How new regulations of mouse and rat poison affect your dog

Posted by justinelee in Animal Safety, Blog, Pet Health

12 d-CON Products Being Canceled and Phased Out

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 30, 2014 that there are new changes to mouse and rat poison (often called “rodenticides” by veterinary professionals). The EPA’s goal of implementing these changes were to reduce access to the rodenticides that pose a poisoning danger to children, pets, and wildlife.

While the EPA initiated this mandate in June 2011, Reckitt Benckiser fought the restrictions, suing the EPA to prevent withdrawal of their popular products off the market.

However, on May 30, 2014, Reckitt Benckiser (makers of the top-selling rat poison d-CON) finally settled and agreed to stop the production and release of 12 d-Con rodenticide products. They would stop producing them by end of 2014, and stop distribution by April 2015 (as there’s a trickle down effect and it takes months for the products to get off the shelves in small stores). Below, the products being removed:

Why is this significant?

First, the majority of these 12 products contain brodifacoum or difethialone, which are 2nd generation anticoagulants that cause internal bleeding (including bleeding into the lungs, chest cavity, abdomen, etc.).  These are more potent than 1st-generation anticoagulants (e.g.,  warfarin).  The other benefit is that it removed the rodenticides that were sold without child-proof bait housing. Hopefully this will minimize the risk of children and pets eating the loose poison pellets or meal.

Since the mandate took place, fewer children have been poisoned by rodenticides. According to the EPA, there has been a 50% decline in exposures among children since 2011. No children were exposed to mouse and rat poison when the appropriate bait housing (e.g., child-proof housing) was used properly.

As for animals: this benefits wildlife.

As wildlife are often accidentally poisoned (e.g., raptors or birds of prey dying secondary to eating poisoned mice), this was a small step in the right direction. According to EPA reports, 48% of birds of prey were found to have residues from anticoagulant rodenticides in New York; while 70% of large cats (e.g., mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, etc.) showed evidence of residues in their body from these same rodenticides.

But what about our dogs and cats?

Unfortunately, with this mandate, the EPA has removed the only rodenticide with an antidote. As these anticoagulant rodenticides work by inactivating Vitamin K in the body, internal bleeding can develop. The antidote? Prescription-strength Vitamin K1.

As a result of removing anticoagulant rodenticides, now there are more dangerous rodenticides on the market: bromethalin (which causes cerebral edema/brain swelling) and cholecalciferol (which causes a high calcium level and secondary acute kidney failure). These are MUCH more expensive to treat, as there is no antidote for dogs or cats that ingest these newer types.

The safest thing to do? 

Use snap traps – while they may appear “gross” to use, they are the most humane. After all, internal bleeding, seizures, or dying slowly of kidney failure is just as inhumane to mice and rats too.

When in doubt, if you think your dog or cat was poisoned, call the 1-800 number provided on the box of the product; often, there’s free, 24/7 medical advice available for pets too! If not, seek immediate veterinary attention or contact ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for life-saving care.

Copyright Justine Lee Veterinary Consulting, LLC.