Nearly 20 dogs poisoned by rat bait

Ignorance about the laying of rat bait has left almost 20 dogs poisoned in the past month.
Masterton-based Vetcare veterinary surgeon Heidi Ward-McGrath, who has seen 12 dogs poisoned by rat bait in the past month, said people usually do not know their dog has been poisoned until it is too late because most of the damage is internal.
Three of the poisoned dogs died, all on the way to the clinic.
"It's heartbreaking for the owner. People feel like they've killed their own dog," Dr Ward-McGrath said.
Chapel Street Veterinary Centre veterinarian Timothy Perring said he has seen seven dogs and one kitten poisoned by rat bait in the past month, four of the canines in one day.
Dr Ward-McGrath said the number of dogs she is treating for rat bait poison this year has increased, and attributes that to an increased potency of the baits and a lack of awareness about the dangers of poison and the availability of alternatives.
"These poisons are designed to kill and they are very effective at doing it," she said.
She said part of the problem lies with the spread of people using the baits.
It used to be just farmers using these types of products, who were aware of the dangers and used them accordingly, she said.
"They understand how they work and they understand what they are using and their dogs are well controlled," she said.
She said there is a community responsibility that comes with using the baits, especially with those living in urban areas, where people should be aware of the danger of using such poisons.
"I think we are a bit casual for my liking when it comes to poison and unfortunately it's a very hard lesson to learn if you lose your much-loved pet."
Dr Ward-McGrath said the importance lies with securing the baits in tubes or nailing them down, along with removing the poisoned rat carcasses.
She said there are alternatives to using poisons. "Good old cheese in a mousetrap works pretty well."
Mr Perring said if a dog does eat rat poison, it is important they get quickly diagnosed because the poison inhibits the blood-clotting process and the animals could bleed to death.
He said he likens rat baits to being a silent killer because the outward signs of the poison may not be immediately apparent and could instead show as lethargy or pale gums.
It is important to take animals suspected of being poisoned to the vet immediately because quick treatment is vital to recovery, he said.