| Rats are known to spread life threatening diseases | | | | clotting. |
| as well as for causing structural damage in the areas | | | | Bromethalin is a new non-anticoagulant designed to |
| they infest. Rat poison is one of the several methods | | | | be fatal to rodents after a single dose. Bromethalin is |
| to control rodents. | | | | a neurotoxin that directly affects the brain and |
| Rat poisons are substances used to kill rats and other | | | | cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical signs associated with |
| rodents. These come under the category of pest | | | | ingestion of bromethalin appear about 10 hours |
| control chemicals. These can be gotten from most | | | | post-ingestion and include severe muscle tremors, |
| hardware stores, grocery stores, and even for free | | | | excitability, running fits, seizures and depression. This |
| from recognized agencies in some areas. Rat poisons | | | | is a safer rodenticide for use where dogs are |
| are not environmentally safe. They are not only | | | | present. |
| poisonous to rats, but also toxic to animals and | | | | The last category of rodenticide contains |
| humans. There are several types of rodenticides | | | | cholecalciferol or vitamin D. These rodenticides act by |
| available. They have a wide variety of active | | | | causing vitamin D toxicosis, raising serum calcium |
| ingredients, but they require training and experience | | | | levels to dangerously high levels. Clinical signs arise |
| to apply safely and effectively. | | | | within 18 to 36 hours after ingestion, and include |
| Rat poisons can be broken down into three general | | | | depression, anorexia, increased urination and |
| groups. These are anticoagulants (warfarin, | | | | increased water intake. Heart conduction becomes |
| brodifacoum); bromethalin, a neurotoxin; and | | | | slow and it may result in ventricular fibrillation and |
| cholecalciferol-containing rodenticides. The | | | | cardiac arrest. |
| anticoagulant rodenticides are the most common | | | | If rat poisons are not properly applied, they can kill or |
| available in the market with trade names like warfarin, | | | | otherwise endanger children, pets and other animals. |
| fumarin, diphacinone and bromadiolone. The | | | | So it is advisable to hire a licensed pesticide applicator |
| mechanism of the anticoagulant rodenticides is to | | | | well versed in rodent control to apply them. |
| deplete vitamin K, which is required for normal blood | | | | |