Animal Care Clinic, PLLC Harlowton, MT

Animal Care Clinic, PLLC Harlowton, MT We are a veterinary clinic striving to provide quality care for all species.

Rat (Rodenticide) Poison Ingested by PetsRodent (rat or mouse) poison has been around for a long time.   Most people kno...
07/21/2025

Rat (Rodenticide) Poison Ingested by Pets

Rodent (rat or mouse) poison has been around for a long time. Most people know that when their pet ingests rat poison, they need to take their pet to their veterinarian to be treated. In the past, rodent poison caused a problem with clotting (an anticoagulant) and if left untreated, the animal would bleed to death. The original (first generation) rodenticides were designed to kill the rat/mouse over a period of days. The animal would have to ingest multiple meals before the poison would take effect. Warfarin was initially used to cause the blood to not clot. Over time, it was thought that when a number of dead animals were near the food source (rat poison) that other rodents would avoid the area. In addition, some rodents developed a resistance to warfarin and other similar anticoagulants. Second generation anticoagulants were then developed to avoid the problems encountered with first generation anticoagulants. Second generation rodenticides did not take as much poison to eat to obtain a lethal dose. In addition, second generation rodenticides can take longer for the anticoagulant to work, often 2-4 weeks after ingestion. The active ingredient in the “newer” rodenticides is typically bromadiolone.

Warfarin and bromadiolone block the vitamin K1 cycle that is essential for blood to clot. If you treat your pet with vitamin K1 until all the poison has left the body, you can essentially treat them. Owners do need to be aware that if they have set out second generation rodenticides, that the dead animal (rats, mice, etc.) will still have enough poison in them to cause death to their pet, if eaten. When using rodenticides, be cautious of where they are placed. Pick-up dead rodents/animals immediately and be aware that your pet may gain access to the rodenticide despite your best efforts.

Anticoagulant rodenticides are being phased out due to the concern that they may not humanely kill rodents, since it is a slow death that involves bleeding out. Therefore, owners need to be aware that there are two newer rodenticides that act quite differently and can often result in the death of their pet. The newer rodenticides kill much more quickly and the ability to treat pets has significantly decreased. Signs may be vague or too quick for owners to realize what has happened.

Bromethalin is the active ingredient in one of the newer rodenticides. We are now seeing poisoning due to this product in the area. This poison causes a neurotoxicity that can happen fairly rapidly. Once signs are seen, there is no cure. Bromethalin affects the central nervous system. Depending on the dose; tremors, weakness, seizures, paralysis, incoordination, sensitivity to touch, and/or death may be seen. Any or some of these signs can be seen up to several days after exposure. If the animal is actively found in contact with this rodenticide, immediate action needs to be taken. Contacting your veterinarian and inducing vomiting is the first step. Supportive care can be given as well. Unfortunately, the anticoagulant bromadiolone and the neurotoxin bromethalin are very similar in name, but treated somewhat differently. One way to remember is that bromadiolone (bromo-die-alone) is usually when an animal will crawl off and die. If you can’t remember which poison your pet consumed, try to take a picture of the information from the label or bring the label with you. Your veterinarian should be able to find out which poison to treat for. Cats are more sensitive to bromethalin, so it takes less poison to kill a cat.

A second new rodenticide being introduced has vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) which interfere with the amount of calcium and phosphorous in the blood. When this rodenticide is consumed, the absorption of calcium in food is enhanced and calcium is also pulled from the bones of the animal. The calcium from bone is ionized and able to bind to proteins in the blood. The overall effect is that too much calcium is available and it begins to bind with tissues in the lung, kidney, blood vessels, heart, and the stomach. These organs become mineralized due to the excess calcium and are unable to function normally, which causes further damage to the organs in the body. Hypervitaminosis is the cause of death. Signs may include: lack of appetite, drinking and urinating more, depression, vomiting, constipation, and kidney damage. Once signs of this poison are seen, there is no immediate cure. Whether the poisoned animal survives will depend on what signs are seen and how much organ damage has already been done.

If you suspect or even if you don’t suspect rodenticide poisoning, try to get as much information about the poison as possible. To treat your pet for a suspected poison is much easier than trying to guess if it has happened. With the newer rodenticides there is a very narrow window to treat. Once your pet has absorbed the toxin after several hours, there is very little that can be done. Contact your veterinarian if you have any questions.

For more information on rat poisoning, visit the

24/7 Animal Poison Control Center for both Pet Owners and Veterinarians. If your dog, cat, or other pet is poisoned, call 800-213-6680.

Hot weather won’t stop your cat from curling up in your lap or claiming your favorite sunbeam. July is for lazy afternoo...
07/21/2025

Hot weather won’t stop your cat from curling up in your lap or claiming your favorite sunbeam.

