Pesticide
Rodenticides (rat and mouse poison)
Emergency, and signs may be delayed by three to five days with anticoagulant products.
Life-threateningDogsCatsFerretsBirdsWildlife
AI-generated editorial illustration of the subject; not a photograph of a specific animal, product or case.
What to do right now
- 1.Bring the product packaging — the active ingredient determines treatment entirely
- 2.Contact an emergency vet immediately
- 3.Do not wait for bleeding to appear
Symptoms
- Weakness and pale gums
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
- Bruising or bleeding gums
- Blood in urine or stool
- Seizures with some products
Details
- Category
- Pesticide
- Toxicity
- Life-threatening
- Species affected
- Dogs, Cats, Ferrets, Birds, Wildlife
- Routes of exposure
- Eating bait directly, or eating a poisoned rodent
- Urgency
- Emergency, and signs may be delayed by three to five days with anticoagulant products.
Veterinary notes and prevention
Anticoagulant types respond to vitamin K1 over several weeks; bromethalin and cholecalciferol products need different, more intensive management.
Prepare the information your vet needs
- For Rodenticides (rat and mouse poison), report the exposure route: Eating bait directly, or eating a poisoned rodent. Tell the clinic the time, possible amount and your pet's species and approximate weight.
- Photograph the packaging, ingredient list or plant if safe. Do not handle contaminated material without protection or delay the call to identify it perfectly.
- Keep other animals away from the source. An animal may appear normal before signs develop; do not wait for symptoms or calculate a home 'safe dose'.
- Follow the clinic's transport instructions. Do not give food, medicines or home remedies unless instructed, and take packaging with you if available.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.