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It was three days after Christmas 2013 when we first
saw her.
She was less than a year old
and not quite 5-1/2 lbs., and had been living in a car eating poptarts to
survive just the day before.
A Good
Samaritan took her home and unfortunately had unwittingly left some rat bait
under their couch, not having had any pets before.
Within a short time, the little orange tabby
kitten was very weak and pale.
Turns
out, the rat bait toxin she had been exposed to contained an anticoagulant that
prevents blood from clotting.*
This
leads to internal bleeding which can, and does, result in death.
Little Pixie was not the intended target, but
now that she had eaten it (most animals find it very tasty), the clock was
ticking.
She had to be administered
Vitamin K to counteract the effects of the toxin.
In addition, the doctor induced vomiting to
remove any unabsorbed anticoagulant, and administered some activated charcoal
to help bind any remaining toxin in her stomach.
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It took her several weeks to recover from her anemia from
the blood loss.
Even three months later,
her clotting times were still prolonged, and she had to take additional Vitamin
K before she could be spayed.
Most rat
bait toxins are extremely dangerous for our pets.
Some
newer
rodenticides, as they are called, carry other toxins which do not have an
antidote, and can cause liver or kidney failure.
Bottom line, the health and financial costs
are high, and these products should not be used around pets.
If they must be used, be sure the pets cannot
reach the bait,
and that it is enclosed
in a bait box to limit
its spread beyond
where you have placed it.
In Pixie’s case, her Good Samaritans were not prepared for
the cost of her treatment and surrendered her care to us. We nursed her back to health and Lisa became
attached to her sweet personality and took over responsibility for her. Now she is a seasoned member of Lisa’s
household, but we still enjoy her visits now and then!
*Anticoagulant rodenticides include: Havoc, Liqui-Tox II,
Final Blox, D-Con, Contrac Blox, Enforcer, and Tomcat.
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