Found poison bait – and what if the dog has already eaten some?
Two situations, two ways: if the bait is still lying there, it is about securing it and warning others. If your animal has eaten it, every minute until the vet counts.
Signs of poisoning
- vomiting, diarrhoea, heavy drooling
- trembling, seizures, staggering, listlessness
- pale mucous membranes, blood in urine, faeces or vomit, difficulty breathing
- Rat poison often takes two to five days to act – go to the vet even without signs.
What to do now
- Your animal has eaten it: go to the nearest veterinary practice or animal hospital immediately – call ahead. Take bait remains, packaging or vomit with you.
- Bait found: keep your own animals and children away.
- Pick it up with gloves or a dog waste bag and put it in a second bag. Photograph the spot first.
- Inform the police or the Ordnungsamt and file a complaint. The bait is evidence.
- Warn others: enter the find on our poison bait map.
Please do not
- Do not induce vomiting – neither with salt water nor with other home remedies. That can be fatal.
- Do not give milk, do not wait to see “whether anything happens”.
- Do not touch the bait with bare hands and do not simply throw it in the bin.
Who helps
Veterinary practice or emergency vet service; police and Ordnungsamt for the complaint.
Report an emergency Animal rescue near you
Frequent questions
How do I protect my dog?
Keep it on a lead in affected areas, do not let it eat anything from the ground, practise a reliable “drop it” and subscribe to our warnings for your area.
Related
This page gives general advice. It replaces neither a vet nor legal advice.
More guides
- Wild animal foundFound a wild animal – who helps?
- Finding an emergency vetEmergency vet – how to find one at night and at the weekend
- Hedgehog foundFound a hedgehog – what to do?
- Bird foundFound a young or injured bird – what to do?
- Dog foundFound a stray dog – what to do?
- Cat turned upA cat has turned up or been found – what to do?
- Pet run awayDog or cat has run away – what to do?
- Collision with wildlifeCollision with wildlife: deer or wild boar hit – what to do?
- Dog in a hot carDog in a hot car – what to do?
- Report animal crueltyReporting animal cruelty or neglect – how does it work?
- Injured pigeonFound an injured pigeon – what to do?
- Fawn foundFound a fawn or young wild animal – what to do?
- Squirrel foundFound a squirrel – what to do?
- Bat foundFound a bat – what to do?
- Young hare foundFound a young hare or wild rabbit – what to do?
- Injured swan or duckFound an injured swan, duck or goose – what to do?
- Cat hit by a carCat hit by a car or found at the roadside – what to do?
- Abandoned animal foundFound an abandoned animal – what to do?
Spreading the word helps
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