What You Should Know About Rat Poison and Your Pet

Oh rats! Adorable in an animated movie but in real life, if it’s not your pet, it’s a problem. Rats can carry disease and destroy wiring, drywall, and other essential parts of your home. From countryside to city living, humans have a rat population problem we try to control. That means exterminators are setting traps, which can be dangerous—and even fatal—to pets.

PICK YOUR POISON

There are plenty of rodenticides (the fancy name for rat poisons) on the market that are effective. However, there are ingredients that are toxic to dogs and other pets. Here’s what you should know about common rat poisons and your pet.

CHOLECALCIFEROL AKA VITAMIN D3

This is commonly found as an active ingredient in rat poisons like d-CON. If dogs ingest it, a large amount of calcium is released into the bloodstream. This leads to acute kidney failure and multi-organ failure within days without treatment.

SIGNS OF VITAMIN D3 POISONING

Once ingested, your pet may show signs of poisoning within 12-48 hours. Act fast if you notice any or all of the signs below:

• Weakness
• Increased thirst/drooling
• Decreased appetite
• Increased urination

ANTICOAGULANTS

Chlorpophacinone, diphacinone, warfarin, and other anticoagulants are present in some rodenticides. An anticoagulant disrupts blood clotting and leads to internal bleeding. Without treatment, ingesting it can quickly be fatal.

SIGNS OF ANTICOAGULANT POISONING

It may take a few days for your dog or cat to show signs of poisoning. Some symptoms to keep an eye out for are:

• Weakness
• Increased heart rate
• Breathing problems/coughing
• No interest in food
• Bloating/swelling
• Bleeding from mouth or nose

BROMETHALIN

Commonly found in the Tomcat brand, bromethalin rodenticides cause neurological disturbances including wobbling, seizures, and death. Treatment is needed as soon as possible.

SIGNS OF BROMETHALIN POISONING

Symptoms of poisoning from bromethalin vary from mild to severe. Here are some signs:

• Lethargy
• Loss of muscle tone
• Tremors/seizures
• Paralysis

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE PUTTING DOWN

Keep your dog safe from rat poison by simply setting the bait in a place your pet can’t get to, but where pesky mice or rats can. Read the packaging before you use any household poison, noting the ingredients. In an emergency, a veterinarian will ask what was ingested. Knowing the brand name and the active ingredient saves precious time.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL VEG FOR ALL PET EMERGENCIES

Contact VEG if your pet needs emergency or urgent care. We have locations all over the country with emergency vets who are available 24/7 to help you and your pet. When you come to VEG, our emergency-trained team will triage your pet within seconds.