Deathly afraid!!!

This has been a really rough day so far, and from the looks of it, it's not gonna get any better anytime soon. So far my day has gone like this: Got home around 3 a.m. after what could easily be described as a very messy argument held between my ex-girlfriend/best-friend and myself. Wake up just in time to make it to my 8 a.m. organic chemistry summer exam, fell asleep halfway through (had a bad dream during which time I cannot remember) and wake up with 15 mins to finish another 20 questions (not a good situation). Then I come home and am immediatley greeted by a panick stricken mother, telling me I have to save my dog's lives.... Yea, great day so far ehh?

Turns out this morning before my dad left for work he set up some rat poison in the garage to attempt to stop some of those buggers from tearing up the boxes (we just moved), however he failed to shut the garage door as he left. Turns out my dogs managed to get in, and finished off all the rat poison. My beagle weighs 22.5 lbs which means 11 grams are fatal, and my dachshund a puny 8 lbs meaning a fatal dose is 4 grams. Do the math, enough to KILL both is 15 grams, and they managed to scarf down a 100 gram container. Needless to say my first act was to call the vet and get an emergency appt, and then had them each take a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomitting (apparently ipecac is no bueno for dogs), and them rush them to the vet to get vitamin k1 shots and bloodwork done. No word yet on the situation, other than the fact that blood was already hemoraging in my dachshund's mouth by the time the vet told me to leave them with them. Needless to say I am quite scared. Very scared indeed. I don't know how Imma pass the time until I get a phonecall from them that I am both wanting/fearing.... :(

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Dang Ben. This does suck. Im praying for you and your dogs Bro! Good luck. Hopefully all will go well.:)

Ben, hang in there and I hope everything goes ok. Did the vet give any indication of whether he would be able to do anything to help them? I would have stayed there but I'm annoying like that.

Oh Ben! :hug: I've got tears in my eyes! I'll pray for your little dogs!!! I can only imagine how scary this time is for you and I so wish I could do more!

Oh god Ben you and your two dogs are in my prayers for sure. Just reading that now has me all choked up and tears in my eyes. I'm praying and hoping real hard over here for you guys!!!! Please keep us updated on how everything goes. Infact I'm going to light three candles right now for you guys.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Ben, hang in there and I hope everything goes ok. Did the vet give any indication of whether he would be able to do anything to help them? I would have stayed there but I'm annoying like that.

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I stayed as long as I could, about 3 hours, then I had to go watch over my little brother as my mom headed off to work. While I was there the vet went ahead and had their stomachs pumped to remove as much of the rest of the poison that he could. Seeing that rat-poison is notably slow active and that I managed to get them to the vet under an hour after they ingested it there is a chance that they will make it through. However, the sheer volume they ate is scary. Rat poison causes internal bleeding and breathing problems, which hopefully with copious amounts of K1 should be able to help minimize the bleeding. Apparently there is not much more they can do. I was a little skeptical that that was all they could do, so after I left, I went ahead and called poison control and after a little chat was satisfied that the vet was doing there best. Sorta like a second opinion over the phone, where they were nice and took the time to explain the coagulation tests to me and everything.

On top of all that, even if they make it through, there is a chance that my beagle may go blind. She is already being treated for an extreme case of glaucoma, and if she hemmorages in the eye, her sight is gone for.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Oh Ben! :hug: I've got tears in my eyes! I'll pray for your little dogs!!! I can only imagine how scary this time is for you and I so wish I could do more!

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thanks everyone, I really appreciate it. at first when my mom told me, I didn't know how to react that I seemed to refuse to believe it. Then when I managed to get the hydrogen peroxide down and the vomit came up a sickening shade of turquoise my heart seemed to have been splattered against a concrete wall. I keep catching myself looking out into the backyard hoping to catch sight of one of them running around in hopes it's all a bad dream. No luck yet.

Oh gosh, Ben, that is so scary. I'd give you a big hug if I could.

Good luck to your two doggies. It's scary not knowing. HUGS.

Ben, sorry to hear about this, thats terrible. I hope they pull through for you, your dachshund is a spitting image of ours.. but it seems you reacted quick so that should help..

First thing first: DON'T WORRY!

If they only got into it today, and you got them to vomit it up, and the vet started them on Vitamin K, they will be just fine!

