PupkeeperToxicEmergency
Dog ate rat poison: anticoagulant type? What to do
Anticoagulant rat poisons stop a dog's blood from clotting. Bleeding often starts 3 to 7 days later, so get help before signs appear.
If your dog ate or touched this, call your vet or a pet poison line now
United States
Poison lines in other countries: United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
What to do now
- Call your vet or a pet poison line now.
- Keep the packaging and bring it with you.
- Go even if your dog looks fine. There is an antidote, and prompt care is key.
Don't
- Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
- Don't give activated charcoal at home.
Signs to watch for
- Weakness or low energy
- Pale gums
- Fast or hard breathing
- Coughing, sometimes with blood
- Swollen belly
- Bloody or black, tarry stool
- Bruising
- Swollen, painful joints
When signs appear: 3 to 7 days
Why
These baits use up vitamin K, which the body needs to make clotting factors, so dogs bleed inside the body. A vet can give an antidote.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Anticoagulant Rodenticide Poisoning in Dogs
- Pet Poison Helpline: Long-Acting Anticoagulants
- ASPCA: Rodenticide and Your Pet: What You Need to Know
Guide reviewed 9 October 2026.
General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.