Anticoagulant Rodenticides (rat poison) can cause a form of anemia that is sudden and has symptoms similar to AIHA. When a clot must be formed inside the body to repair a blood vessel, clotting factors are produced that help platelets prepare a clot. This process requires Vitamin K as a helper. Rodenticides contain ingredients that interfere with Vitamin K availability. This causes the inability to clot and leads to severe anemia. Signs can include pale gums, bloody urine or stool and nose bleeds. You may see petechiae (small red dots) on the belly.
A vet may prescribe Vitamin K as a treatment if they think your dog was exposed to rat poison. This will allow proper clotting. Some rodenticides can remain active up to several weeks and the Vitamin K should be administered for this long.
When Vitamin K is discontinued a PT (prothrombin time) test must be run 48 hours after to determine if there is still rodenticide in the body. If this test is abnormal the vet will need to continue the Vitamin K for a few more weeks.
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