What will happen if you eat mouse poison? - briefly
Ingesting rodenticide containing anticoagulants triggers internal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and can be fatal without prompt treatment. Immediate medical care, including vitamin K administration and supportive therapy, is essential.
What will happen if you eat mouse poison? - in detail
Ingesting rodenticide initiates a cascade of toxic effects that depend on the compound’s class, dose, and the individual’s health status. Most commercial products contain anticoagulant agents such as warfarin, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, or difenacoum. These chemicals inhibit vitamin K epoxide reductase, preventing the regeneration of active vitamin K and thereby blocking the synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X.
Early phase (0–6 hours)
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain may appear within minutes to a few hours.
- Gastrointestinal irritation can cause blood‑stained vomitus or stool if mucosal injury occurs.
Latent period (6–24 hours)
- Anticoagulant action is not immediate; clotting factors decline gradually.
- Blood tests typically remain normal during this window, masking the developing danger.
Coagulopathic phase (24 hours to several days)
- Prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) become evident.
- Spontaneous bleeding may manifest as bruises, gum bleeding, hematuria, epistaxis, or internal hemorrhage.
- Severe cases present with hematemesis, melena, intracranial bleeding, or hemoperitoneum, which can be fatal without intervention.
Factors influencing severity
- Second‑generation anticoagulants (e.g., brodifacoum) have longer half‑lives, leading to prolonged toxicity and higher mortality.
- Children and pets are especially vulnerable due to lower body weight and higher relative dose.
- Pre‑existing liver disease or vitamin K deficiency accelerates coagulopathy.
Medical management
- Immediate decontamination: activated charcoal (1 g/kg) administered within one hour reduces absorption.
- Intravenous vitamin K1 (phytonadione) therapy: 10 mg every 6 hours initially, then adjusted based on coagulation tests.
- Fresh frozen plasma or prothrombin complex concentrate to replenish clotting factors in active bleeding.
- Supportive care: blood transfusions, fluid resuscitation, monitoring of hemoglobin and coagulation parameters.
- Long‑term vitamin K supplementation may be required for weeks to months, especially with long‑acting agents.
Prognosis
- Prompt treatment yields full recovery in most cases.
- Delayed care can result in irreversible organ damage or death due to massive hemorrhage.
Preventive measures
- Store rodenticide out of reach of children and animals.
- Use bait stations that limit accidental ingestion.
- Educate household members about the signs of poisoning and the necessity of immediate medical attention.