Second Chance: Rat Poison Risks Pets Lives

24 Apr Second Chance: Rat Poison Risks Pets Lives

Second Chance Humane Society Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shops service San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties. Call the SCHS Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter, Volunteer, Feral Cat, or other Programs. View our shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.

Ivy

My name is Ivy and my Second Chance Pet Column message of the week is this: rat poison kills dogs – so don’t ever use it.

But, since the one person out there who does not read the Pet Column is going to be the one who still uses rat poison around their home, I thought I’d best broaden the scope of this article with some advice about what to do if your dog does consume the nasty stuff.

If you even suspect your dog has come into contact with rat poison, seek veterinary care immediately.

If your dog ate rat poison, you may notice lethargy, difficulty breathing, pale gums, coughing, vomiting and/or sneezing blood, seizure and collapse. Getting your dog to a veterinarian right away should be your first priority.Either bring the ingested rat poison container with you to the vet or know the name of it.

Although getting the stuff immediately out of your dog’s system is critical, I strongly recommended you call the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) and consult with them and/or your veterinarian before trying to make your dog vomit.

Treatment for a dog who ate rat poison varies depending on how long it has been since the dog was exposed.

According to the ASPCA, if caught within six hours, inducing vomiting to minimize absorption is recommended, but if it has been longer than six hours, vomiting is not recommended. In that case, veterinarians will likely treat the dog with medications and fluids designed to try and block the rat poison from absorption into the body, and increase flushing the toxin from the body.

Time is of the essence when it comes to treatment, as prognosis depends on how long after ingestion treatment is started and how much was ingested, as well as the dog’s age and general health. Dogs ingesting rat poison can get very sick very quickly, and exposure can be fatal, particularly for dogs with kidney issues.

So, my final recommendation to all is to just stop using the horrific poison altogether and opt for more humane methods of removing rodents from home environments.

Now on to the primary purpose of this week’s Pet Column, to introduce myself to all the potential folks out there looking for a new best furry friend.

I am an elegant, two-year-young Anatolian Shepherd/Lab mix. I came to Second Chance from another shelter experiencing overcrowding, so I am glad to be here, but  also ready for a real home. I am a very happy and patient girl who loves to hike and play with my human friends and other dogs that are calm like me.

“Stay Calm & Play On” is my motto. Let me be the peaceful companion in your life…