Emergency Guide: What to Do If Your Dog Eats Rat Poison

Part 1: Standard Treatment for Poisoning (If Treatment is Administered Within 4 to 6 Hours After Ingestion)

1. Administer Apomorphine (a powdered substance applied to the corner of the eye) or use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. This method helps to expel undigested toxins from the stomach.

2. Utilize activated charcoal to absorb any remaining toxins in the stomach or intestines after induced vomiting or gastric lavage. After administering activated charcoal, veterinarians often use a laxative to facilitate the movement and excretion through the digestive tract. Activated charcoal is typically administered through a gastric tube or syringe.

3. Gastric lavage may be necessary if vomiting cannot be induced. During this procedure, a large tube is inserted through the dog's mouth into the stomach. Water is then pumped in and out to remove any contents from the stomach, a process that requires substantial sedation.

4. Intravenous fluids are provided to alleviate dehydration caused by vomiting or diarrhea, assist in the excretion of some toxins, and protect the kidneys from damage.

In addition to standard treatments for poisoning, each type of rodenticide requires a different approach due to the varying effects on animals.

Part 2: Treatment for Anticoagulant Rodenticide Poisoning

1. If the toxin is successfully removed from the stomach, additional treatment may not be necessary.

2. Vitamin K supplementation is crucial, as the body cannot produce vitamin K due to the rodenticide's interference. Vitamin K treatment usually begins in the hospital and continues at home for 3 to 5 weeks.

3. If the pet experiences excessive bleeding and anemia, a blood transfusion may be required.

4. When the pet's bleeding time is significantly prolonged, plasma transfusions are often used to replace missing clotting factors, helping to prevent further bleeding while waiting for vitamin K to take effect (usually 24 to 36 hours).

Part 3: Treatment for Methylarsonate Rodenticide Poisoning

1. Medications like mannitol or steroids are used to control brain edema, often requiring repeated intravenous injections.

2. Anticonvulsant drugs, such as diazepam, phenobarbital, and pentobarbital, are used to control seizures and severe muscle tremors, as well as to promote muscle relaxation.

Part 4: Treatment for Cholemic Rodenticide Poisoning

1. Medications such as furosemide, steroids, and calcitonin can be used in conjunction with intravenous fluids to lower serum calcium levels. Furosemide and steroids are the primary medications used. Calcitonin may be used when other drugs are insufficient to control calcium levels alone.

2. Furosemide and dopamine can be used to enhance renal blood flow and increase urine output during renal failure.

Part 5: Treatment for Bromethalin and Metaldehyde Rodenticide Poisoning

1. Muscle relaxants are essential to relax stiff muscles and limbs in the animal.

2. Anticonvulsant drugs like diazepam, phenobarbital, and pentobarbital can be used to alleviate or prevent spasms caused by bromethalin poisoning.

As of now, there is no specific treatment for phosphorus rodenticide poisoning. However, the overall approach is similar to the treatments mentioned above, focusing on removing toxins from the digestive tract and providing general inpatient supportive care.

Part 6: PostTreatment Care

First and foremost, it's essential to prevent the dog from coming into contact with any toxic substances again. Avoid placing rodenticides where pets can access them. If you suspect or discover that your pet has been poisoned by rodenticide, take it to the veterinarian immediately. If you expect to be at the vet clinic for more than an hour, call ahead to inquire about athome vomiting induction methods.

You can bring the rodenticide bottle and label to your veterinarian for identification of the ingredients, allowing for immediate and effective treatment.

Follow the veterinarian's instructions precisely when administering any prescribed medications, such as Vitamin K1. It's best to use only Vitamin K prescribed by your veterinarian, as health food store Vitamin K is different and ineffective for pets. The duration of Vitamin K administration is determined by your veterinarian and typically ranges from 2 to 5 weeks. Followup care primarily involves repeated blood tests. It is recommended to perform a coagulation test 48 hours after the last dose of Vitamin K1 to ensure the toxin has been expelled from the pet's body.