Rat Bait Poisoning
How does rat bait work?
There are many different products on the market for control of rats and mice. Most have basically the same action – they have a warfarin-type action and stop the blood from clotting. Warfarin depletes the body of Vitamin K, which is essential for production of clotting factors. The older compounds, such as Ratsak â , require daily exposure to produce a fatal poisoning, but there are second generation compounds on the market now that are toxic from a single exposure. While these properties make them very useful against rodent pests, they pose a very serious risk to your pets.
Pets don’t have to eat the bait itself. Don’t feel secure just because the bait is out of reach – dogs and cats can get secondary poisoning by eating a dead or sick rodent. A single adult mouse can contain enough rat bait to poison a medium-sized dog. Signs can take a few weeks to develop.
What to look for:
If you are using rat baits, even if they are out of reach, be on the look out for any unusual signs. Bleeding can occur into any body cavity, including the lungs, so the signs can vary greatly.
Can poisoning be treated?
Signs can take several weeks to develop after ingestion. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned get to your vet ASAP.
At the surgery your vet will:
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How does rat bait work?
There are many different products on the market for control of rats and mice. Most have basically the same action – they have a warfarin-type action and stop the blood from clotting. Warfarin depletes the body of Vitamin K, which is essential for production of clotting factors. The older compounds, such as Ratsak â , require daily exposure to produce a fatal poisoning, but there are second generation compounds on the market now that are toxic from a single exposure. While these properties make them very useful against rodent pests, they pose a very serious risk to your pets.
Pets don’t have to eat the bait itself. Don’t feel secure just because the bait is out of reach – dogs and cats can get secondary poisoning by eating a dead or sick rodent. A single adult mouse can contain enough rat bait to poison a medium-sized dog. Signs can take a few weeks to develop.
What to look for:
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Sudden appearance of unexplained lumps – haematomas
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing
- Profuse bleeding from minor wounds
- Lameness
If you are using rat baits, even if they are out of reach, be on the look out for any unusual signs. Bleeding can occur into any body cavity, including the lungs, so the signs can vary greatly.
Can poisoning be treated?
Signs can take several weeks to develop after ingestion. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned get to your vet ASAP.
At the surgery your vet will:
- attempt to induce vomiting if the poisoning is acute
- run a test to see if your pet’s blood is clotting if more than 1-5 days have passed
- Start Vitamin K therapy immediately
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