My dog ate rat poison – what should I do?
Call a vet nowCall your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Bleeding usually occurs 1–3 days after ingestion, and an overdose of long-acting anticoagulants can cause life-threatening hemorrhage.
What to do right now
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
- Note what was eaten, how much, and when.
- Bring the packaging.
- Remove what is left and keep your dog calm.
Don't
- Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Do not give any human medicine.
Why it can be dangerous
Long-acting anticoagulants in specific rodenticides can cause a severe blood-clotting disorder and life-threatening hemorrhage in animals.[3] Bleeding caused by these products usually occurs 1–3 days after ingestion.[1]
Signs to watch for
Bleeding usually occurs 1–3 days after ingestion.
Where it is found
What the experts say
“The strengths of the anticoagulants are usually 0.005% or 0.05mg/g”
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Common questions
How much is dangerous for a dog?
The listed facts do not give a dog-specific dangerous amount; bait strengths are usually 0.005% or 0.05 mg/g.[2]
What signs should I watch for?
Bleeding can occur, and overdoses can cause a severe blood-clotting disorder and life-threatening hemorrhage.[1][3]
How soon might signs start?
Bleeding usually occurs 1–3 days after ingestion.[1]
Sources
- Giftinformationscentralen (Swedish Poison Information Centre)
- Animal PoisonLine (UK, VPIS)
- Pet Poison Helpline
- Exposure of domestic cats to rodenticidal compounds, Toxics 2025
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
Antihistamines
Bones (turkey, chicken, steak)