OWNERS WARNED TO WATCH OUT FOR POISON
Reporter THIS lucky moggie used one of its nine lives after a rat poison scare.
Black-and-white Millie, aged nine, brought home a cooked chicken breast laced with poison.
Not knowing whether Millie had eaten any of it, worried owners Sarah and Stuart Douglas, of Chester-le-Street, contacted out-of-hours vets at Westway Veterinary Group.
Following advice, the couple rushed the cat to the animal hospital on West Road, Newcastle.
And while Millie wasn’t showing any symptoms of rat poisoning, vet Abbey Taylor gave the pet blood tests as well as inducing vomiting as a precaution.
Sarah said: “I’m absolutely sickened that someone would do this because it looks like a deliberate
The VetPartners group advises that signs of a pet having eaten or ingested rat poison can include vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing or respiratory difficulties, seizures or muscle tremors, attempt to poison a pet, rather than solve a rodent problem.
“I alerted people about our experience on Facebook and someone replied to say that they had also found chicken with rat poison inside. I’ve reported the case to the police and RSPCA.
“Millie had a really lucky escape, but another pet might not be so fortunate.”
Sarah first became aware of the tainted chicken when Millie brought it through her cat flap.
She said: “I thought at first she had stolen someone’s Sunday lunch, but then I noticed the chicken breast was tied up with green string, which seemed odd. I could see some blue/green crystals in the middle of the chicken and my husband immediately identified the rat poison.”
Now, vets are urging pet owners to be extra vigilant. Abbey Taylor, of Westway Vets, said: “We would urge owners to be ext extremely cautious and if they thi think their pet may have com come into contact with rat po poison, to contact us im immediately to seek ve veterinary advice.
“This is irresponsible use of rat poison, as cats, dogs or wi wildlife could be indiscrimina nately affected. Secure bait bo boxes should be used.
“If trying to deter cats fr from entering the garden, th there are water or noise p producing gadgets that will k keep cats away.” lethargy and blood in urine or faeces.
You should contact your vet immediately if you think that your pet may have eaten rat poison.