The Kelowna SPCA is warning pet owners about the dangers of rodenticides and other pet toxins after a local woman said her cat died after eating a suspected poisoned rat.

Kayla Taylor wrote in a social media post that her two-year-old cat Carbon died recently, saying that she thinks he ate a poisoned rat.

含羞草研究社淗e would make his rounds every morning getting treats from my neighbour and he told me that before Carbon went missing, he threw up twice what looked like a rodent,含羞草研究社� she wrote.

Taylor含羞草研究社檚 neighbour didn含羞草研究社檛 think anything was wrong but Carbon then went missing, later found by a worker at the Apple Bowl as he was dying.

含羞草研究社淲hile I am sympathetic to the rodent problem in Kelowna, I plead that people use safe alternatives to rat poison to deal with this issue,含羞草研究社� she said.

Sean Hogan, Kelowna SPCA branch manager, said that it含羞草研究社檚 an incredibly sad situation and rodents aren含羞草研究社檛 the only animals that pay the price when rodenticides are used.

含羞草研究社淓ven though rodents are seen as pests and as a nuisance, they still need to be treated humanely,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淭here are newer and more innovative ways of doing rodent control that is humane for everybody involved. The sad thing here is rodenticide doesn含羞草研究社檛 discriminate. It will kill rats, but it will also kill other wildlife. It can harm your pets.含羞草研究社�

He said some of these alternatives include snap traps, which provide a quick, and thus, humane death. There is a risk that it can hurt your pet or children, so he suggested looking for boxes that cover the snap trap so only the rodent can go into it and be trapped inside.

The most effective way to control rats and mitigate risks to pets, however, is much simpler.

含羞草研究社淏elieve it or not, prevention is key. Prevention minimizes access that rodents have to attractants and entry points into our homes,含羞草研究社� Hogan said.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 really important that people maintain their homes and garages and areas around their facilities that don含羞草研究社檛 harbour rodents and invite them back. Don含羞草研究社檛 create hiding spots or nesting areas for them.含羞草研究社�

While rodenticides are one thing to worry about, Hogan said that they are seeing many pet owners lose their animals to cannabis poisoning,as well as other household toxins.

Just as you are vigilant with wildlife and rodent attractants, he said pet owners also need to be aware of what could harm their animals inside the house.

含羞草研究社淧eople need to be diligent about how they含羞草研究社檙e managing their edibles, for example. Leaving them on a table or a countertop is a huge risk,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淲e don含羞草研究社檛 want to create fear around these things, of course, but we do want to create an awareness about them and their effects on your pets.含羞草研究社�

Signs of poisoning in your pet can include lethargy, excessive thirst, as well as being wobbly on their feet.

If you suspect that your pet has ingested rat poison or another toxic, seek veterinary care immediately.

READ MORE: Fall toxins pets should avoid: BCSPCA

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twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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