Rat poison is among the most deadly substances that a dog or other pet can ingest. Warfarin is one of the most common components of rat poison and other rodenticides.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant chemical that disrupts the blood's ability to clot. An animal that ingests warfarin dies from internal bleeding and hemorrhaging. Not all rat poisons contain warfarin, but it is among the most common chemicals found in rat poison. Even if a rat poison does not contain warfarin, the toxin is still potentially deadly to dogs and other pets.
The following symptoms are often observed in a dog who eats rat poison:
- Pale Gums
- Weakness
- Bloody Nose
- Blood in the Urine
- Blood in the Feces
- Coughing Up Blood
- Internal Bleeding
- Distended, Firm Abdomen (due to internal bleeding)
Many pet owners mistakenly believe that vomiting must be present in cases where a dog has ingested rat poison; this is not the case. A number of dogs who ingest rat poison and warfarin do not vomit.
Direct Exposure to Rat Poison
Direct exposure occurs when the dog eats rat poison in the form of a bait. Cases of direct exposure often result in the dog ingesting a larger, more potentially deadly dose of rat poison.
Often, the dog eats rat poison that's been placed in the home, shed, barn or on a neighbor's property, therefore, pet owners should always speak with their neighbors and request that they provide notification if using deadly poisons and baits like rat poison or slug bait.
Indirect Exposure to Rat Poison
Secondary or indirect exposure to rat poison occurs when a dog eats a rodent that's fallen fatally ill as a result of the warfarin or similar anticoagulant toxin.
"When a rat eats poison bait, he will not die immediately. The rodent will wander away and he'll become fatally ill a day or two later. The dying rat will be easy prey for a predator like a dog or a cat, and when the pet ingests the rodent, he also ingests the toxin," explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM.
Unfortunately, an uneducated dog owner may erroneously rule out rat poison as the potential cause of a pet's serious and sudden illness because there's no rat poison bait in the household. So when considering whether a dog has been exposed to rat poison, the dog owner must consider whether the dog may have encountered a poisoned rodent.
Treating a Dog Who Eats Rat Poison
Unfortunately, a large percentage of dogs who eat rat poison will die. This is due to the way in which the rat poison works from within, creating no outward symptoms (like bleeding) until the dog is in critical condition due to the toxin in the rat poison.
The prognosis for a dog who has eaten rat poison depends on the amount of rat poison that's been ingested, along with the amount of time that's elapsed since the bait was eaten.
Since the body has a supply of proteins that assist with the blood's clotting ability, the symptoms of warfarin (or another anticoagulant) poisoning may not become evident until 36-48 hours after the dog has ingested the toxin. This makes diagnosis even more difficult since the poisoning incident and the symptoms may not be immediately associated, and delayed diagnosis means a worse prognosis for the poisoned dog.
The most effective treatment for a dog who has eaten rat poison involves giving large doses of vitamin K, which helps restore the blood's ability to clot. Other supportive measures, like IV fluids and blood transfusions are also commonly administered to dogs who are suffering from warfarin toxicity.
Preventing a Dog's Exposure to Rat Poison
The most effective way to prevent a case of accidental poisoning in a dog involves using humane rodent traps in place of deadly rat poison and bait.
"A Havahart Trap is a humane cage-style trap that can be used to catch rats and other animals. You can then release the animals in a more desirable location, without killing the animal and without putting your pet at risk of accidentally ingesting rat poison," Dr. Levine explained.
Supervising the dog when he is outside is another way to prevent poisoning a dog as a result of indirect exposure to rat poison. Dogs should always be supervised when outdoors to prevent potentially fatal encounters with a dying and poisoned rodent. Supervising a pet while he or she is outdoors will also prevent other unfortunate occurrences, like dog theft or an attack on the dog by a wild animal.
Pet owners who suspect their dog may have eaten rat poison or another toxin should immediately visit the veterinarian's office. If possible, dog owners should also bring along the packaging for the poison that the dog ingested, as this will help the veterinarian to find the best and most effective treatment for the poisoned dog, thereby increasing his chances for a good outcome.
Visit the Pet Poisoning Page for more information on the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline and learn what plants are toxic to dogs and cats, along with other vital information relating to pet poisoning and toxicity, like how to induce vomiting in a pet and how to tell if a dog or cat is sick.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
Join the Conversation