I promise!

We do this all the time at my job, and you did exactly what they needed. They will be fine!

A couple of other points you may have missed in your excitement:
1. Rat poison does not cause bleeding. It prevents clotting...a minor point, but important.

2. It generally takes a week without treatment before the coagulopathy gets so bad that the owners actually notice a problem (pale gums, coughing, small wounds that won't stop bleeding, bloody vomit or diarrhea).

3. Even when they have gone that long without treatment, we can still bring them back with a blood transfusion.

So I repeat...Don't worry! You acted perfectly, and they will be fine! Continue your vitamin K therapy, recheck your coagulation bloodwork in a couple of weeks (before you run out of pills <---this is important) and try to relax. :-)

I'm so sorry. :hug: I'm glad you were able to get them to the vet so quickly. They'll definetly be in my thoughts.

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Originally Posted by slartibartfast

First thing first: DON'T WORRY!

If they only got into it today, and you got them to vomit it up, and the vet started them on Vitamin K, they will be just fine!

I promise!

We do this all the time at my job, and you did exactly what they needed. They will be fine!

A couple of other points you may have missed in your excitement:
1. Rat poison does not cause bleeding. It prevents clotting...a minor point, but important.

2. It generally takes a week without treatment before the coagulopathy gets so bad that the owners actually notice a problem (pale gums, coughing, small wounds that won't stop bleeding, bloody vomit or diarrhea).

3. Even when they have gone that long without treatment, we can still bring them back with a blood transfusion.

So I repeat...Don't worry! You acted perfectly, and they will be fine! Continue your vitamin K therapy, recheck your coagulation bloodwork in a couple of weeks (before you run out of pills <---this is important) and try to relax. :-)

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That is VERY good to hear, however I have a question. You said it generally takes a week to see problems, however it only took 4 hours for my little dachshunds gums to look bruised. What does that mean to you? I take it it's not a good sign...

Thank you for the information, the more info the better!

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

That is VERY good to hear, however I have a question. You said it generally takes a week to see problems, however it only took 4 hours for my little dachshunds gums to look bruised. What does that mean to you? I take it it's not a good sign...

Thank you for the information, the more info the better!

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You are quite welcome. We deal with a couple of these a week, at least and are accustomed to the panicked owners. :-) As long as you seek treatment immediately, they do just fine.

Now, regarding the bruising...either the dog got into it several days ago as well, or was chewing on something hard that caused bruising. The coagulopathy does not develop in minutes. A third, less probable explanation is that your dog has some other coagulopathy not connected to the rodenticide..unlikely, but possible. Your vet's bloodwork should show if the clotting times are prolonged. If they are normal, then assume the bruising was related to physical damage, not coagulopathy.

Oh crud; I am really sorry about that. I truly hope that they are ok.. they look like little cuties.

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Originally Posted by slartibartfast

You are quite welcome. We deal with a couple of these a week, at least and are accustomed to the panicked owners. :-) As long as you seek treatment immediately, they do just fine.

Now, regarding the bruising...either the dog got into it several days ago as well, or was chewing on something hard that caused bruising. The coagulopathy does not develop in minutes. A third, less probable explanation is that your dog has some other coagulopathy not connected to the rodenticide..unlikely, but possible. Your vet's bloodwork should show if the clotting times are prolonged. If they are normal, then assume the bruising was related to physical damage, not coagulopathy.

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Well, my dad had set the poison out today, so there is no chance of there being a prior occurance, and the gums were fine when she first went into the vet so I know something happened there. Don't know what though, yet the vet did not seem too worried about the gums though so I'll take that as a good sign.

Hey,


Fingers crossed for a happy outcome Ben.

From the info proveded it sounds like you caught everything in time but keep us posted on how they do.



dr del

poor little guys! be glad you guys caught it so soon! a couple weeks ago my friends pup was poisoned. she quit eating and was having trouble walking. it was pretty touch and go for a while but she's doing alright so i'm sure your babies will make it through as well!

Was just reading about your dogs. Hope all goes well. It's so good that you caught it fast! Here's hoping for a full recovery for both.

Thanks again everyone, I cannot wait to pick them up from the vet tomorrow tomorrow. The vet is giving me vitamin k pills to give to my gals along with several check-ups along the way. I'm hoping for the best.

