If your dog has ingested D Con rat poison, it's crucial to act quickly. D Con rat poison can cause severe symptoms in dogs, including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Dogs are curious creatures and can easily get into rat poison, which is often left out in the open. This is a common reason why dogs ingest rat poison.
The active ingredient in D Con rat poison is brodifacoum, a potent anticoagulant that can cause internal bleeding in dogs.
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What Is
Poisoning due to ingesting rat poison is a common and extremely serious canine health problem. It's crucial to identify the exact type of rodenticide to ensure proper treatment.
There are three common types of rat poisons that are toxic to dogs: cholecalciferol, bromethalin, and anticoagulant rodenticides. These poisons are all extremely dangerous to dogs.
Cholecalciferol raises the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the dog's system, which can lead to kidney failure and death. If left untreated, this can be fatal.
Bromethalin poisoning causes swelling of the brain, which can also be life-threatening.
Causes of Poisoning
There are two main causes of rat poison toxicity in dogs. Eating the rat poison itself is one of them.
Secondary exposure is also a concern, where a dog eats a rodent that has been intoxicated with rodenticide.
If you suspect your dog has ingested rat poison, it's essential to seek veterinary attention immediately. The sooner you act, the better chance your dog has of recovery.
Causes
There are two main causes of poisoning due to ingesting rat poison in dogs. These are eating the rat poison and secondary exposure.
Eating the rat poison is the most direct cause of poisoning, and it can happen if your dog ingests rat poison bait or contaminated food. This can be a serious situation, and prompt veterinary care is essential.
Secondary exposure occurs when a dog eats a rodent that has ingested rodenticide. This can happen if your dog catches and eats a rat or mouse that has been poisoned, and it can still be toxic to your dog.
The two main causes of rat poison toxicity in dogs are eating the rat poison and secondary exposure, which can happen if your dog eats a poisoned rodent.
Phosphide
Phosphide is a type of rat poison that's more commonly used by professionals to get rid of moles and gophers. It's less common in household rat baits.
Once ingested, phosphide releases phosphide gas in the stomach. This gas can cause lung irritation to both the dog and the pet owner if inhaled.
Feeding your dog after ingesting phosphide can increase the amount of gas produced, making the poison more toxic.
The toxic dose of phosphide is very small, and nearly all patients ingesting this poison need to be examined by a veterinarian.
If you suspect your dog has ingested phosphide, do not feed them and avoid inducing vomiting, as this can release the gas into the environment.
Symptoms of phosphide poisoning include stomach bloating, vomiting, abdominal pain, shock, collapse, seizures, and liver damage.
Here are the common signs of phosphide poisoning:
- Stomach bloating
- Vomiting (lung irritation to dog and owner from vomit)
- Abdominal pain
- Shock
- Collapse
- Seizure
- Liver damage
Symptoms and Diagnosis
If you suspect your dog has ingested d-con rat poison, it's essential to be aware of the symptoms and how to diagnose the issue. Symptoms of rat poisoning in dogs can manifest between 4-36 hours after ingestion, and may include brightly colored stools, which can be a bright blue, green, purple, pink, or teal color.
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The timing of the symptoms varies depending on the type of rat poison ingested, which can make it challenging to identify the specific poison. However, if your dog's poop is any of the mentioned colors, it's likely they've ingested rat poison.
If you suspect rat poisoning, seek professional help immediately and bring a sample of your dog's vomit, as well as the poison itself (if found), to the veterinarian's office. This will help the vet make a diagnosis and start treatment sooner.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary depending on the type of rat poison your dog ingests, but one symptom that may be the same across different types is brightly colored stools, often blue, green, purple, pink, or teal.
The symptoms of rat poisoning can start within 2 to 7 days after ingestion, and can include lethargy, exercise intolerance, coughing, difficulty breathing due to bleeding in the lungs, weakness, and pale gums.
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The symptoms of internal bleeding can also include vomiting, diarrhea, bloody urine or stool, nose bleeds, bruising, swollen joints, and lack of appetite.
It's worth noting that some anticoagulants, like long-acting anticoagulants, can prevent the blood from clotting, resulting in internal bleeding.
Here are some common symptoms of rat poisoning:
- Lethargy
- Exercise intolerance
- Coughing
- Breathing trouble because of bleeding in the lungs
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloody urine or stool
- Nose bleeds
- Bruising
- Swollen joints
- Lack of appetite
It's essential to keep in mind that the dose needed to cause poisoning from anticoagulants varies greatly between active ingredients, and the age and health of the dog may also be factors determining whether or not the amount ingested will be poisonous.
Diagnosis
If your dog has ingested rat poison, seek professional help immediately. Your veterinarian will likely ask you to bring a sample of your dog's vomit to the office to help make a diagnosis.
The sooner your veterinarian knows which poison has been ingested, the sooner they can start treating your dog. This is crucial because different types of poison require different treatments.
If you have found the poison itself, take it to the veterinarian's office along with any packaging. This will significantly shorten the time your veterinarian needs to make a diagnosis.
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin)
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) is a highly toxic substance for dogs, and even a small amount can be fatal.
Symptoms of cholecalciferol poisoning in dogs usually appear within 12 to 36 hours.
Some common signs of renal failure in dogs include lethargy, weakness, and loss of appetite.
Dogs may also exhibit increased thirst and urination, bad breath, pale gums, vomiting, and blood in their urine.
If you suspect your dog has ingested cholecalciferol, it's essential to seek veterinary attention immediately.
Here are some common symptoms of cholecalciferol poisoning in dogs:
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Increased thirst and urination
- Bad breath
- Pale gums
- Vomiting
- Blood in urine
- Tremors
Frequently Asked Questions
How much decon will make a dog sick?
For a 10-pound dog, consuming 8-16 rodenticide blocks or more than 16 blocks can be toxic. If you suspect your dog has ingested decon, seek immediate treatment to ensure their safety.
How long does it take for decon to affect a dog?
Signs of anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning typically appear 3-7 days after ingestion, due to blood loss
How much diphacinone is toxic to dogs?
Q: How toxic is diphacinone to dogs? A: Diphacinone is highly toxic to dogs, with an oral LD50 value of 3.0 to 7.5 mg/kg, indicating a high risk of poisoning with even small amounts.
Sources
- Secondary Poisoning Concerns for Dogs & Cats (diypestcontrol.com)
- A Guide to Rat Poisoning in Dogs: Symptoms and Treatment (vets-now.com)
- Dog Ate Rat Poisons | Pet Poison Helpline® (petpoisonhelpline.com)
- Cholecalciferol (merckvetmanual.com)
- Bromethalin (merckvetmanual.com)
- Phosphide (merckvetmanual.com)
- Strychnine (merckvetmanual.com)
- Poisoning Due to Ingesting Rat Poison in Dogs (wagwalking.com)
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