If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ingested a toxic item, this is considered an “ORANGE” – or urgent case – on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 for help determining if your pet consumed a toxic amount and for guidance on what to do next. If veterinary care is advised, call your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital ahead of your arrival.
Meet Rootbeer, a 2-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier. His toasty brown coat, reminiscent of his namesake, belies the fierce spirit within. Recently, Rootbeer faced a formidable adversary: Bromethalin, a deadly toxin to dogs. With courage and resilience, he fought this toxic foe head-on and is now ready to tell his story!
Dog vs. Toxin
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was happily exploring when I stumbled upon something with a new, interesting smell. So, of course, I ate it. But I found myself reevaluating that life choice when, not long after, I saw my Foster Mom’s face turn pale as she stared at me. Then she rushed into motion.
The next thing I knew, we were rushing to the V-E-T. But not just any vet – the ER vet. My Foster Mom was so worried, but she kept her focus, knowing that every second counted.
When we arrived at the Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota, their team sprang into action. I heard words like “rat bait” and “decontamination.” They also said my Foster Mom did the right thing to bring me in as soon as she discovered what I ate. Lucky for me, my Foster Mom is smart and knows rat bait is toxic to my kind and that I needed immediate veterinary care.
Tip from ER Vet Dr. Neufeld: “Bringing a pet in as soon as you’re aware of any toxic exposures is important because the window for decontamination is short – sometimes as little as 30 minutes to only a few hours!”
I was so happy to have their team helping me fight off the toxic invader inside of me. Fortunately, I felt fine, and they said my “vital signs” were normal – which must mean something good. They also seemed to like when I wagged my tail and gave them kisses. But they wanted me to stop once they gave me a medication called “apomorphine” – which made me vomit. Those bright green chunks confirmed that I definitely ate rat bait. Oops!
Another reason why my Foster Mom is smart: she brought in the packaging for the rat bait so that the veterinary team could verify the active ingredient – Bromethalin.
Tip from Dr. Neufeld: Keep all packaging for any rat bait or other potentially toxic substances used in your home. If your pet gets into a toxic substance – bring that label into the veterinary clinic. This way, ingredients and concentration can be assessed if needed, which helps greatly to guide a treatment plan and prognosis.
About Bromethalin
Dr. Neufeld told me that Bromethalin is super dangerous. It’s a neurotoxin, which means it makes the brain and spinal cord swell up. Yikes! A lot of rat bait brands use this stuff, so that’s why it’s important for your human to save the packaging so the vet team can verify the ingredients.
I was really lucky that my Foster Mom acted fast and took me to the animal ER right away, before I even felt sick. Some pets aren’t as fortunate, and they have to deal with some pretty scary stuff like:
- Trouble walking
- Acting really “out of it” or sleepy
- Shaky muscles
- Seizures
- Stiff legs
- Upset stomach
These things can start right away, or sometimes even take up to two whole weeks to show up!
And the worst part? Bromethalin is one of those rat poisons that doesn’t have an antidote. Yeah, not great news for me…
Treatment
The battle raged on, and since Bromethalin doesn’t have an antidote, the vet team had to move fast to decontaminate me. They gave me anti-puking medication followed by this black stuff called “oral activated charcoal” – it stops any leftover poison in my stomach from being absorbed into my body. They also warned my Foster Mom that I might have black poop for a day or two. That will be…interesting.
I spent the night in the hospital. The vet team kept a close eye on me for any neurologic sneak attacks such as seizures or other abnormalities. But guess what? I didn’t show any symptoms! So, I got to go home to my awesome Foster Family the next day!
It was a tough battle, but thanks to my Foster Mom’s quick thinking and the expert care at AERC, I made it out. We fought hard together, and with their help, I emerged victorious – now ready for my next quest: to find a forever home!
Update on Rootbeer:
We’re thrilled Rootbeer received immediate treatment and avoided any life-threatening symptoms from rat bait ingestion. His foster family reports he’s shown no delayed signs of Bromethalin toxicity and is back to his happy, playful self!
Even better, Rootbeer has been adopted through Fur-Ever Home Rescue! We’re so excited for him and wish him the happiest life!
Pet parents, always store rat bait out of reach of pets and children. Since Bromethalin has no antidote, it’s better to use anti-coagulant rat baits, which have a Vitamin K1 antidote, or consider using rodent traps instead.
If you think your pet ingested something toxic, go to your nearest animal ER immediately or call ASPCA Pet Poison at 888-426-4435 for help determining the best course of action.
Our “Fur-tunately: Stories of Animal Survival” series features real pets treated by our team at Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota. All images and information have been shared with the rescue’s permission.
Case content provided by Melanie Neufeld, DVM.
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