Ben, I'm so sorry to read about your dogs. Our prayers are with you for a speedy and full recovery for them both.

Ben, somehow I missed this. I hope both of your darlings pull through this, please keep us updated! :hug:

I am also truely sorry to hear about this accident. I know that they'll make it through this one, especially considering how many dogs survive licking anti-freeze/coolant off of driveways. That stuff creates crystals in the liver and can kill within hours, if I'm not mistaken. Too much Animal Planet for me.. Good luck with the cuties.

ben,

my thoughts are with you all. i'm soooo sorry to hear about this :hug:

perhaps your dogs mouth looked bruised from chewing on the poison sticks? they are hard rubber kinda things (if those are the ones your dad used) and they could have caused some bruising? or perhaps she was chewing on something in the yard earlier in the day... after all she is a dog :P

sending love to you and yours...

Well, I just got back from the vet and my pups are home. They seem just as excited to see each other again as they are to be out of the vets office. Bailey is being a typical dachshund and trying her very best to get the most attention, and Hallie's beagle nose is back to doing what it does best (and got her in trouble) searching for food around the house. According to the vet they'll be fine, just need to go to the scheduled check-ups and give them their vitamin k pills. So... I'm ecstatic to say the least! :D

Glad to here it thier back to good health for ya...

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

Well, I just got back from the vet and my pups are home. They seem just as excited to see each other again as they are to be out of the vets office. Bailey is being a typical dachshund and trying her very best to get the most attention, and Hallie's beagle nose is back to doing what it does best (and got her in trouble) searching for food around the house. According to the vet they'll be fine, just need to go to the scheduled check-ups and give them their vitamin k pills. So... I'm ecstatic to say the least! :D

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YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...nimals_527.gif

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

Well, I just got back from the vet and my pups are home. They seem just as excited to see each other again as they are to be out of the vets office. Bailey is being a typical dachshund and trying her very best to get the most attention, and Hallie's beagle nose is back to doing what it does best (and got her in trouble) searching for food around the house. According to the vet they'll be fine, just need to go to the scheduled check-ups and give them their vitamin k pills. So... I'm ecstatic to say the least! :D

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SO SO Glad to hear a happy ending to this sad story!!! :hug:

Oh Ben! I'm so happy that your dogs are ok. I hope they continue improving, and make a full recovery! Kudos to you for getting your dogs the help that they needed so very quickly! :hug:

(and now you have another excellent reason to keep hydrogen peroxide on hand ;) )

Glad to hear your dogs made a full recovery. :carrot:

WHeeeew !

Im glad they are doing better now !

Oh Ben that's wonderful!

That is such great news Ben! I'm very happy for you and your pups.

Well, as it turns out, my little dachshund managed to eat ALL of the rat poison, and has been a bit out of character since then, however the vet is still expecting a full recovery from her. From the bloodwork it seems as though my beagle with the iron stomach (on par with a goat and a tigershark combined) never ingested any of the poison. Apparently she was having way too much fun with the box while her little sister made off with the turquoise pellets. So, assuming the vitamin k therapy continues as planned, my little gal will be OK!

Wow!! That's GREAT news Ben!!! So glad to hear that! Your first post almost brought me to tears and I was really hoping for the best!!! :hug:

Hmmm I bet that little doxie is the dominant dog isn't she. They usually are even when it's not in their own best interest. Our little red doxie used to boss around our 100+ lb pure white GSD. I hope she does okay.

silly little girl....

still sending healing vibes their way!!!

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Hmmm I bet that little doxie is the dominant dog isn't she. They usually are even when it's not in their own best interest. Our little red doxie used to boss around our 100+ lb pure white GSD. I hope she does okay.

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She sure does try to be the dominant dog, and my beagle lets her get away with it 9/10ths of the time. However when it comes down to who I get to play with, war ensues... Hallie (my beagle) is quite protective of me. lol

Luckily I know my vet personally, as I had done some work for him before and he goes to my church, because when I got off the phone with him a few minutes ago he told me he was going to head back to the office to see Bailey. I noticed that she was being abnormally lethargic today and I saw a small bruise on the inside of her back leg just a few moments ago when I was giving her her nighttime vitamin k. So... off to the vets office again, wish me luck. ;(