When Geoff Pender and his family decided to get away for a holiday on the lake, they took their curious dog named Soho with them. As they relaxed in their rental cabin, they noticed that Soho had pulled something out from inside a crack where the stone fireplace had come away from the wall. He turned out to be a mortal rat poison called Vacor which was taken off the market in the US in the late 1970s.
“When you rent a vacation property, especially one that is advertised as pet friendly, don’t expect to have your dog poisoned by something hidden in the house,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline. “While the Soho poisoning occurred outside the home, we want to remind all pet owners to check their environments for hazardous materials, regardless of where they are.”
“It was certainly a very dramatic situation,” Pender explained. “We were sitting around the cabin when my son noticed that Soho had gotten into something hidden behind the fireplace. She was tearing up the wrapping and dust was going everywhere. Then we realized it was rat poison, we knew we needed to urgently take this dog to the hospital. We also called the Pet Poison Helpline, which gave us initial guidance and began to collaborate with the veterinarian on a treatment plan.”
Vacor is a rodenticide with a very narrow margin of safety. Pets may develop symptoms that include stomach upset, heart rate and rhythm abnormalities, low blood pressure, and neurological signs including significant depression, body tremors, and seizures. Damage to the pancreas can also occur.
“We don’t know how much he ingested,” Pender added, “but whatever it is, even the smallest amount can cause serious problems or be fatal. What if it had been a child who had found the package?
The nearest emergency hospital to the cabin was a 45-minute drive away in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. When Pender arrived, the medical team at Kingston Regional Pet Hospital induced vomiting and administered medical grade activated charcoal. Pet Poison Helpline toxicology experts advised the medical treatment team to provide IV fluid therapy to help with cardiovascular perfusion, monitor Soho’s heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure closely, watch for any signs neurological to develop, and monitor blood glucose levels. It was also recommended to continue monitoring Soho’s blood glucose levels for a week after ingestion due to the potential for pancreatic damage. With the diligent care provided by the veterinary staff at the Kingston Pet Regional Hospital, Soho did well and was able to return home the next day after the initial concerns with the poisoning resolved. Once in Ottawa, a mobile vet fitted him for a blood glucose monitor.
The experience left the family shaken, but better educated on what to do the next time they rent a property.
“It was very traumatic for the dog, and very traumatic for us,” Pender said. “We strongly recommend that people with pets inspect everything within reach very carefully. Really explore and get in there. Don’t trust your pet to find anything.”
Soho was successfully treated and released, but developed a problem with his liver. The family is monitoring her to see if her liver problems are related to the rodenticide ingestion.
“We also want to strongly encourage all homeowners, especially those who rent or share their homes with other guests, to thoroughly inspect your property, both inside and out,” Pender suggested. “Not only check for harmful poisons that can be accessed by animals, but any other potentially dangerous situation. You know your property better than a visitor.
“Rodenticide poisoning is unfortunately a very common case,” added Dr. Schmid. “In fact, rodenticides appear twice on our list of Top 10 Toxins in 2023 “. Signs of rodenticide poisoning vary depending on the active ingredient of the product, but may include vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, incoordination, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, increased drinking and urination, kidney failure, bruising, new swelling due to bleeding and difficulty breathing.
A private hospital, Animal Emergency and Specialty Center of North Arkansas, has seen a number of recent rodenticide pet poisoning cases, including a situation where twin Maltese puppies named Amore and Joy were taken to hospital after coming into contact with a bait station. In another case, a mixed breed dog named Evie was transferred from a local clinic to the emergency hospital after ingesting 20-30 moles of zinc phosphide and gopher venom pellets.
“When it comes time to do your spring cleaning, keep your pets and children in mind,” said Dr. Schmid. “Make sure that dangerous items such as rodenticides, cleaning supplies and other toxic materials are stored safely and out of accidental reach. If your pet comes into contact with anything that you fear is dangerous, immediately call the your veterinarian or contact Pet Poison Assistance. We are here to help you and your veterinarian care for your pet with the best possible outcome.”
Pet Poison Assistance created Tail of toxin to educate the veterinary community and pet lovers about the many types of poisoning dangers that pets face, both indoors and outdoors. All the animals highlighted in Tail of toxin they were successfully treated for poisoning and fully recovered.
SOURCE Pet Poison Helpline
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