Dogs are curious animals by nature, a characteristic that can sometimes lead them to come into contact with some products that are dangerous to their he alth. An example of this is poisoning by rodenticides and other pesticides. These compounds are used due to their effectiveness in controlling or eradicating different types of pests, however, they are in danger of being toxic to many other animal species.
If you are interested in knowing more about the symptoms of rodenticide poisoning in dogs and treatment, we recommend that you join us in the following article on our site, in which we will also talk about its prevention.
What are rodenticides and why are they toxic to dogs?
Rodenticides are chemical substances designed to eradicate rodent pests, specifically rats. They are used routinely by public he alth services to control the rodent population in sewage systems and, at a private level, in garages, warehouses, plots and other places prone to this type of pest.
Control of the rodent population is necessary due to the reproductive potential of these animals and because they are vectors of many diseases, such as rabies, tularemia, botulism, bubonic plague and foot-and-mouth disease, among others.
The ideal pesticide would be one capable of generating toxicity in the target species (in this case, rats), but at the same time being harmless to the rest of the species. However, these compounds do not exist in reality, but the vast majority of pesticides are toxic to other living beings That is why it is common to find cases of rodenticide poisoning in dogs and other pets.
Symptoms of rodenticide poisoning in dogs
Before explaining the symptoms of rodenticide poisoning in dogs, we must clarify that there are two large groups of rodenticides:
- Non-anticoagulant rodenticides: its mechanism of action is not related to the coagulation cascade. Due to their high toxicity and the fact that they do not have an antidote, the use of many of them has been prohibited.
- Anticoagulant rodenticides: they act by altering the coagulation cascade. They produce greater toxicity in rodents, but are less harmful to domestic animals. In addition, they have an effective antidote, which is why they are the most widely used today.
Next, we are going to detail the main symptoms associated with these two types of rodenticides in dogs.
Symptoms of non-anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning
This group includes strychnine, bromethalin, cholecalciferol, fluoroacetate, alphanaphthylthiourea and zinc phosphide.
The main clinical signs produced by these rodenticides in dogs are:
- Neurological signs: seizures, hyperexcitability, hypersensitivity to external stimuli, polyneuropathies.
- Digestive sinuses: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia.
- Dyspnea: Difficulty breathing.
- Muscle tremors, muscle stiffness and paralysis.
- Edemas.
- Finally, respiratory failure and death.
Symptoms of anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning
Within the group of anticoagulant rodenticides we find warfarin, brodifacoum, difenacoum, bromadiolone, chlorophacinoma, difacinone and pindone. All of them are characterized by blocking the action of vitamin K and delaying coagulation time.
As a consequence, the following clinical signs appear:
- Hemorrhages: through the nose (epistaxis), mouth (hemoptysis), gums, urine (hematuria), feces (melena) and the skin (bruises, ecchymosis or petechiae). Hemorrhages can also occur in the thoracic cavity (causing shortness of breath and cough), in the abdominal cavity (causing abdominal distension), and in the cranial cavity or spinal canal (causing neurological signs).
- Anemia chart: with fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, pale mucous membranes. We tell you more about Anemia in dogs: causes, symptoms and treatment in the next post on our site.
- In case of severe poisoning, shock and death.
It is important to mention that the effect of anticoagulant rodenticides is not immediate, but they have a delayed effect Therefore, the symptoms in case poisoning by anticoagulant rodenticides may take one to seven days to appear
Regarding what is the lethal dose of rodenticide in dogs, we must clarify the following. In toxicology, the lethal dose is usually represented by the term LD50 (median lethal dose), which varies depending on the compound, the species affected and whether the exposure is single or repeated. For example, the LD50 of warfarin in dogs is 5-50 mg/kg in a single dose, and 1 mg/kg in repeated doses.
How does rodenticide poisoning occur in dogs?
In dogs, the most common route of poisoning is accidental ingestion. This can be caused by direct ingestion of the rodenticide, or by ingestion of a rat or mouse that has come into contact with the bait.
However, there are other routes of exposure that, although less common, are also possible:
- Skin route: by contact with the skin.
- Inhalation route: in dogs it can occur when they sniff around some bait.
What to do if my dog has eaten rodenticide? - Treatment
Rodenticide poisoning is a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment Therefore, always detect or suspect that your dog has ingested or has been in contact with a rodenticide, read the following instructions carefully and act as quickly as possible:
- Do not try to make your dog vomit with home remedies such as s alt or coffee: depending on the toxic substance that you have ingested, it can be counterproductive. This practice should only be carried out by a veterinarian if considered appropriate.
- Do not give your dog any food: such as milk or raw egg. These home remedies are not effective against poisoning and can cause aspiration pneumonia if given forcibly.
- Go immediately to a veterinary center so that they can treat your dog immediately: if you need to go by car, it is preferable that One person drives and the other watches the animal, to avoid accidents.
- Whenever possible, Carry the rodenticide container or its label with you: so that your veterinarian knows the principle active ingredient that caused the intoxication.
Once at the veterinary center, the team that cares for your pet will decide how to proceed, depending on the substance ingested and the time that has elapsed since the poisoning. The treatment plan may include:
- Decontamination treatment: by induction of vomiting, gastric lavage, or administration of adsorbents (such as activated charcoal) and saline cathartics. After administration of activated charcoal, it is normal for the animal to pass black stools for several days.
- Support treatment: institute a fluid therapy plan, provide respiratory support if necessary (with oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation), maintain animal in a quiet environment, protected from strong stimuli.
- Treatment of associated symptoms: anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, blood transfusions, thoracocentesis, etc.
- Antidote: as we have already mentioned, anticoagulant rodenticides have a specific antidote, the vitamin K1. Initially administered subcutaneously, after which treatment should be continued orally for 1-6 weeks (depending on the compound ingested). We tell you more about Vitamin K for dogs: dosage and uses in the following article.
How to avoid rodenticide poisoning in dogs?
The prevention of this type of poisoning is based on a simple premise: prevent dogs from having access to rodenticides, preventing come into contact with these compounds by any of the possible routes of intoxication (ingestion, inhalation or skin contact).
Below, we mention some of the preventive measures that you must take into account to prevent rodenticide poisoning:
- In case you need to use these pesticides, place the baits inside specific bait holders and place them in places where your dog or other animals have no access at all.
- Keep or store pesticides in a closed place where animals cannot access.
- During walks, pay attention to the possible presence of baits in the environment and prevent your dog from approaching. The baits are usually placed in traps (traps) or inside bait holders (these are usually small black or gray boxes).
- Prevents your dog from developing hunting behavior in front of rodents, or in contact with dead rats or mice.
- Prevent your dog from wandering alone or unattended in unknown places.
In any case, remember the importance of urgently going to a veterinary center whenever you suspect that your dog has come into contact with a rodenticide or shows signs compatible with this type of poisoning. The speed with which the treatment is established will determine the prognosis of the animal.
