The Little Dog That Lived

Hard to believe this adorable puppy couldn't even hold his head up when he came to Animal Emergency Care two months ago.  Without his owner's knowledge, he'd been stealing rat bait.  When it finally caught up with him--it can take several days before dogs and cats become ill--he was bleeding internally and needed a blood transfusion. 

Fortunately, this pup's tale has a happy ending.  After spending four days in intensive care, he's back to being a carefree, bouncy, tail-wagging puppy.  And that's good news for everyone!

Rodent Bait Kills More Than Just Rats and Mice

There are many types of mouse and rat bait on the market.  Unfortunately, these types of poisons don't just kill rodents.  They are capable of killing dogs, cats, and other pets who eat them.

One of the most common types of rat poison prevents the blood from clotting normally.  Pets who eat this substance may vomit green or blue-green liquid containing poison pellets, or they may have green stool a day or two after they eat it. 

What to do if you believe your pet has eaten mouse or rat bait:
1.  Don't panic. 
2.  Try to find out what type of poison is in the bait.  The chemical name should be listed on the box, but if it isn't, the name of the product will also be helpful.
3.  If it has been less than four hours since your pet has eaten the poison, contact your veterinarian immediately.  Sometimes, decontamination procedures--making your pet vomit and/or feeding it activated charcoal to absorb the poison--can decrease the amount of poison in your pet's body.
4.  Your veterinarian can prescribe an antidote--usually prescription strength Vitamin K--to counteract the toxin in your pet's body.  Your pet may need to take Vitamin K for a month or more.
5.  Do not try to treat this type of poisoning on your own!  Only a specific type and strength of Vitamin K will prevent your pet from bleeding internally.  Always seek veterinary assistance when dealing with rodenticide poisoning.

Signs and symptoms of rodenticide poisoning:
1.  Bruising.  This may be noted on the gums, the whites of the eyes, or on the skin.
2.  Coughing.  May indicate bleeding into the lungs.
3.  Labored breathing.  Caused by bleeding into the lungs or chest cavity.
4.  Limping or lameness.  Can occur when an animal has bleeding or hemorrhage in its joints.
5.  Listlessness, decreased appetite, weakness.  Usually occurs with other symptoms, such as those listed above, and are indicative of a pet whose life is in danger!