Is Rat and Mouse Poison Dangerous to Dogs?
Think your dog ate rat or mouse bait? Phone your own vet or the nearest emergency vet now. Find an emergency vet
US animal poison lines, 24 hours, both take calls from owners: ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435 (the ASPCA says a consultation fee may apply) and Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661 (USD 99 per incident). Elsewhere: poison lines in 34 countries.
Quick answer
Yes. PetMD's vet-written guide, reviewed by Pet Poison Helpline vets, says that if your dog eats rat poison, whatever the amount or type, you should contact a poison line and take your dog to a vet straight away, with the bait or packaging. Some types cause signs within minutes; others take 1 to 7 days, so a dog that looks fine is not in the clear.
From PetMD and Pet Poison Helpline vets. Not veterinary advice. See who to call.
This page is not veterinary advice. It tells you what the named sources publish and who to call. There are no home treatment steps here, on purpose. Full disclaimer.
On this page (6 sections)
The four types and what they do
PetMD lists four main active ingredients, and you cannot tell them apart by looking at the bait:
- Anticoagulants (such as brodifacoum, bromadiolone and warfarin) cause internal bleeding.
- Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) raises blood calcium and mainly damages the kidneys.
- Bromethalin causes swelling of the brain.
- Zinc and aluminium phosphides release toxic phosphine gas in the stomach.
Winter is when more bait goes down, as mice and rats move indoors. Source: PetMD, My dog ate rat poison, now what? (Veronica Higgs, DVM; reviewed by the Pet Poison Helpline veterinarian team).
Symptoms
PetMD lists these signs by type:
- Anticoagulants: lethargy, pale gums, trouble breathing, weakness or collapse and a poor appetite; less often bloody diarrhoea, nosebleeds, bruising or seizures.
- Cholecalciferol: weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, and drinking and urinating more.
- Bromethalin: stumbling, tremors or seizures, paralysis and less activity.
- Phosphides: lethargy, vomiting (possibly bloody), diarrhoea, weakness, tremors or seizures, trouble breathing and a bloated, painful belly.
It says signs from the first three often take 1 to 7 days to appear, while phosphide signs can start within minutes. Dyes in the bait (red, green, blue, pink or tan) may show in the stool. Source: PetMD, My dog ate rat poison, now what? (Veronica Higgs, DVM; reviewed by the Pet Poison Helpline veterinarian team).
What to do now
- Phone a poison line or your vet and head to the vet straight away, whatever the amount. PetMD suggests calling the poison line on the way.
- Take the bait, the box or a photo of the label: the active ingredient decides the treatment.
- If phosphides are possible, PetMD says do not feed your dog, because food increases the gas.
- Do not make your dog sick at home: PetMD says vomiting is induced by the vet as part of treatment.
Prevention
- Use traps or bait stations your dog cannot open or reach, and ask pest controllers which product they use.
- Keep the box with the product name somewhere you can find it in a hurry.
- Watch for dropped bait in sheds, garages and around bins, and for poisoned rodents your dog could eat.
Questions people ask
How long after eating rat poison will a dog show symptoms?
PetMD says anticoagulant, cholecalciferol and bromethalin baits often take 1 to 7 days to cause signs, while phosphide baits can cause signs within minutes. That is why a vet should see the dog straight away, before signs appear.
Is a small amount of rat poison dangerous to a dog?
PetMD says to contact a poison line and take your dog to a vet regardless of the amount or the active ingredient.
Should I make my dog vomit after eating rat poison?
Not at home. PetMD says the vet will likely induce vomiting as part of treatment. Phone your vet or a poison line first.
Sources
- PetMD, My dog ate rat poison, now what? (Veronica Higgs, DVM; reviewed by the Pet Poison Helpline veterinarian team), read 7 November 2026.
- Pet Poison Helpline, FAQ (fee), read 7 November 2026.
Related pages
Pet emergency: what to do right now, my dog ate something, signs of poisoning, antifreeze and rock salt and paws.