OMG, My Dog Ate Rat Poison

Talk about freaking out! My dog ate rat poison today. I am a cat person so I don't know how common this is, my dog Buster is a Beagle, he will eat any and everything! I have seen this dog chew on batteries, pens, and chapstick. He even ate a small bottle of eye drops once.

Buster's Demise

So today I let Buster out to do his business. Now mind you, Buster is very fat and old. He has arthritis and don't move all that quickly but apparently faster then me. He ventured over to his favorite pooping spot on our property and spotted a box in the yard by his favorite peeing spot. By the time I got to him to make sure he stayed in his own yard and not wonder into the neighbors yard, he was eating what was in the box.

It Wasn't The Food That Buster Lives For

I flipped the cover over and seen D-Con Kills Mice and Rats

Thank God my oldest son was here doing laundry and heard me yelling, "Oh My God, Buster Just Ate Rat Poison". He came down to where we were and got the dog and called the vet. I cleaned up the area so no other animal could get to it. I have an amazing vet that I have been going to for over 30 years. They told me to get him there ASAP. It took me maybe 20 minutes to get him there and they took him right back. Before I even left the office, they had him puking to get the poison out of him as quickly as possible. He will be staying there for a few days. So I started doing some reach, seeing that I don't used any kind of poisons. I don't even use common cleaners in my house due to having my six cats and the dog. My husband calls me the walking commercial for white vinegar and baking soda.

d-Con Kills Mice & Rats, Dogs & Cats!

The active ingredient in D-Con Mice and Rat Poison is Brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide or "ACR". It affects your dogs and cats ability to clot properly. ACR inhibits the production of vitamin-k, dependent blood clotting factors made in the liver. This can result in internal bleeding.

Clinical signs don't take effect for 3-5 days. I guess I can feel a little lucky that I actually saw my dog eating this toxic poison and got him to the vet quickly. The thought of how many domestic and wild animals that eats this stuff makes me sick to my stomach.

The signs to look for:

• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing
• Pale gums
• Couching
• Vomiting
• Bloody nose
• Hematomas
• Collapse
• Bleeding gums
• Death

Treatment that is common and that my pup will be receiving is decontamination, Vitamin-K orally for 30 days, blood transfusions, plasma transfusions, oxygen and supportive care.

How Can Something Like This Happen?

Later in the day I found out that my elderly neighbor put the poison out to get rid of several groundhogs that made their homes under some brush in our yard. They were getting into his unprotected garden several feet away from our property line. This was an honest mistake on his part due to the fact that he didn't realize that a dog or cat would be interested in eating such a thing. But he was wrong! Number one, dogs are very attracted to it, number two he placed this poison on our property without our knowledge ( I would have NEVER allowed it even for the death of a groundhog) and number three, now he is unwilling to pay the vet bills that we are going to acquir unless we hire a lawyer to tell him that he must. SMH!

The Effects of Using Poison Control

As you can see from the image below. Rodenticides such a d-Con enters the food chain when rodents die from poisoning and are eaten by domestic animals or wildlife - who often die as a result.

Protect Your Beloved Pets and Our Wildlife!

Just a week or two ago, my husband and I rescued a baby mallard deserted in a parking lot. The next day, I took baby mallard to a wildlife sanctuary who will care for and raise it until it is old enough to be released back into the wild. We are animal lovers and do not believe in inhuman treatment of animals, ANY ANIMALS.

My purpose for this blog is two-fold. One, that you may be aware of the dangers of rat poison use for wildlife and around domestic animals. Two, there are humane ways to rid your property of unwanted animals. Rescue, live capture and release, and animal sanctuary's, are a much better alternatives then having to say, OMG, my dog just ate rat poison!

How will you choose to protect domestic, wildlife, or unwanted animals in the future?