Poisoning Due to Ingesting Rat Poison in Dogs

There are three most common types of rat poisons that are toxic to dogs: cholecalciferol, bromethalin and anticoagulant rodenticides. They are all extremely dangerous to dogs and can lead to life-threatening conditions and even death.

Cholecalciferol raises the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the dog’s system, which can lead to kidney failure and death if not treated properly and promptly. Bromethalin poisoning causes swelling of the brain while anticoagulant rodenticides poisoning prevents the dog’s blood from clotting, which results in severe and uncontrollable bleeding. They also require immediate therapy.

• Cholecalciferol (signs manifest between 4-36 hours after ingestion)
• Increased drinking and urinating
• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Dehydration
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Bromethalin
• Large doses (signs manifest within 24 hours)
• Severe muscle tremors
• Hyperthermia
• Extreme hyper-excitability
• Focal or generalized seizures
• Lower doses (signs manifest 1-3 days)
• Hind limb ataxia
• Paresis or paralysis
• CNS depression
• Anticoagulant Rodenticides (signs manfiest within 3-7 days)
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Blood in the stool
• Vomiting
• Nose bleeds
• Bleeding gums
• Bruising

• Eating the rat poison
• Secondary exposure, eating a rodent intoxicated with rodenticide

If you are inclined to think that you dog has ingested rat poison, ask for professional help immediately. If your dog has vomited, bring the sample of the vomit to your veterinarian. Most importantly, if you have found the poison itself, take it to the veterinarian's office as well, as it will significantly shorten the time your veterinarian needs to make a diagnosis. The sooner the veterinarian knows which poison has been ingested, the sooner they can start treating your dog.

• Cholecalciferol Poisoning
• Dogs that have been exposed to this kind of rat poisoning will first exhibit the abovementioned signs within 36 hours, followed by nausea, vomiting and hematemesis. If a veterinarian suspects that a dog has been poisoned with cholecalciferol, they will conduct a baseline biochemistry profile, which includes the analysis of both the blood plasma and other body fluids, in order to check the dog’s calcium and phosphorus levels, confirm the diagnosis and monitor the condition of the dog.
• Bromethalin Poisoning
• Dogs that have been exposed to bromethalin usually develop signs within 1-7 days of ingesting the poison. Veterinarians perform analysis of the liver, kidney, brain or fat in order to determine whether bromethalin is present in the dog’s system. This also enables them to find out the severity of the poisoning.
• Anticoagulant Rodenticides
• Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning can be diagnosed in a number of ways, including using laboratory blood tests and blood chemistries. 

Cholecalciferol Poisoning
If you are absolutely sure that your dog has ingested this type of rat poison in the previous two hours, you could induce vomiting yourself, under the advice of your veterinarian. However, do not attempt to induce vomiting if you are not certain that your dog has been exposed to cholecalciferol, or if they have already vomited. Since your dog will most likely be dehydrated as a result of cholecalciferol poisoning, it’s of utmost importance to make sure that they are taking in enough water and that they are able to retain the fluid. Since this type of poison doesn’t have an antidote, your vet will administer IV fluids and diuretics, steroids and other drugs to lower the calcium levels in the animals’ body. To prevent kidney failure, it’s crucial to start the treatment as soon as possible.

Bromethalin Poisoning
The first step to treating bromethalin poisoning is to decontaminate the dog’s digestive system, which includes inducing vomiting and then administering IV fluids and other medications to lower the risk of brain swelling.

Anticoagulant Rodenticides
Since anticoagulant rodenticides can cause bleeding, the treatment includes administering blood or frozen plasma if needed. Veterinarians also give dogs vitamin K as an antidote, as the vitamin encourages normal blood clotting. It’s significant to note that you shouldn’t force vomiting unless you have been given specific instructions by your veterinarian.

Cholecalciferol Poisoning
Following the first two or three days, which are most critical when this type of poisoning is concerned, your veterinarian will monitor calcium and phosphorus levels for 2-6 weeks after exposure or until they have returned back to baseline. Renal function will be monitored during that period as well.

Bromethalin Poisoning
To prevent your dog from suffering from anorexia after bromethalin poisoning, include feeding supplements in their daily diet. It will take them some time to fully recover from the toxicosis, so taking them for regular check-ups is a must.

Anticoagulant Rodenticides

Depending on the dosage ingested, your dog may recover from one week to one month. In that time period, it’s vital to monitor their condition and report any signs of illness to your veterinarian.

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