Rodenticide (rat bait) toxicity

If a mouse bait can kill a mouse; it can kill ANY animal. Do not believe cleverly marketed items that hint at being safe to use near household pets.

There are multiple rodenticides on the market, and all are efficacious poisons. Most cause severe illness and death to the mouse that has consumed it and can also cause serious illness and death in the animal that eats that mouse. Many cats and dogs become poisoned by eating the bait or the mice that have eaten a rodenticide.

Symptoms of rodenticide toxicity include sudden tiredness, death, increased breathing effort, pale gums, bleeding from nose and blood in urine.

Zinc phosphide-based mouse baits are also toxic to humans, the phosphine gas released from the bait are especially dangerous indoors or in poorly ventilated areas. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness.

Rat bait toxicity can be treated successfully, with antidotes, blood transfusions and supportive therapy in hospital.

Preventing rodenticide toxicity:

• remove the attraction for rodents- put any open food into fridge or in airtight containers, Do not leave pet food in bowel (have set mealtimes) as mice and rodents like eating cat and dog food.
•  place baiting stations where your pet cannot gain access to the bait.
• setting traps rather than baiting
• dispose of any dead mice immediately!