Poisoning a dog with rat poison: symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Most people believe that most often pets die from infectious diseases, but this is not entirely true. Undoubtedly, diseases are dangerous, but much more often the sudden death of an animal is associated with poisoning. Poor quality food, eaten poisonous plant can cause death. Very often, poisoning with rat poison in dogs leads to such consequences. Its symptoms are very characteristic, it is impossible not to notice them.

How does poisoning happen?

Rat poisons, of which there are several varieties, have a rather unpleasant smell. However, manufacturers of poison for rodents give it a meat flavor, which, unfortunately, attracts not only mice and rats, but also dogs. Most often, poisoning occurs during a walk, when an animal can catch and eat a rodent that has already taken poison.

It happens that a four-legged friend eats rat bait, disguised as meat, treated with meat flavoring. Pet owners should be very carefulwalk. They should know that 80% of dogs can be saved with timely treatment to the veterinarian, but with repeated intoxication, the chances of recovery are reduced, as the animal develops an increased sensitivity to these poisons.

Varieties of rat poisons

It is no coincidence that we want to draw your attention to this issue. It is very important to know which rat poison caused the poisoning. As the name suggests, these substances are designed to kill rodents. They are used to make baits, usually grain-based. They produce paste, granules, gels and ready-made briquettes. Rodenticides are divided into two groups:

• sharp action;
• chronic and subacute action.

On sale you can find only baits made using poisons of the second group, as they are less toxic to humans and animals. On the territory of Russia, a limited number of rodenticides are allowed for use, which are included in the lists of the catalog of agrochemicals and pesticides of Rospotrebnadzor.

Rodenticides that are related to rat poison:

• bromadiolone;
• brodifacoum;
• triphenacin;
• isopropylfenacin;
• ethylphenacin;
• flocumafen;
• zinc phosphide;
• ratsid (alpha-naphthylthiocarbamide).

Symptoms of rat poisoning in dogs and treatment depend on the group the rodenticide is in.

Effect of poisons on the dog's body

The negative effect of rat poison, as well as the degreethe severity of poisoning is classified according to the composition of the toxins that make up its composition. The most common means for baits are considered to be first-generation anticoagulants (trifenacin, ethylphenacin, warfin, and others). If such rat poisoning occurs in a dog, the symptoms and consequences will not be very severe. Dogs are warfarin sensitive, with a lethal dose of 6 mg/kg body weight.

The second generation anticoagulants include: flocumafen, brodifacoum and bromadiolone. Compared to the chemicals described above, they are excreted from the body much more slowly, moreover, they have the ability to accumulate. The symptoms of poisoning in a dog with rat poison of this group will be more pronounced, and the treatment will be longer.

Another dangerous drug that can kill not only a rodent, but also a dog, is the "rat". Today it is not used very often, because it is very toxic. If your dog eats such a bait, he will very soon have convulsions - symptoms of poisoning in a dog with rat poison. The dose that can be fatal is 60 to 150 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The product is available in the form of a 10% gel.

Pro lineups

And another tool that is often used in the fight against rodents is zinc phosphide. It is not freely available. It will only be used by experts in the extermination of rodents. itdue to its high toxicity. In a dog that has eaten the bait with this most dangerous poison, the gastric mucosa and nervous system begin to collapse. It is necessary to immediately enter the antidote. This can only be done by a veterinarian. Therefore, the owner must be very careful and, if suspicious symptoms appear, immediately take his friend to the clinic for testing.

The danger of such situations lies in the fact that most owners cannot distinguish the symptoms of rat poisoning in a dog from other diseases, as well as poisoning. In this regard, they lose time by not providing first aid to their pet, and do not go to the clinic. Often this can cause irreversible consequences in the animal's body.

Symptoms of anticoagulant poisoning and treatment

Rat poison, which contains anticoagulants, reduces blood clotting. As a result, severe internal bleeding develops. Bromadiolone and brodifacoum are the most commonly used poisons with such properties. The rate of onset of symptoms of poisoning depends on the amount of active ingredient in the rat bait.

Bromadiolone has a small amount of it, it acts slowly, and symptoms of poisoning in dogs with rat poison of this group can appear within five days. On a dog poisoned by brodifacoum, the poison can act instantly. These toxic substances are quickly eliminated from the body.

Symptomspoisoning in a dog with rat poison, which contains anticoagulants, manifests itself:

• bleeding gums;
• nosebleed;
• diarrhea, which may be bloody;
• blood in urine;
• vomit;
• pale mucous membranes;
• coughing with bloody foam;
• lack of appetite.

Such manifestations of the disease in general, or the appearance of one of them, is a signal to immediately contact the clinic. Another characteristic symptom of poisoning in dogs with rat poison is a lethargic state. It is manifested by lethargy, inhibition of actions, drowsiness, shortness of breath.

