RAT BAIT POISONING IN DOGS AND PETS
Accidental poisoning in pets is most frequently encountered problem due to over-the-counter medications and use of toxicants for the control of pest, flies, cockroaches and rodents in the household, kitchen, yard and garden also chance to acquire toxicity in pets . Rodenticides are commonly using compound to control rodent in household and food/fodder storage unit, among the various types of rodenticides Yellow Phosphorus based rodenticides are commercially available as bait and it’s highly fatal to human as well as animals when consumed accidentally or deliberately . Yellow Phosphorus is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and metabolized in liver further it causes multi organ failure . Oral lethal dose of Yellow Phosphorus in dogs is 3-6 mg per kg bwt . The commonly reported rodenticide poisoning in dogs is due to Warfarin, but Phosphorous based rodenticide poisoning in pets were not well documented. Hence, the present case was documented accidental ingestion of yellow Phosphorous based Ratol paste in a dog and its successful medical management.
There are several different varieties of rat poison on the market. The toxic effects of rat poisoning depend upon the active ingredients in the substance ingested by the dog. Be aware that different types of rat poison have different toxic doses, so poisoning can manifest itself in a variety of ways. There is no type of rat poison that is considered “dog safe.”
Most rodenticides have a grain or sugar base, making them taste good to rodents as well as dogs, cats, and other animals. They often come in pellets, blocks, granules, or liquids. Rat poison may be any color but is commonly teal, blue, green, or pink. Unfortunately, the color and shape of a particular rat poison cannot help you determine the active ingredient. The only way to be certain which chemical is in the rat poison is to read the packaging.
Common Signs of Rat bait Ingestion
Signs of intoxication are associated with bleeding and can range from very subtle signs such as pin point haemorrhages on the gums to frank bleeding from anywhere.
- pale gums or small pin point haemorrhages on the gums
- lethargy
- bruising under the skin
- blood in the urine or faeces
- bleeding from the nose
- continued bleeding from small wounds or cuts
- Abdominal distension (From bleeding into the abdominal cavity)
- coughing or respiratory difficulties (laboured or rapid breathing from bleeding into the chest cavity)
- lameness/swelling of joints
- seizures or muscle tremors
Treatment
Treatment depends on when ingestion occurred and the type of rat bait ingested.
If ingestion occurred within 6 hours of presenting to your veterinarian, vomiting is induced. It is then recommended to have the clotting factors checked 2-3 days later to see if the body absorbed any rat bait resulting in clotting deficiency. If the test is then abnormal Vitamin K treatment will then be started.
If your pet presents with active signs of bleeding following rat bait ingestion, treatment includes hospitalisation, bloods taken for clotting tests, vitamin K treatment and ongoing monitoring for active bleeding. In severe cases blood transfusions or plasma transfusion may be required and left untreated rat bait ingestion can be fatal.
Anticoagulant rodenticide is the most common type of rat bait used, but there are also different types of rat bait out there which can cause different side effects and require different treatments. It is therefore important to identify the type used so we can treat your animal effectively. Less commonly used rat baits includes cholecalciferol, bromethalin, zinc phosphide and strychnine.
Emergency care: Initially animal is sedated with Inj. Xylazine @ 1.1.mg/kg and Inj. Diazepam @ 0.5mg/kg IV to institute respiratory support with endotracheal intubation. Gastric lavage is done with diluted potassium permanganate and stomach contents are evacuated. Dog is kept under fluid therapy and supportive care .Dog is stabilized with fluids Inj. Ringers lactate, Inj. Benzyl penicillin @ 10000 IU/kg IV, Inj. Ondansetron @ 0.5 mg/kg IV, Inj. Ranitidine @ 2 mg/kg IM along with supportive therapy Inj. Acetylcysteine @ 10 mg/kg IV is initiated as protective measures for acute hepatic damage. Further fluid therapy and supportive care are continued for 6 hrs and dog is improved by the 3rd hour onwards.
Emergency Procedures
- Remove toxic load from stomach: If toxicity occurs because of ingestion dog’s digestive tract needs to be decontaminated as soon as possible to reduce the load of poison. Inducing vomiting is a failry safe way of doing this. When not to induce vomiting– vomiting is not induced if the dog ate something that can cause a lung infection e.g. petroleum products. Never induce vomiting in an unconscious or convulsing dog. What to use to inducing vomiting – Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution at 1-2 teaspoons/2kg body weight or use a 30-50% salt solution. Use a large 20ml syringe or a rubber bottle between the back teeth to squeeze the solution into the stomach. The dog should through in about a minute. Repeat the dose in 10 or 15 minutes if the dog has not vomited.
- Absorbing toxic load in the gut with activated charcoal: Activated charcoal is available as tablets/ pellets or powder in human pharmacies so is easy to procure. Activated charcoal has a large surface area and it is able to absorb many chemicals through ion-ion hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces preventing or reducing the toxicant’s absorption. Effectiveness is related to molecular size and polarity of the molecules, the solubility of the poison, the presence of inorganic salts, the pH of the toxicant, and the presence of gastric contents. When to give: Activated charcoal should be administered as soon as possible after the exposure, but not before you induce vomiting. The best option may be to induce vomiting and then give activated charcoal. Dose:Recommended dose is a 5g compressed tablet for 2kg body weight. The charcoal is often given multiple times rather than all at once. When not to give: Charcoal is not given if the toxin is an oil
- Causing catharsis:Some poisons are slow acting and may have entered the lower gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract – e.g. rat poison and when only activated charcoal would not work. In such cases, a cathartic agent or anema should be used to clear out both the upper GI tract (using vomiting and charcoal) and lower GI tract (using catharsis). Cathartic agents increase peristalsis – usually by irritating intestinal mucous membranes – to cause the bowel to empty. Common cathartic agents are sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate.
- Maintenence of respiration and critical functions:Consequent to poisoning you need to take watch out for (a) cardiac rhythm – if the dog’s heart has stopped, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or cardiac massage may be required to regain a proper heartbeat (b) body temperature is maintained – if the dog goes into coma or body function drops temperature may drop as well and needs to be maintained. Additional symptoms such as seizures may need to be addressed.
- Administration of antidotes:When possible, antidotes, based on the toxin ingested will be administered.
Post emergency procedure
- Addressing long-term toxicity effects: Lower grade poisoning may have postcondition including kidney and liver damage. Diuretic drugs may be used to flush out kidneys and the urinary tract and in severe cases, dialysis may be recommended. Antioxidants and liver supplements that benefit the liver and kidneys help include Omega 3 fatty acids that help control inflammation.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
