Rat bait toxicity in dogs
Rat bait (rodenticide) is unfortunately a common cause of dog poisoning. It’s often stored in the home or shed. It is put down and subsequently forgotten about…until of course you find your pup feasting on it.
These poisons are designed to kill rats by stopping the bloods ability to clot normally. It affects the vitamin k levels, leading to uncontrollable bleeding. It’s also very palatable so that it can attract rats. It comes as no surprise that your hound can sniff it out and want to eat it. They can have the same catastrophic effect on your buddy as they do on the rat.
Pets are usually poisoned by eating the rat bait directly however, there is also the potential of poisoning after eating a rat that has eaten the rat bait. As some vitamin k is stored in the body, signs of poisoning are usually not seen for two – five days, when the vitamin k stores have run out. This is really important to be aware of because your mate will look absolutely fine immediately after they eat it – but chances are they are not.
Signs of rat bait toxicity include:
- quiet demeanour
- weakness
- seems cold
- coughing (possible bleeding in the chest)
- signs of bleeding externally- from nose, in urine or faeces
- pale gums.
If you even suspect your dog may have eaten the smallest amount of rat bait you need to seek urgent veterinary advice immediately. Ideally, your pet needs to be seen within an hour.
Prevention is key – find other alternatives to rat bait or ensure the bait is completely inaccessible to your pets. Also, you need to be careful on how you dispose of the poison. Always have it well sealed before going in the bin.
