The most common types of rat and mouse poisons fall into 2 categories:

1. Anticoagulants - These are "The Most Common" type of poison and account for the largest number of accidental poisonings amongst dogs. Vitamin K is necessary for the clotting agents found in the blood to work normally. The anticoagulants in the rodent poison effectively block the production of Vitamin K in the animals body. This causes the rodent to bleed spontaneously and bleed to death. There are 3 different kinds of anticoagulant rodent poisons on the market today: 1st generation, 2nd generation, and long-acting anticoagulant poisons:
   • 1st generation - cumulative poisons that require multiple feedings over several days to kill the rodent.
   • 2nd generation - contain the ingredients bromadiolone and brodifacoum which are 50 -200 times more toxic and can kill a rodent after only one feeding. A small dog can even be poisoned by eating a dead. rodent with residual poison in its stomach.
   • Long Acting - Closely related to the 2nd generation anticoagulants, these poisons contain any of these active ingredients (pindone, diphacinone, diphenadione, and chlorphacinone)
2. Hypercalcemic Agents - These are rat poisons that contain Vitamin D (choleecaciferol) as their effective agent are becoming more popular because rodents don't develop a resistance and, with rare exceptions of a puppy or small dog who eat poisoned rodents will not develop toxicity. These poisons work by raising the calcium content in the rodent's blood stream to toxic levels, eventually causing their hearts to stop.

Anticoagulant Rodent Poisons

1st generation
Examples: D-Con, Ward 42, Rax, Rodex, Toxhid, Ratifin,Rat-A-Way, Lurat, Krunkill, and Fumisol

2nd generation
Examples: Mouse Prufe II, Havoc, Talon, Weather Block, Super Caid, Ratimus, and Contrac.

Long-Acting
Examples: Valone, Promar, Ramik, Diphacin, Ciad Drat, Rozol, Pival, and PMP.

Symptoms of Poisoning
Observable signs of poisoning do not occur until several days after exposure. The dog may become weak and pale from blood loss, have nose bleeds, vomit blood, experience rectal bleeding, begin coughing up blood and may develop bruises beneath the skin or have hemorrhages beneath the gums. The dog may be found dead from bleeding into the chest or abdomen. Note - these symptoms may show up sooner in the case of rodent poisoning of the 2nd generation and long lasting anticoagulant. If you find these symptoms and you believe that your dog has recently ingested an anticoagulant rodent poison, follow the treatment suggested.

Treatment for Poisoning
If at all possible, bring in the container for product identification. This is extremely important because treatment depends on whether or not the poison was a 1st or 2nd generation anticoagulant. With observed or suspected recent ingestion of rodent poison, induce vomiting and immediately seek veterinary help. To find out how to induce vomiting click here.

Examples: Rampage, Quintox, Rat-B-Gone, and Mouse-B-Gone

Symptoms of Poisoning
Signs of elevated levels of calcium in dogs usually appear 18 to 36 hours after they ingest the poison. They include increase thirst, frequent urination, vomiting, generalized weakness, muscle twitching, seizures and eventually death. Among survivors the effects of elevated blood calcium may last for weeks

Treatment for Poisoning
If you suspect that your dog has ingested one of these poisons within the last four hours, induce vomiting. To find out how to induce vomiting click here. Then notify your veterinarian. Veterinary treatment includes correcting the fluid and electrolyte imbalances caused by the poison. The vet will lower your pets calcium levels using diuretics, very specific medications and giving him a low calcium diet .