How long does poison work on mice? - briefly
Poison generally begins to affect mice within a few minutes, with mortality occurring from 30 minutes up to several hours depending on the toxin type and administered dose. The exact duration varies by chemical potency, route of exposure, and the animal’s physiological condition.
How long does poison work on mice? - in detail
The time required for a toxic agent to produce observable effects in laboratory mice depends on several variables: the chemical class of the poison, the administered dose, the route of exposure, the physiological state of the animal, and ambient conditions such as temperature and humidity.
Onset of action
- Inhalants (e.g., carbon monoxide, organophosphates) typically produce signs within seconds to a few minutes after exposure.
- Oral rodenticides (e.g., anticoagulants, bromethalin) usually require 30 minutes to several hours before the first symptoms appear.
- Intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injections of fast‑acting neurotoxins (e.g., tetrodotoxin, strychnine) can cause paralysis or convulsions within 5–15 minutes.
Peak toxicity
- Anticoagulant baits (warfarin‑type) reach maximal disruption of clotting factors after 24–48 hours, leading to internal hemorrhage.
- Metabolic poisons such as zinc phosphide generate phosphine gas in the stomach; lethal concentrations are often reached within 2–6 hours.
- Highly potent compounds like tetrodotoxin may produce maximal respiratory failure within 10–20 minutes.
Time to death
- Fast‑acting neurotoxins: death commonly occurs within 30 minutes at lethal doses.
- Anticoagulants: mortality may be delayed up to 5–7 days, depending on the dose and whether vitamin K therapy is administered.
- Metabolic poisons: lethal outcome generally observed within 12–24 hours.
Factors influencing duration
- Dose – higher concentrations shorten onset and reduce survival time.
- Route – intravenous delivery bypasses absorption barriers, accelerating effect; oral ingestion introduces gastrointestinal delay.
- Age and weight – younger or smaller mice exhibit faster systemic distribution, leading to earlier symptom manifestation.
- Health status – pre‑existing liver or kidney impairment can prolong elimination, extending toxic exposure.
- Environmental temperature – elevated ambient heat increases metabolic rate, potentially hastening toxicity.
Monitoring considerations
- Observe for behavioral changes (lethargy, tremors, ataxia) within the first hour after administration of rapid‑acting agents.
- Conduct coagulation assays (prothrombin time) at 12‑hour intervals when using anticoagulant rodenticides.
- Record body temperature and respiration rate; hypothermia and respiratory depression are early indicators for many poisons.
In practice, experimental protocols often schedule euthanasia or humane endpoints based on these timelines: 30 minutes for neurotoxic agents, 24 hours for metabolic poisons, and up to 72 hours for anticoagulants, unless clinical signs dictate earlier intervention.