Rat poisons are designed to attract the rat to encourage it to eat the poison. Unfortunately, what makes the rat poison attractive to a rat usually makes it attractive to a dog, so accidental poisonings are common. Also, some poisons are so strong that the dog may become poisoned from eating a rat that has been poisoned. If you suspect your dog has ingested rat poison, take him to a veterinarian or animal hospital immediately. There are different poisons used to kill rats, so the symptoms of poisoning depend on the type of poison ingested.
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Warfarin
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Warfarin is becoming common in rat poisons. It causes the blood to thin and stop clotting and the poisoned animal begins to bleed internally. It may take up to a week before the dog begins to show overt symptoms of poisoning, so the first sign may be a bright green stool from the dog. This happens because the pellets for the poison often are a bright green color. Other symptoms of poisoning include a cough due to bleeding in the lungs; blood in feces or urine; bleeding from gums, nose or rectum; and difficulty breathing in the latter stages.
Bromethalin
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Bromethalin causes a buildup of fluids in the brain and in the membrane surrounding the brain. Symptoms of poisoning may include loss of appetite, impaired movement or paralysis and muscle tremors or seizures. The symptoms can occur anywhere from two days to two weeks after ingestion, so you also may see the bright green stool before other symptoms start.
Strychnine
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If a dog has ingested strychnine, it will appear to be agitated, excited or apprehensive. This will start in less than two hours after ingestion. The dog will begin having large and painful seizures that last for about a minute. The dog will turn blue during the seizure because it can't breathe. Any type of mild stimulation, such as tapping the dog or clapping your hands, will set off another seizure. Other symptoms may include drooling and muscle spasms.
Sodium Fluroacetate
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Symptoms will start soon after ingestion. They begin with vomiting, which is followed by excitability; straining to defecate or urinate; walking with an aimless, unusual gait; fits or convulsions and collapse.
Phosphorus
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The first sign of ingestion may be the dog's breath, which will smell like garlic. This will be followed by diarrhea and vomiting. The dog may have a brief period without symptoms, but then will start vomiting again and will have pain in the abdomen, convulsions and then coma.
Zinc Phosphide
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Zinc phosphide will depress the central nervous system. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, vomiting, weakness and convulsions. The vomit will often include blood in it.
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