How to Tell If a Dog Has Eaten Rat Poison

How to Tell If a Dog Has Eaten Rat Poison. Rat poison is very deadly to dogs. A dog can even get sick after eating a rat or mouse that has been poisoned. Symptoms of rat poison in a dog can take up to 3 weeks to show up in a large breed dog. If treatment is swift, the dog can usually be saved.

Things Needed

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Raw egg

Step 1

Induce vomiting by giving your dog 1 tsp. to 2 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide. This should be done if you think your pet has ingested the rat poison within the last 2 hours.

Step 2

Check the vomit for a greenish blue color or tint. If you see this, your dog has ingested rat poison and should be taken to the veterinarian immediately.

Step 3

Monitor the dog for bleeding. Blood may appear from the nose, mouth, eyes or ears. Blood may be present in vomit, stool or urine. Even something simple like a cut may continuously bleed because rat poison is an anticoagulant.

Step 4

Check the dog for bruising. These bruises will look like a human bruise, and it will not heal well.

Step 5

Examine the dog's gait. A dog that has eaten rat poison will often stagger around instead of walking normally. The dog may also walk around aimlessly or seem lost.

Step 6

Watch for convulsions or seizures. If you notice either of these, give the dog a raw egg and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Warnings

• To prevent a dog from eating rat poison, use rat traps or glue traps.

Warnings

• Contact your veterinarian immediately if you know that your dog has eaten rat poison. The only treatment is a vitamin K shot that a licensed veterinarian can administer. The faster you get your dog to the veterinarian, the better the chances of a full recovery.