Media Release

Danger from Autumn rat baits

Contact :Perri Hawke

Canobolas Pet Hospital

10 William St.,

Orange. NSW.

Ph 02 6362 6991

Fax 02 63620 489

Mice and rats invade our homes during the colder months. Often our defence against this invasion is to lay poison baits around our homes. Unfortunately, this poison frequently ends up being eaten by the family pet and so autumn/winter is the time of the year where the vets in Orange see pets poisoned accidentally by rat bait. 

Rat baits are dangerous, they work by stopping the blood from clotting and so animals poisoned by them slowly bleed to death. The signs of poisoning may not become evident for several days. The main signs relate to anemia and blood loss, which is mostly internal, and so will often go unnoticed. Weakness, rapid breathing, exercise intolerance and pale gums are the most common signs seen by owners.  

More recent types of rat baits, containing bromadialone, act faster and for longer and so are deadly with only one feed. With these baits an animal eating a rat which has died from rat bait poisoning gets sufficient poison to also be affected. This is called secondary poisoning.

Proper placement of the baits away from where pets and children can access them is important. In America 14% of human deaths relating to toxins were due to rat bait poisons, so care with these baits around the house is essential.

The active ingredient in rat baits works by inhibiting vitamin K, the clotting vitamin. Treatment involves giving vitamin K but might also include blood transfusions, oxygen and long periods of hospitalization.

Pets and poisons don't mix.