In the quiet corners of our homes, hidden away in cabinets and basements, there's a potential danger that could harm our beloved dogs: rat poison. Regardless of the reasons for using it, your dog's health and safety should always come first. Dogs are naturally inquisitive, and accidents can occur when rodenticides are involved.
The Call of Caution
If you're concerned that your dog may have ingested rat poison, take a moment to read through this guide to identify symptoms and learn how to prevent future accidents. In case of immediate concern, don't hesitate to contact Poison Control at 1-(800)-222-1222, the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661, or visit your nearest animal hospital.
The Four Deadly Poisons
The effects of rat poison can vary depending on the type ingested. Let's explore four common culprits, their symptoms, and the steps to take if your dog encounters them.
ACR (Anticoagulant Rodenticides)
Some brands containing ACR toxins are: JT Eaton, Bell, Generation, Final Strike, Rodex, Havoc, Talon
ACR prevents blood clotting, leading to internal bleeding. Symptoms may take 3-5 days to surface unless there's chronic exposure.
Common Symptoms:
- Lethargy
- Weakness/Collapsing
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing (with or without blood)
- Pale or bleeding gums
Treatment: A veterinary prescription of Vitamin K1 is the best treatment. Most dogs will need to take vitamin K1 for up to 30 days. Over-the-counter medications and food supplements with vitamin K1 are insufficient.
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3)
Some brands containing Cholecalciferol are: d-Con, Quintox, Bell, Montomco
This is one of the most dangerous types of poison as only a very small amount can be lethal. Cholecalciferol poisoning is expensive and difficult to treat. It is a challenging rat poison to treat among vets.
Common Symptoms:
- Lethargy and weakness
- Decreased appetite
- Increased thirst and urination
- Halitosis (noticeably bad breath)
- Tremors/shaking
- Possible kidney failure and death
Treatment
There is no specific antidote but for the best possible outcome, aggressive IV fluid injections will be necessary to flush out the kidneys and return the calcium levels back to normal. Animals will typically need to be hospitalized for up to a week.
Bromethalin
Some brands containing Bromethalin are: Neogen, Montomco, Bell
This type of poison causes brain swelling and unfortunately, does not have a specific antidote. Do not mistake this poison for an ACR (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, etc.). While the names look similar the treatment is NOT. Bromethalin poisoning does not work by clotting the blood so it cannot be treated in dogs with Vitamin K1. Symptoms typically develop within 2 hours but can take as long as 36 hours to notice.
Common Symptoms:
- Lethargy
- Anxiety
- Tremors/shaking
- Decreased appetite
- Impaired movement and coordination
- Paralysis of the hind legs
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Possible coma and death
Treatment
Possible treatments for this kind of poisoning include inducing forced vomiting, administering activated charcoal and an osmotic cathartic to release the dog’s bowels, and IV fluid flushing. Some medications may be prescribed by your vet such as anti-seizure medication and muscle- relaxants. Treatment can take up to several weeks.
Phosphides
Some brands containing Phosphides are: Prozap, Montomco
Typically used to kill larger creatures such as moles and gophers, this type of poison can also be dangerous to you and your family. While this is a less common poison, it does produce a toxic gas in the stomach of your dog that can potentially harm humans. If vomited in a non-ventilated area, inhalation of the toxic fumes can cause lung-irritations of all who inhale it.
Common Symptoms:
- Excessive drooling
- Stomach bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness/Collapsing
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Possible liver damage
Treatment
Cutting your dog off from all food is important after the ingestion of Phosphides because food consumption increases the production of toxic gasses in the stomach, therefore making the poisoning even worse. Immediate professional care should be sought out as there are no specific antidotes for this kind of poisoning. Other possible treatments include inducing vomiting, pumping the stomach, administering antacids, and IV fluid flushes.
How To Prevent Rat Poisoning
There are a few things you can do to prevent your furry friends from getting into the poison traps in the first place! Consider these precautionary steps before you decide if and where to use rodenticides.
1. Don’t use rat poison
There are a variety of other methods to practice safe rodent control that don't employ using rodenticides. If you want to avoid harming your pets, abstaining from rat poisons is the first step!
2. Put your rat and mouse traps somewhere your pets can’t get to
This is made a bit easier if you have a larger dog but when it comes to small dogs you have to get creative with your hiding spots. Put yourself in your dog’s position. If you can easily grab it with your hand, they can just as easily grab it with their mouths or paws.
3. Put your rat poison inside a cage
Make sure the cage is large enough for rats but too small for your dog and other pets.
4. Monitor your dog
Whether your dog is inside or outside, keep a close eye on your beloved pet. Dogs are very curious creatures looking to get their paws into whatever they can reach.
If you begin to notice any peculiar behaviors in your pet, make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Please call the nearest animal hospital immediately to set up an emergency appointment if your dog has any of the symptoms listed above. It can be difficult to determine what our dogs are feeling but what they lack in words they make up for in actions or lack thereof. Never hesitate to get a professional opinion. What can seem like an upset stomach or lack of energy has the possibility of being so much more drastic and life-threatening.
An Alternative
Goodnature's A24 Automatic Rat & Mouse Trap is a great alternative to using dangerous rat poisons that can cause a threat to children, pets, and ecological systems. For more information on our humane and toxic-free rat traps, please visit the Goodnature collections page to shop and learn more about our products!
