What if My Dog Eats Rodenticide?

Pets, especially dogs, often get into rodenticides, and it’s important to know what to do if your dog eats rodenticide. In this blog, we’ll review the common types of rodenticides and how pets affected by them are treated.

Types of Rodenticides

There are many different types of rodenticides; however, the most common ones are anti-coagulants, neurotoxins, vitamin D3, and phosphides. These products often taste really good. They’re also used in large quantities, which means that bigger animals, such as dogs and cats, can also be affected.

The different types of rodenticides affect animals differently, which is why it’s so important to know what type of rodenticide may be on your property. Brands sometimes make multiple types, and the bait is usually all the same color. Knowing the active ingredient (or keeping the packaging) is critical if your dog eats rodenticide. 

How Rodenticides Affect Pets and Effective Treatments

Anti-coagulant rodenticides

Anti-coagulant rodenticides interfere with the body’s ability to use vitamin K, which is used in multiple clotting factors. When vitamin K is depleted, injuries can’t heal and the body begins to bleed. Symptoms can take up to a week after ingestion to develop. These can include bruising, bleeding gums, blood in the eyes or vomit, black stool, and difficulty breathing. Diagnosis requires blood work to confirm that a pet’s clotting times are longer than they should be. Treatment typically includes a plasma transfusion to restore clotting factors and prescription vitamin K. Common active ingredients in anti-coagulant rodenticides include bromadiolone and brodifacoum. 

Neurotoxic rodenticides

Neurotoxic rodenticides remove the brain’s nerve cells’ ability to make energy, causing permanent damage to brain cells. Symptoms can take hours to days to show and can include seizures, progressive paralysis, respiratory failure, and death. There is no antidote. Treatment depends on when the toxin was ingested and symptoms begin. If the dog ate rodenticide recently, vomiting is induced and the oral charcoal is syringed into the stomach to reduce the amount of toxin absorbed by the pet’s body. If symptoms have developed, we focus on treating those. Treatment can include anti-seizure medications, mechanical ventilation to assist with breathing, and medications to reduce brain swelling. Recovery can take weeks, and patients can have permanent neurologic effects. The main active ingredient for neurotoxic rodenticides is bromethalin. 

Vitamin D rodenticides

Vitamin D rodenticides cause high blood calcium, which leads to mineral deposits in the internal organs, including kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and others. Signs usually start within 12-72 hours of ingestion. These can include decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, increased drinking and urination, seizures, and abdominal pain. Diagnosis requires blood work to check blood calcium and organ function. Again, there is no specific antidote for this poison. Similar to neurotoxic rodenticide, treatment for vitamin D rodenticide involves inducing vomited and oral charcoal. Hospitalization may also be recommended to give IV fluids and monitor the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood. The primary active ingredient is cholecalciferol. 

Phosphide rodenticides

Phosphide rodenticides cause the production of a gas called phosphine when the bait breaks down in the stomach. The phosphine gas removes the body’s cells’ ability to produce energy, affecting the whole body. Signs include vomiting, difficulty breathing, difficulty walking, seizures, liver and kidney failure. Signs typically occur within minutes, but can take up to 24 hours. Again, there is no specific antidote. Treatment includes inducing vomiting, but this is NOT recommended to do at home as the toxic gasses are harmful if inhaled. Phosphide rodenticide is typically sold as gopher bait and the most common active ingredient is zinc phosphide.

We hope you never have to face this emergency, but if your dog eats rodenticide, please call Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota at (651) 501-3766 or a pet poison helpline.