Don’t Use Mice Baits

RESIDENTS are reporting an increase in mice numbers and taking steps to eradicate the rodents, but a local veterinarian urges people to use traps instead of baits.

Veterinarian Andrew McClenahan with canine patient, McQueen.

Rat and mice baits use anticoagulant drugs which cause the rodents to spontaneously bleed out, however pets and wildlife can fall victim to the poisons either by directly eating the bait or secondary poisoning through eating the rodents.

Andrew McClenahan, veterinarian at Satur Veterinary Clinic, said people should use traps instead of baits.

“People don’t realise that the rats and mice actually move the baits and that’s when the dog comes along and eats it,” said Mr McClenahan.

“There’s times we suspect it is a mouse bait and people swear their dog could not have got a bait, but when they vomit there’s all the stained colour of the bait,” he said.

“We start to see animals coming in around winter time because more people put baits down,” he said.

“Once it is metabolised by the mice it’s not as big a problem, but you can’t guarantee that,” Andrew McClenahan.

If you suspect your pet has been poisoned by a mouse or rat bait contact your local veterinarian immediately.