors involved in triggering the vomiting center (the chemoreceptor trigger zone) to produce reflex vomiting. This makes it a rapid and reliable method specifically for dogs.

The other substances listed are opioids that are not used as standard emetics through this route. While opioids can cause nausea or vomiting as a side effect, they are not employed to reliably induce vomiting in dogs, and they aren’t formulated as conjunctival tablets for this purpose.