My Dog Ate Rat Poison: What Should I Do Next? (2023)

FAQs

My Dog Ate Rat Poison: What Should I Do Next? ›

What to do if a dog eats rat poison? If you suspect your dog has swallowed rodenticide call your vet or, out of hours, your nearest pet emergency service immediately. Rat poisoning in dogs is an emergency that can't wait until morning.

The antidote to anticoagulant rodenticide is vitamin K1, a prescription drug. This can be given via injection or by mouth to increase the vitamin k1 levels in the body and prevent bleeding. Depending upon the timing since ingestion and signs, hospitalized care may be needed. Fluids may be administered intravenously.

Less common signs include vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood), nose bleeds, bruising, bloody urine, swollen joints, inappetence, and bleeding from the gums. Your pet will die in 3-5 days after eating these baits. Luckily there is an antidote IF we see your pet in time.

How Much Rat Poison Does It Take to Kill a Dog? Dr. Aubrey Tauer, DVM MPH and Head Veterinarian of AnimalBiome stresses that "even a small amount can be very dangerous." One block of anticoagulant rat poison per 2lbs of your dog's weight is how much rat poison it would take to make your dog sick.

There is no antidote if a dog has swallowed rat poison with either cholecalciferol or bromethalin. Hospitalization is likely in both cases with IV treatment. Dogs that have swallowed cholecalciferol will also be treated to reduce calcium levels.

Rat and mouse poisons, also known as rodenticides, are products formulated to kill rodents. The chemicals used in these products are often highly toxic to dogs and can cause internal bleeding, kidney failure, organ damage and even death if eaten by your dog.

No. Milk is unlikely to be helpful in the vast majority of poisoning situations and can sometimes make things worse. Most pets are lactose intolerant and giving milk can cause or worsen stomach upset symptoms.

Signs may include bleeding from the gums, blood in the stool (or black tarry stool), blood in the urine, lethargy, weakness, coughing, shortness of breath, seizures, difficulty walking and potentially sudden death.

Affected dogs show signs 30 minutes to 4 hours after ingesting the poison. Initially affected dogs become anxious and have an elevated body temperature. Panting is usually seen. Progressively they become worse and staggery.

If your pet has ingested a poison, try to rinse or wipe out the mouth with a damp towel/flannel. Do not give your pet anything to eat or drink before speaking with the Animal Poisons Helpline or a vet.

What do you give a dog when they eat poison? ›

If the ingestion is caught early it should be treated by inducing vomiting, giving activated charcoal, and supportive care. Bloodwork is indicated to find out the level of the calcium and monitor how it progresses.

There are no drugs to reverse the effects of non-anticoagulant rat poisons like bromethalin, strychnine, or zinc phosphide. Supportive care may include IV fluids and treatments for specific symptoms.

In studies with rats for example, 89% of the dose left the body within 4 days. However, as time progresses, bromadiolone tends to leave the body at a much slower rate. The half-life during this second stage has been reported to be as long as 170 days.

The recommended dosage of activated charcoal for dogs is 1–3 grams per kilogram of body weight. Repeated doses of activated charcoal every 4 to 8 hours at half the original dose may be indicated when the body recycles the toxin back into the intestine via enterohepatic circulation.

The good news is that this type of rodenticide has a high survival rate when treated quickly. In one study, 98.7% of dogs survived.

Q: Is mouse poison safe for dogs? A: No. Tomcat bait blocks should be kept out of reach from dogs (and children). Always use a dog-resistant bait station for the highest level of security, such as the Tomcat® Rat & Mouse Killer Refillable Bait Station - Advanced Formula.

To treat a dog who has eaten rat poison, a veterinarian will: Induce vomiting within two hours (ideally at a veterinary hospital, but you can do it at home with several teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide).

Antidotes are agents that negate the effect of a poison or toxin.

If you don't know what poisoned your dog, be aware that your vet is not able to test for every possibility, but blood tests may help determine the source. Some poisons, such as antifreeze and certain rat poisons, have antidotes, so whenever that's the case your vet will administer the antidote as soon as possible.

Some common symptoms to watch for include foaming at the mouth, lethargy, shaking or unusual movements, upset stomach, unusual swelling, pale gums, or behavioral changes. If you notice your dog displaying any of these symptoms, or if you suspect your dog ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian immediately.

How do you flush a dog's stomach? ›

For dogs, raw and whole meals are good options. Organic meals, natural vegetarian sources, and even biodynamic foods are perfect! Foods like beetroots, carrots and even shredded coconut would work towards detoxifying your dog's gut! This food can clean out your dog's digestive system and prevent indigestion.

Bromethalin poisoning causes swelling of the brain while anticoagulant rodenticides poisoning prevents the dog's blood from clotting, which results in severe and uncontrollable bleeding. They also require immediate therapy.

The antidote is simply Vitamin K.

Blood transfusions may be needed to stabilize a patient who has suffered significant blood loss. There are different classes of anticoagulant rodenticides and they remain in the body for several weeks.

If you buy a first-generation rodent poison, it will usually take about seven days for the rodent to die. The reason is that the lethal dose takes multiple feeding sessions. A second-generation poison can kill the rodent from internal bleeding in two to three days. It has a faster efficacy rate.

The truth is that no rodenticide will cause rats or mice to leave a structure after consuming it. Rats do need to drink water, but the last thing on a rats mind after it has consumed a lethal dose of anticoagulant will be to go for a stroll down to the local rodent watering hole.

The lowest average lethal dose of bromethalin for dogs is 2.38 mg/kg, meaning a 10-pound dog could die from ingesting 5 small cubes of bait — not an uncommon feat.

Rat poison is usually blue in colour and often smells appealing to encourage rats and mice to eat it. Although it is often placed in plastic bait boxes these are easily broken by an average sized dog. Several types of poison are available, but all work by causing internal bleeding.

For anticoagulant rodenticide toxicity, the typical dose is 1 to 3 mg per pound (2 to 6 mg/kg) daily. This is usually split and given in two or three equal doses over the day. Vitamin K1 treatment must be continued for as long as the rodenticide is present in the body.

In summary, activated charcoal is a safe and effective treatment for dogs that have ingested toxins or poisons.

Medicine (activated charcoal) to absorb any remaining poison (activated charcoal may be given only if it can be done safely within one hour of poison ingestion). Laxatives to move the poison through the body more quickly. Medicine (antidote) such as vitamin K to reverse the effect of the poison.

What vitamin is the antidote for rat poison? ›

Vitamin K1 is used because it is absorbed early in the GI tract and concentrates directly in the liver which is where the K-factors are activated. It is only Vitamin K1 which should be considered to be the antidote for anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning.

Clinical signs of poisoning in a dog may include: Gastrointestinal signs: vomiting, diarrhea, extreme salivation, loss of appetite, and nausea or dry heaving. Internal bleeding: indicated by pale gums, a racing heart, coughing up or vomiting blood, weakness or lethargy, or a dog's falling over or collapsing.

FIRST AID FOR PET POISONING

If you see or suspect your dog has eaten toxic foods or substances, induce vomiting immediately (but only if the dog remains conscious). Take a sample of the vomitus or feces if available to help the doctor be sure of the diagnosis.