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Anticoagulant Rodenticide Toxicity (Rat Poison)
 The anticoagulant poisons are designed to kill rats, mice, gophers and other rodents. These rodenticides are easily purchased at feed stores, grocery stores, home and garden stores; and are placed in homes, yards, gardens and orchards by professional pest control companies. What many people do not think of is that their dogs will find these poisons attractive to eat and that the lethal toxic effects seen in rodents will be seen in their dog as well.
All mammals’ (dog, human, cat, rat, etc.) blood vessels acquire small tears many times a day. Normally, when a vessel tears, a blood clot forms and we (or our dogs) go on as if nothing happened. Making a blood clot requires platelets to form a temporary plug and active blood clotting factors to create a more permanent cementing of the platelet plug. Without the cement, the platelet plug is washed away and bleeding begins again.
There are many clotting factors in the body. They are made in the liver and they circulate in the bloodstream in an inactive form. They are identified by number, and four keyfactors (Numbers II, VII, IX, and X) and they depend on Vitamin K (a fat soluble vitamin) for activation. As the clotting factors are activated, Vitamin K is inactivated but later reactivated by another set of enzymes to be ready to participate in clotting factor activation again later. As long as there is plenty of Vitamin K, Clotting factors II, VII, IX and X can be activated and clotting can proceed normally.
Here is where the anticoagulant rat poisons (D-con, etc.) come into the picture.
The anticoagulant rodenticides halt Vitamin K reactivation. This means that as soon as one’s active Vitamin K reserves are depleted; there can be no meaningful blood clotting.
In most cases of poisoning (e.g., strychnine, antifreeze, drug over dosages) we expect symptoms to be nearly immediate, but in the case of anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning it takes several days (3-7 on average) to see the effects because it takes several days to deplete Vitamin K. After that, even the smallest of jostles and traumas can lead to life-threatening bleeds.
Clinical Signs – These are vague and non-specific and vary depending on where the dog bled.
 An owner maynotice an unusual blue green color to the dog’s feces from a nondigestable dye found in most rodenticides.
Dogs can exhibit:
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Lethargy, weakness and exercise intolerance |
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Anorexia (lack interest and/or refuse to eat) |
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Trouble breathing (due to bleeding in the chest cavity) |
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Bruising |
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Lameness |
If a dog is known to have recently ingested a rodenticide poison:
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Get him/her to a veterinarian immediately! Vomiting can be induced if they have eaten it within the last 4 hours. The sooner after ingestion that vomiting is induced the better the chance that all toxins will be removed from the dog’s gastrointestinal tract. |
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Activated charcoal can be given to help bind the toxin that has gone into the intestine -- so that it will not be absorbed. |
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Blood clotting tests (PT or PIVKA) can be done at the initial treatment time, and repeated at 48 hrs and 72 hrs. These test results will be abnormal before the dog shows clinical bleeding. If the tests are abnormal, this indicates that a toxic dose of rodenticide was absorbed despite attempts at decontamination. In these situations, Vitamin K treatment must be started. |
If a dog is showing signs of rodenticide intoxication and his/her blood clotting is abnormal – it is too late for decontamination and the medical treatment must begin. Medical treatment consists of:
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IV fluids and treatment for shock |
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Transfusion of clotting factors |
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Transfusion of red blood cells (if the amount of bleeding has led to severe anemia) |
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Oxygen (if there has been bleeding into the chest cavity) |
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Vitamin K by injection and then orally |
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Strict rest |
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Blood clotting tests |
Although ingestion of rodenticide can prove fatal, the prognosis for dogs that ingest rodenticide is generally good with early decontamination and a fair to good prognosis with aggressive medical treatment where there has been rodenticide absorption. If you believe your pet has ingested rodenticide, it is critical that they be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately.
Dr. Deanna Purvis is the Chief of Staff and Co-Founder of the California Animal Referral & Emergency (C.A.R.E.) Hospital. Referral appointments are made by calling (805) 899-CARE (2273) or your pet may be seen 24/7 on emergency if your veterinarian is not available. You may also log on to the C.A.R.E. web site for further information at www.carehospital.org.
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October is my favorite month of the year; Why? Because its MY BIRTHDAY month! What better way to celebrate than to have all of my closest buds over for a party. Dioji is happy to announce our first annual HOWL-OWEEN PARTY & COSTUME CONTEST. Bring the whole family and join us on Saturday, October 24th; registration begins at 4:30pm and judging begins at 5:00pm. 
Enter your dog in the costume contest or just come to watch – Dioji members and non-members are all welcome! Prizes will be awarded for most creative, scariest, funniest, best owner/dog pair & judge's favorite. 
tunnel, weave poles, ramp and jumps. Dogs of all shapes and sizes (100lb German Shepherd down to a 6 lb Poodle Mix) did an excellent job trying the equipment out. We had so much fun 
we’ll be doing this event again sometime in the future so even more members can give it a try!
Kirby Wendel
Each
month we would like to introduce one of our valuable team members to
you so you can get to know the Dioji staff even better. 
Thank you so much for letting us come and play at your house. I enjoyed meeting the other dogs and making some new human friends, too. But mostly, thank you for entertaining my little brother all afternoon. He’s a handful! 
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy – that was so much fun. All those nice dogs who want to play with ME!!! My kitties say Thank You ‘cause I don’t have the energy to lick them all over and chase them like I usually do. Hope to see you and my new friends again soon! Sending lots of puppy kisses!