You love your dogs and cats, so you should be aware of substances that can harm them. New types of rat poison are causing severe illness in pets, and animal hospitals are seeing more emergency cases with symptoms that vary depending on the poison. Below is what you should know about these new dangers.

An Animal Hospital Guide to Rat Poison 

1. Bromethalin

Bromethalin is a rat poison that causes a dog or cat’s brain to swell, which veterinarians call cerebral edema. There is no antidote for this deadly poison. Treatment at an animal hospital includes inducing vomiting, administering IV fluids, activated charcoal, and medications that stop seizures and relax the muscles. Poisoning signs include lethargy or anxiety, vomiting, seizures or tremors, and coma.

2. Cholecalciferol or Vitamin D3 

Veterinarians know using cholecalciferol or vitamin D3 as a rodent poison causes kidney failure by increasing the body’s calcium level. A tiny amount can poison and kill your dog or cat, and there is no antidote. Poisoned pets stay in an animal hospital for treatment for up to a week while receiving intravenous (IV) fluids and medications to flush out the calcium and poison. Signs of poisoning include tremors, bad breath, increased or decreased thirst or urination, weakness or lethargy, and lack of appetite and weight loss.

3. Anticoagulant Rodenticides (ACR)

When a dog or cat eats an ACR, it causes internal bleeding, because it stops the body from producing blood clotting factors. This poison can kill your pet if untreated, but your veterinarian can prescribe Vitamin K1 as an antidote. Signs of ACR poisoning appear three to five days after ingesting it. Watch for pale or bleeding gums, bloody nose, swelling or bumps on the skin, difficulty breathing, and coughing or vomiting blood.

If you suspect your dog or cat has eaten rat poison, seek pet care from a veterinarian or animal hospital immediately. The experienced and compassionate veterinarians at Baraboo Valley Veterinary Clinic in Wisconsin know how to treat even the newest types of rat poisons and are ready to help restore your pet’s health. To learn more about their pet care services, visit them online. Call (608) 355-2882 for emergency help or to schedule a routine appointment.