--- title: "Is Rat and Mouse Poison Dangerous to Dogs? What to Do If Your Dog Ate Some" url: https://pawmultiverse.com/my-dog-ate-rat-poison/ description: "Yes. A vet-written PetMD article, reviewed by Pet Poison Helpline vets, says any amount needs a call to a poison line and a vet straight away. The four poison types, their signs, and why the packaging matters." source: Paw Multiverse (https://pawmultiverse.com), free to cite with a link --- # Is Rat and Mouse Poison Dangerous to Dogs? Published by Paw Multiverse (A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd) · Last updated 7 November 2026 **Think your dog ate rat or mouse bait?** Phone your own vet or the nearest emergency vet now. [Find an emergency vet](https://pawmultiverse.com/find-emergency-vet/) US animal poison lines, 24 hours, both take calls from owners: **ASPCA Animal Poison Control [(888) 426-4435](tel:+18884264435)** (the ASPCA says a consultation fee may apply) and **Pet Poison Helpline [(855) 764-7661](tel:+18557647661)** (USD 99 per incident). Elsewhere: [poison lines in 34 countries](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-poison-control-by-country/). 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](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-emergency-what-to-do-now/). **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](https://pawmultiverse.com/disclaimer/). ## 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)](https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/rat-poisoning-dogs). ## 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)](https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/rat-poisoning-dogs). ## 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. Source: [PetMD, My dog ate rat poison, now what? (Veronica Higgs, DVM; reviewed by the Pet Poison Helpline veterinarian team)](https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/rat-poisoning-dogs). ## 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)](https://www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/rat-poisoning-dogs), read 7 November 2026. - [Pet Poison Helpline, FAQ](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/faq/) (fee), read 7 November 2026. ## Related pages [Pet emergency: what to do right now](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-emergency-what-to-do-now/), [my dog ate something](https://pawmultiverse.com/my-dog-ate-something-what-to-do/), [signs of poisoning](https://pawmultiverse.com/signs-of-poisoning-in-dogs-and-cats/), [antifreeze](https://pawmultiverse.com/antifreeze-poisoning-in-pets/) and [rock salt and paws](https://pawmultiverse.com/rock-salt-and-dog-paws/). **Is your pet's food on a recall list?** Check the barcode on the bag against five official registers in the US, UK, Canada and France. [Check your bag](https://pawmultiverse.com/check-your-bag/) · [Recalls this week](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-food-recalls/this-week/)