What are the symptoms of poisoning in a rat? - briefly
Poisoned rats often show lethargy, unsteady gait, tremors, seizures, respiratory distress, and bleeding from the mouth or nose. Additional signs may include excessive salivation, vomiting, and rapid death.
What are the symptoms of poisoning in a rat? - in detail
Poison exposure in a rat produces a recognizable pattern of physiological and behavioral changes. Early signs often appear within minutes to a few hours, depending on the toxic agent and dose.
- Neurological disturbances: tremors, seizures, uncoordinated movements, and loss of balance. Rats may exhibit head bobbing, circling, or an inability to right themselves when placed on their backs.
- Respiratory effects: rapid breathing (tachypnea), shallow breaths, or labored respiration. In severe cases, respiratory arrest can occur.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, or a sudden cessation of feeding and drinking.
- Cardiovascular manifestations: irregular heart rhythm, bradycardia or tachycardia, and hypotension leading to pallor of the mucous membranes.
- Dermal and mucosal changes: cyanosis of the ears and tail, discoloration of the skin, and hemorrhagic spots on the abdomen or limbs.
- Behavioral alterations: lethargy, reduced activity, agitation, or frantic attempts to escape confinement. Some poisons induce hyperactivity before collapse.
- Metabolic signs: loss of body weight, dehydration, and abnormal posture such as a hunched back or arching of the spine.
Advanced poisoning may culminate in convulsions, coma, and death. The specific combination of symptoms varies with the class of toxin—for instance, anticoagulant rodenticides often cause internal bleeding and bruising, whereas neurotoxic agents like bromethalin produce pronounced tremors and seizures. Accurate identification of these indicators enables timely intervention and appropriate treatment.