Vet Check

Vet Check -

Article by Dr Jasmin Hyatt

BVSc (Hons) DipACT MANZCVS (reproduction)

Veterinary Reproduction Consultancy Pty Ltd (02) 6301 9550, Orange, NSW

Rat Bait Poisoning

Rat bait toxicity is the number one poisoning we see in dogs, especially during the last 12 months! The most common rodent baits are anticoagulant or ‘warfarin like’ poisons including the brands Talon, Storm, Pindone, Racumin, and Pest Off. Unfortunately the bait is made to be tasty to animals and dogs are no exception. Some baits contain a bittering agent called “bitrex” but this does not seem to deter too many of our four – legged friends!

How does rat bait work?

Rat bait works by destroying the ability of the animal’s blood to make Vitamin K. Without Vitamin K the blood cannot clot, which leads to excessive bleeding internally and eventually death.

Clinical signs of poisoning in the dog?

You will rarely see external signs of excessive bleeding as it mostly occurs into the lungs, chest, abdomen or joints. Alterative and visible clinical signs do not become apparent until 3-5 days after the ingestion. These clinical signs can be very variable, usually starting off with a lethargic, depressed, quiet dog who may or may not eat food. Sometimes a soft cough can be heard, and the gums begin to go pale. As more internal bleeding occurs the severity of clinical signs increases, with the most common being an increased breathing rate leading to visibly difficult breathing and collapse.

What do you do if you suspect your dog has eaten rat bait?

If you witness your dog eating the bait, or even eating a rodent that has died as a result of eating the bait (‘secondary poisoning’), it is important to seek veterinary attention ASAP. If the time frame is appropriate (usually less than 2-3 hours) your veterinarian will induce your dog to vomit up the bait and remove it from their system.

If you do not reach a veterinarian within this time frame the poison will already have been absorbed by the body.

If you are unsure whether your dog has ingested rat bait and they are not showing any signs we can do a blood test to measure the clotting ability of the blood.

Is there a treatment available?

As mentioned above, the best treatment is to make your dog vomit if you catch them in the act of eating the poison, as this will prevent the poison from being absorbed. After this time frame, treatment involves replacing the clotting factor Vitamin K with injections or tablets until the poison has been metabolised by the body. This usually requires treatment for about 3-4 weeks, at which point a follow up blood test can be performed to ensure it is safe to stop treatment.

If there is considerable bleeding within the body, it is sometime necessary to give a blood transfusion to provide fresh clotting factors and red blood cells. This is because the vitamin K takes 24 hours to work even once a diagnosis has been made and treatment initiated.

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GRAEME WRIGHT – HISTORY

• 40yrs+ breeding and exhibiting bull terriers. • Imported bull terrier semen from USA in 2002 to improve lineage and health. • 2007 Completed the world known Camelot Farms freezing system course. • Accredited Greyhounds Australasia. • Accredited ANKC (Australian National Kennel Control). • Accredited Dogs Tasmania. • Accreditation in Microchipping (Animal Industries Resource Centre). • Invited to Judge at the Dutch Bull Terrier Intercountry Competition.