Mice Poison in Dogs

Ingesting lethal amounts of mouse poison does not produce symptoms in dogs right away. It takes a few days before the poison can inhibit blood clotting, causing profuse bleeding of the internal organs. Without immediate treatment, including a plasma transfusion, most dogs die, according to Dog Channel's Jon Gellar, a doctor of veterinary medicine.

  1. Significance

    • Rodenticides rank within the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's top 10 Pet Poisons year after year, with more than 6,500 calls in 2009.

      "Many baits used to attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets as well," according to the ASPCA. "Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets including bleeding, seizures or kidney damage."

    Time Frame

    • If you suspect your dog has eaten poison, induce vomiting within two hours of ingestion. Go to your veterinarian or call him to get permission to induce vomiting. If your veterinarian isn't available, call the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A $65 fee is charged to your credit card when you consult with an APCC veterinarian.

    Act Quickly

    • Be prepared to give poison control the following information: your dog's breed, weight, age and gender. Explain your dog's symptoms, the type of poison--if you have the container, grab it before the phone consultation--and provide the time you think your dog ingested the poison, and how much time has lapsed. Treatment differs depending on how long the poison is in your dog's system.

    Induce Vomiting

    • Induce vomiting if poisoning occurred within two hours. For an average dog weighing 50 pounds, feed a slice or two of bread. Mix 3 tbsp of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with 1 tbsp. of peanut butter in a bowl. If the poisoned dog doesn't vomit within 10 minutes, repeat feeding.

    Prevention/Solution

    • To create a safer environment for your dog, prevent access to areas where you lay poison for mice. Keep garage doors shut, cabinets closed and lock the basement. Never put poison outside near your dog's run, and should you find dead rodents, remove them immediately. Ingesting a poisoned mouse can be just as toxic as eating the poison from the traps.