The antidote for dogs poisoned by such poisons is the introduction (intramuscular) of vitamin K. Treatment of the disease is long - more than a month. It ends only when the blood test returns to normal. Treatment is carried out in a clinical setting. The doctor injects two to five milligrams of the vitamin per kilogram of the animal's weight. But if you are sure that the intoxication occurred with the first generation anticoagulant, then the dose can be reduced to 0.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Important! If the poisoning of the dog is caused by anticoagulants, first aid should not be used to wash the stomach and induce vomiting. This will only increase the bleeding.

Symptoms of poisoning with poisons containing vitamin D3

Poisoning an animal with poison, which includes a large amount of vitamin D3, causes kidney failure with further death, in the absence of a qualifiedassistance within two to three days.

Symptoms:

• frequent urination;
• intense thirst;
• bad smell from the mouth, reminiscent of the smell of urine;
• lethargic state.

Although there is no specific antidote against this poison yet, timely therapy carried out in veterinary clinics leads to the complete recovery of animals. The course of treatment includes the use of sorbents and diuretics. Its duration is at least 1.5 months.

Calcium cyanide poisoning

Brometalin is a potent substance that causes (in large quantities) a violation of the central nervous system, swelling of the meninges. Help not provided in time leads to death. What are the symptoms of poisoning a dog with rat poison containing calcium cyanide? These include:

• movement disorders;
• loss of coordination;
• paralysis of individual limbs or the whole body;
• convulsions.

If a small dose of poison has entered the body of an animal, then in two days symptoms of poisoning in a dog with rat poison of this type will appear. If the dog has received a large amount of a toxic substance, the reaction will follow in an hour. Although the modern means used for deratting contain a small dose of calcium cyanide, therefore, severe poisoning is unlikely.

There is no antidote for this poison. Helping the animal comes down to the use of activated charcoal or another sorbent and diuretics. Flushing requiredstomach.

Aluminum and zinc phosphides: symptoms and advice from doctors when a dog is poisoned with rat poison

These are highly toxic substances found in rodent control products. For deratization, they are used less often than others. Once in the stomach, phosphides react with hydrochloric acid and release phosphine gas, which affects the liver.

Symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting;
• severe flatulence;
• the appearance of fear in the animal;
• abdominal pain.

Veterinarians strongly advise against self-medication for such poisoning, since the gas emitted with vomiting is poisonous. It also poses a danger to people. Doctors inform that there is no antidote for these substances, but timely therapy is effective. Medical procedures are carried out in the open air, and if this is not possible, then doors and windows are opened.

Therapy includes:

• Antacids ("Maalox"), neutralizing the hydrochloric acid contained in the stomach. This reduces gas production.
• Activated charcoal and gastric lavage.

If the composition of rat poison is unknown

If the owner does not know the substances that make up the poison, general therapy is carried out. It is effective and versatile in case of poisoning with various substances:

• ten days dog gets vitamin K injections;
• glucose droppers to support the general condition of the animal;
• use heart drugs and diuretics.

If treatment is started late and the animal's conditioncauses anxiety, drugs are prescribed to restore the function of the liver and kidneys, relieve swelling, blood transfusion is often required.

Poisoning a dog with rat poison: symptoms and home treatment

It seems to us that we have described the symptoms in sufficient detail. Now it is necessary to explain what the owner of the animal should do before meeting with the veterinarian. When symptoms of rat poisoning appear in a dog, first aid includes the following procedures:

• vomiting (for this you need to put food s alt on the root of the animal's tongue);
• must give polysorb, activated charcoal;
• gastric lavage with room temperature water.
• pour water into the throat of the animal using a syringe or a large syringe without a needle;
• give a laxative.

These recommendations are suitable for situations where the owner knows what substance caused the poisoning, since it is strictly forbidden to gastric lavage, give a laxative and induce vomiting if the poisoning is caused by anticoagulants.

If more than four hours have passed since the poison entered the body of an animal, it is not advisable to induce vomiting, since the poisonous substance that has entered the stomach has been absorbed into the blood. As a rule, a poisoned dog does not have an appetite, but if it asks for food, do not feed it, and do not limit it in water.

Consequences of poisoning

Veterinarians warn that even knowing the symptoms of rat poisoning in dogs, treatment at homeconditions, it is not always effective. After an intensive treatment course, the veterinarian will do laboratory tests and, if necessary, prescribe further treatment.

Complications after poisoning, as a rule, are associated with the work of the liver. Sometimes there are problems with the restoration of blood clotting. Possible bleeding during injuries, bleeding from the gums.

Prevention of poisoning

Veterinarians, based on their observations, come to the conclusion that dogs that walk on their own are most often poisoned by rat poison. They recommend not only going outside with your pet, but also putting a muzzle on him so that he does not grab the bait. Avoid places where mice and rats are supposed to be exterminated.