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Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3)

Some brands containing Cholecalciferol are: d-Con, Quintox, Bell, Montomco

This is one of the most dangerous types of poison as only a very small amount can be lethal. Cholecalciferol poisoning is expensive and difficult to treat. It is a challenging rat poison to treat among vets.

Common Symptoms:

Lethargy and weakness

Decreased appetite

Increased thirst and urination

Halitosis (noticeably bad breath)

Tremors/shaking

Possible kidney failure and death

Treatment

There is no specific antidote but for the best possible outcome, aggressive IV fluid injections will be necessary to flush out the kidneys and return the calcium levels back to normal. Animals will typically need to be hospitalized for up to a week.

How To Prevent Rat Poisoning

There are a few things you can do to prevent your furry friends from getting into the poison traps in the first place! Consider these precautionary steps before you decide if and where to use rodenticides.

1. Don’t use rat poison

There are a variety of other methods to practice safe rodent control that dont employ using rodenticides. If you want to avoid harming your pets, abstaining from rat poisons is the first step!

2. Put your rat and mouse traps somewhere your pets can’t get to

This is made a bit easier if you have a larger dog but when it comes to small dogs you have to get creative with your hiding spots. Put yourself in your dog’s position. If you can easily grab it with your hand, they can just as easily grab it with their mouths or paws.

3. Put your rat poison inside a cage

Make sure the cage is large enough for rats but too small for your dog and other pets.

4. Monitor your dog

Whether your dog is inside or outside, keep a close eye on your beloved pet. Dogs are very curious creatures looking to get their paws into whatever they can reach.

If you begin to notice any peculiar behaviors in your pet, make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. Please call the nearest animal hospital immediately to set up an emergency appointment if your dog has any of the symptoms listed above. It can be difficult to determine what our dogs are feeling but what they lack in words they make up for in actions or lack thereof. Never hesitate to get a professional opinion. What can seem like an upset stomach or lack of energy has the possibility of being so much more drastic and life-threatening.

CHOLECALCIFEROL (VITAMIN D3):

This is one of the most dangerous mouse and rat poisons on the market and seems to be gaining in popularity.

Mechanism of action: This poison causes a very high calcium and phosphorus level in the body, resulting in severe, acute kidney failure.

Common signs of poisoning: Increased thirst and urination, weakness, lethargy, a decreased appetite, and halitosis (“uremic” breath). Acute kidney failure develops 2-3 days after ingestion. Often by this point, significant and permanent damage has already occurred to the body.

Antidote and treatment: This type of poisoning can be one of the most challenging to treat as hospitalization, frequent laboratory monitoring and expensive therapy is often required for a positive outcome. There is no specific antidote, but poisoning generally responds well to aggressive IV fluids (for 2-3 days) and specific drugs (e.g., diuretics, steroids, calcitonin and bisphosphonates) to decrease calcium levels in the body. Frequent monitoring of blood work (calcium, phosphorus, and kidney values) is often needed for a period of 2-6 weeks after ingestion.

Threat: Cholecalciferol has a very narrow margin of safety. Small ingestions of this poison may be fatal for any dog or cat; thus, almost all ingestions must be treated quickly and appropriately to prevent kidney failure.

Rat Poison Toxicity in Dogs