Pets poisoned by mouse baits increase "dramatically" say Wagga vets

On Friday, veterinarian Carina Snowden attended to two-year-old dog Frankie at Moorong Veterinary Clinic after her owners discovered one of three mouse baits they left out on their Springvale property was missing.

Dr Snowden said presentations of likely poisonings like Frankie's have become a daily occurrence at the clinic.

Owner of the Moorong practice Dr Rose McKewen said they had treated 19 pets for suspected bait poisoning in the past two weeks alone.

"Any of the rat baits, whether they're from the hardware store or the commercial ones the government is rebating, they have a similar mode of action and they're quite deadly," Dr McKewn said.

"It's a really big problem and it's going to get worse in spring because the mice will be more active."

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Veterinarian Mark Sayer has seen the same increase at his own practice, Kooringal Vet Hospital.

"Poisonings have increased dramatically, we're seeing lots," he said.

"Normally we'd have one or two a year and we're seeing one to two a day at the moment."

On Thursday the government announced $50 million in funding to address the mouse plague ravaging NSW, including bait rebates for households and small businesses, and free bait for primary producers.

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Both the Moorong staff and Dr Sayer agree the measures and powerful baits are necessary, but warn pet owners will need to increase their vigilance as the risk of accidental poisonings increases.

"I think the baiting is a necessary evil," Dr Sayer said. "Obviously we need to solve this mouse problem but pet owners need to be more mindful of the fact that even if you think your pet can't get to the bait, mice and rats do move the baits around."

Dr McKewen echoed his advice, pointing out that baits hidden out of reach, or behind the fridge can end up somewhere accessible to the pet.

She said even if owners think there is a slim chance of poisoning, they should get to a clinic immediately.

"If you don't treat it they will die," she said. "They won't get over it, they will die."

A missing bait, like the one noticed by Frankie's owners, is a huge red flag, as is lethargy and lack of appetite.

If caught early, vomiting can be induced and a course of veterinary Vitamin K used to effectively treat the animal, as Dr Snowden did with Frankie who is expected to make a full recovery.

Later-stage poisoning will cause a moist cough and white gums, and usually requires a blood transfusion.

At the Kooringal Vet Hospital, Dr Sayer warned he's seen "plenty of death happening" as he urged pet owners to be aware and watch out for key signs.

"In house we've probably lost 10 per cent of cases, but I know plenty of animals that on their way into the clinic have died or we were told the next day they died," Dr Sayer said.

"It's toxic stuff that's designed to kill and it does a good job."

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