My dog ate bromethalin – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Bromethalin can cause swelling of the brain and neurological symptoms when ingested in toxic amounts.

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Note what, how much and when.
Bring the packaging.
Keep your pet calm.
Remove what is left.

Don't

Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Bromethalin-containing mouse and rat poisons can cause swelling of the brain when ingested in toxic amounts.^[1] Brain swelling from bromethalin ingestion can result in neurological symptoms.^[1]

Signs to watch for

vomiting
lethargy
tremors
seizures
weakness
loss of appetite
poor coordination
bleeding

Where it is found

rat bait
mouse bait

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What signs should I watch for?

Neurological symptoms can occur after ingestion in toxic amounts.^[1]

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now; note what, how much and when, and bring the packaging.

Sources

Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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