My dog ate strychnine – 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. Strychnine can cause signs within 15 minutes to 2 hours.

What to do now

What to do right now

Note what, how much and when was eaten.
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

Strychnine is a very dangerous rodenticide used to kill gophers and ground squirrels.^[1] It is supposed to be used below ground, such as buried, but is sometimes used to maliciously poison dogs.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Drooling
Tremors
Seizures
Death

Clinical signs can occur within 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Where it is found

Below ground, such as buried

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

How much strychnine is dangerous?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now about any suspected exposure.

Which signs should I watch for?

Signs include drooling, tremors, seizures and death.

How soon can signs start?