Can any vets weigh in?
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Anonymous
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Two days ago we found a rat in our basement (gross, I know). Immediately called the exterminator, who in addition to rat traps wanted to put down rat poison. Because we have a dog, I said no. I had heard that if the rat eats the poison and dies outside, and my dog then eats the rat, he could suffer the effects of the poison. I have tried googling this but not only did I not find anything "official", all the message boards I found discussing it had conflicting opinions. Anyone have experience with this? Any vets out there that can weigh in?
Thanks in advance. |
Anonymous
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You are right. Absolutely no poison with a dog around. You don't want your dog to eat a dead rat regardless, and the dog could also get into the poison. The worst thing about rodent poison is that it's deliberately slow acting so the pest won't die in the house. Your dog may be fine for a few days and then suddenly gets sick and dies.
On a side note, how do you feel about cats? They are wonderful for rodent control. |
Anonymous
| Rodenticides are lethal down the food chain. A mouse eats it and dies. Cat comes along, finds the dead mouse, eats the mouse, and gets poisoned. Dog comes along, finds the pellets, eats them, and gets poisoned. Why on earth are the things even offered for sale?? Not a veterinarian - a concerned reader with a very sick dog due to possible rodenticide poisoning. |
Anonymous
With the holidays coming, see if someone needs cat sitting! 
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Anonymous
| Vet here. Depends on concentration of poison and size of dog. But it certainly CAN be deadly. Don't want to mess with that. |
doodlebug
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| They can also kill owls and other birds/animals who eat a rodent that's been poisoned. It's really bad stuff all around. |
Anonymous
| OP here. So glad I said no to the poison. Thanks for all your input. Will stick with the traps and the plug in thing that makes some sort of supersonic noise to keep them away. |