What it is
The most common rat and mouse baits (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, diphacinone and others) work by blocking vitamin K, which the liver needs to make clotting factors. The poisoned dog looks fine for two to five days while existing clotting factors are used up. Then it starts bleeding, often internally, into the chest, abdomen or joints.1 Newer baits containing bromethalin or cholecalciferol work differently and are not treated with vitamin K, which is why bringing the packaging to the vet matters so much.
Warning signs
Why transfusions
Vitamin K1 is the antidote, but it takes 12 to 24 hours to restore clotting. A dog that is already bleeding needs clotting factors now, and those come from fresh frozen plasma donated by another dog. Dogs that have lost a lot of blood also need red cells. In a series of 21 dogs treated for anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning, most survived with plasma, vitamin K and supportive care.2 Caught early, before bleeding starts, many dogs need only vitamin K tablets for a month.
If you see your dog eat bait, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) immediately. Early decontamination can prevent the whole cascade.
How you can help
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Research and references
Peer-reviewed sources for what's on this page. Each link runs a PubMed search for the paper so you land on the abstract, and often the full text.