How long will a rat live if it eats poison? - briefly
A rat that ingests a lethal dose of poison usually dies within minutes to a few hours, depending on the toxin’s potency and the amount consumed.
How long will a rat live if it eats poison? - in detail
A rat that ingests a toxic compound will survive only a short period, typically measured in minutes to a few hours, depending on several variables.
The primary determinants are the poison’s class, concentration, route of entry, and the animal’s body weight. Acute neurotoxic agents such as organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase, producing rapid respiratory failure; death often occurs within 10–30 minutes at lethal doses. Anticoagulant rodenticides (e.g., bromadiolone) interfere with blood clotting; clinical signs appear after 12–48 hours, and fatal hemorrhage may follow days later if untreated. Metal poisons (e.g., zinc phosphide) release phosphine gas in the stomach, causing severe pulmonary edema; mortality usually follows within 1–3 hours.
Dosage relative to the rat’s mass is critical. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) for common rodenticides ranges from 0.5 mg/kg (highly potent substances) to 500 mg/kg (less potent). A 250‑gram laboratory rat receiving a dose near the LD₅₀ of a strong organophosphate will likely succumb within half an hour, whereas the same weight exposed to a moderate anticoagulant may survive for several days before internal bleeding becomes fatal.
Metabolic rate influences toxin clearance. Rats possess a higher basal metabolic rate than larger mammals, accelerating the absorption of many poisons but also enhancing hepatic detoxification pathways for certain chemicals. Consequently, some compounds that are lethal to larger species may be cleared more rapidly by rats, extending survival marginally.
Supportive care can modify outcomes. Immediate administration of antidotes—atropine and oximes for organophosphates, vitamin K₁ for anticoagulants—can prolong life or prevent death if given promptly. Without intervention, the timeline described above remains typical.
In summary, survival after toxin ingestion varies from minutes (fast‑acting neurotoxins) to several days (slow‑acting anticoagulants), governed by poison type, dose, rat size, metabolic capacity, and availability of medical treatment.