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Is Bromethalin (rat Poison) safe for Dogs?
✓ Sources checked by the Eaoae Safety Review · 2026-10-28 · Based on 3 sources
No, bromethalin rat poison is extremely unsafe for dogs. It causes brain swelling (cerebral edema) leading to agitation, tremors, seizures, weakness, paralysis, coma, and death. There is NO antidote -- and unlike other rat poisons, vitamin K does not help.
🚨 Emergency: Yes — contact your veterinarian immediately.
💡 Why
Bromethalin is the most dangerous common rodenticide because it has no antidote. It uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in the brain, causing fluid accumulation and rising intracranial pressure. Signs may be delayed up to several days: first agitation and tremors, then seizures, hind-leg weakness or paralysis, and coma. PPH documented a 2026 case (Tilly) showing real-world lethality. Critical distinction: if the bait was bromethalin, the vitamin K treatment used for anticoagulant rat poisons does nothing -- the vet must know which type was ingested.
🩺 What to do
- This is an emergency -- go to the vet immediately, do not wait for symptoms.
- Bring the bait packaging; the active ingredient determines treatment.
- Use pet-safe rodent control (snap traps in secured boxes) instead of poison baits.
❓ Common questions
Does vitamin K help?
No. Vitamin K only works for anticoagulant-type (warfarin-like) baits. Bromethalin needs entirely different emergency care.
What are the signs?
Agitation, tremors, seizures, stumbling, hind-leg weakness, and collapse -- sometimes delayed days after ingestion.
How does the vet know which type it was?
Check the bait packaging for the active ingredient and bring it to the vet -- it determines the entire treatment plan.
📚 Sources
- Rodenticide and Your Pet: What You Need to Know
- Bromethalin Poisoning in Animals
- Pet Poison Helpline: Bromethalin
- Pet Poison Helpline: Rat Poisoning in Dogs
🔎 How the sources compare
What each authority says about Bromethalin (rat poison) \u2014 compiled 2026-10-28. Eaoae’s verdict summarizes these sources; it is not our own diagnosis.
| Source | Dogs | Cats | Dose info |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASPCA Animal Poison Control | When ingested, bromethalin rodenticide can lead to swelling within the nerves in the brain, leading to signs of weakness, tremors and seizures depending on the amount ingested. | When ingested, bromethalin rodenticide can lead to swelling within the nerves in the brain, leading to signs of weakness, tremors and seizures depending on the amount ingested. | — |
| Pet Poison Helpline | Bromethalin rat and mouse poison causes brain swelling and neurological signs (lethargy, weakness, ataxia, tremors, seizures, paralysis, death). It does not cause bleeding, is not treated with vitamin K1, and has no antidote. | Cats are more sensitive to bromethalin than dogs. It causes brain swelling and neurological signs and has no antidote; it does not cause bleeding and is not treated with vitamin K1. | — |
| Merck Veterinary Manual | Bromethalin is a neurotoxin causing cerebral edema. Dogs at about 3.54 mg/kg or more may show a convulsant syndrome within 4-36 hours, while lower doses produce a paralytic syndrome over 1-5 days. There is no antidote. | Cats are exquisitely sensitive to bromethalin and typically develop the paralytic syndrome regardless of dose. There is no antidote. | LD50: cats 0.4-0.71 mg/kg, dogs 2.38-5.6 mg/kg; toxic doses are widely accepted at one-tenth of the lowest reported LD50 |
| VCA Hospitals | Bromethalin targets the central nervous system, causing cerebral edema and severe neurologic signs. Depending on dose, dogs develop either an acute convulsant syndrome (within 24 hours) or a delayed paralytic syndrome (one to seven days). There is no antidote. | In VCA's mole and gopher bait article, which covers cats and dogs, bromethalin bait can cause brain swelling and subsequent neurological signs; clinical signs of bromethalin poisoning can develop any time within seven days of ingestion and may include vomiting, weakness, paralysis, walking off-balance, tremors and seizures. There is no antidote. | — |
| Eaoae summary (dogs) | ⛔ Unsafe \u2014 Known to be harmful or toxic. Keep it away from your pet. | ||
🔗 Related checks for dogs
- Autumn skullcap mushroom (Galerina marginata) ⛔ Unsafe
- Rice ✅ Safe
- tomato leaves ⛔ Unsafe
- Tulips (bulbs) ⛔ Unsafe
- Peanut Butter ⚠️ Caution
- peach pits ⛔ Unsafe
Checked with Eaoae’s safety lookup. Answers are generated for reference and may be incomplete — always confirm with your vet for your individual pet. Spotted an error? Let us know.
