Why is rat poison so hard to catch early?
Most household rodenticides are anticoagulants (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, warfarin) that stop blood clotting. Signs of internal bleeding appear 2–5 days later, long after the bait is gone. Newer products (bromethalin, cholecalciferol, phosphides) act differently — causing seizures, kidney failure or gas release within hours.
Why speed matters
Delaying care significantly worsens outcomes. Some signs appear hours or days later, so "looks fine right now" is not a reason to wait.
Signs to watch for
- Anticoagulants: weakness, pale gums, nosebleeds, blood in stool or urine, coughing blood — days after eating bait
- Bromethalin: tremors, seizures, paralysis within hours–1 day
- Cholecalciferol: vomiting, excessive thirst/urination, kidney failure in days
- Zinc phosphide: vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing
What to do right now
- Find the packaging and identify the active ingredient — this decides treatment.
- Call your vet or poison control immediately.
- Do not induce vomiting with phosphide or bromethalin baits — it can make things worse.
- Anticoagulant exposure needs vitamin K1 treatment for weeks — start early.
If your pet shows any of the signs above, go to the nearest emergency vet now and call ahead.
The step-by-step response, from the first minute to the vet visit, is in our Rat Poison (Rodenticide) Poisoning emergency guide.