Is Rat poison toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: rodenticide / anticoagulant bait
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Emergency immediately — bring the packaging to identify the type (different types need different antidotes). Vitamin K1 is the antidote for anticoagulant types.
Toxicity notes
Common anticoagulant types destroy clotting — bleeding starts 3-5 days later and is easily missed; eating a poisoned rodent can cause secondary poisoning.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Gum/nose bleeding
- • Skin bruising
- • Bloody stool/urine
- • Rapid breathing
- • Weakness
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
Common anticoagulant types destroy clotting — bleeding starts 3-5 days later and is easily missed; eating a poisoned rodent can cause secondary poisoning.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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