July is for lazy afternoons, quiet purrs, and warm hearts. ✨

Mid-summer on the farm means early mornings, full troughs, and hardworking animals doing what they do best. 🐄🌾What keeps...
07/21/2025

Mid-summer on the farm means early mornings, full troughs, and hardworking animals doing what they do best. 🐄🌾

What keeps you motivated during these long, hot days? ☀️

Peak summer heat can lead to dehydration fast. 💧Make sure your animals have access to clean water 24/7—and consider addi...
07/16/2025

Peak summer heat can lead to dehydration fast. 💧

Make sure your animals have access to clean water 24/7—and consider adding electrolytes for those doing heavy work. 🙌

Hydration Isn’t Optional in July 💧Heat exhaustion is real. Watch for signs of dehydration:❗ Dry nose or gums❗ Lethargy❗ ...
07/16/2025

Hydration Isn’t Optional in July 💧

Heat exhaustion is real. Watch for signs of dehydration:
❗ Dry nose or gums
❗ Lethargy
❗ Sunken eyes

Keep water bowls indoors and out, and pack a collapsible bowl for adventures.

It’s not just about feeding animals—it’s about nurturing a way of life.Here’s to the caretakers who put their animals fi...
07/14/2025

It’s not just about feeding animals—it’s about nurturing a way of life.

Here’s to the caretakers who put their animals first, day in and day out. 🐴❤️

Those golden-hour walks hit different in July. Let your pet lead the way, sniff every bush, and chase the breeze—you’re ...
07/14/2025

Those golden-hour walks hit different in July.

Let your pet lead the way, sniff every bush, and chase the breeze—you’re making memories with every step. ☀️

07/13/2025

Anxiety in Animals

How do you know if an animal is anxious? Are there telltale signs that you should be aware of or even look for? Should you even care or when should you care about anxiety? Animals with anxiety can trigger them to be fearful, strike out, have inappropriate behavior (urinate, defecate, be destructive, pace, vocalize, dig, try to escape, hide etc.). While some people may find this interesting, it is not always normal behavior. If the behavior persists, becomes worse over time, or especially if aggression is involved it is time to have your pet evaluated. Some anxiety is normal, but when an animal becomes highly stressed, it is time to help them better cope with the anxiety.

There are different kinds of anxiety. In dogs, the most common are loud noises, separation anxiety, guarding food, toys, territory, etc., and change in routine. Older dogs may experience cognitive dysfunction (age-related degeneration in brain function) by pacing, panting, getting up and down a lot, or being lost. Anxiety is recognized more easily in dogs since they tend to be with their owners either through recreation, working, or daily living. Cats show anxiety with dilated pupils, aggression, hiding, grooming (usually an increase), change in litter box usage, and tail twitching.

Horses and other large animals can also show signs of anxiety as well. Owing that horses tend to have more direct contact with their owners, their signs are more recognizable. Anxiety can show up as cribbing, pacing, resistance to training or handling, aggression, tail twitching, startling easily, or sweating. Other species of animals may also show signs of anxiety, so it is not just limited to animals that we are most familiar with.

Anxiety can create a lot of problems for not only the owners, but the animals. To not fully appreciate an animal displaying signs of anxiety, is potentially affecting their overall mental and physical wellbeing. These animals become highly stressed and generally don’t act appropriately to unwanted stimuli. This includes anxiety during a specific event (separation, thunder storms, fireworks, etc.) or chronic. It is similar to music blaring for long lengths of time, being afraid of small spaces, being unable to sleep for days, or loud noises being repeated over and over and not knowing when it will end. This is stressful for anyone. Repeatedly being anxious not only weakens the immune system, but other health problems may arise. In addition, bonding with humans and other animals is difficult for anxious animals and this apprehension prevents these animals from enjoying daily activities that other animals seem to love.

Helping animals that initially show signs of distress is much easier than dealing with highly stressed animals. Therefore, early intervention can decrease the time needed to correct the behavior (destructive – highly undesirable, aggressive- potentially dangerous and life threatening). If you are not sure if you should be concerned about a behavior, talk to your veterinarian.

For short term anxiety, there are medications that can help. For longer term anxiety, it may be more involved. Bloodwork and/or other diagnostics may be performed to be sure that something else is not going on. Inappropriate urination may be a bladder infection or incontinence. Cats can have an aversion to the litter or a litter box that is not daily cleaned. Litter boxes that self-clean can scare selected cats because of the noise, design, and/or litter being used. Once health problems and other environmental issues have been taken care of, then appropriate training, activities, and medication can be done. It may be trial and error to find out what works best.

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Vacation? Nah. We’re on staycation. 🏖️Show us your pet’s favorite sunny hangout spot at home — the porch, the yard, a su...
07/12/2025

Vacation? Nah. We’re on staycation. 🏖️
Show us your pet’s favorite sunny hangout spot at home — the porch, the yard, a sunbeam on the couch.
☀️ Tag us + use for a chance to be featured!

In dry July weather, pasture quality can drop. Supplement with hay or fortified feeds to make sure animals still get the...
07/09/2025

In dry July weather, pasture quality can drop.

Supplement with hay or fortified feeds to make sure animals still get the protein and energy they need. 🌿

Even after July 4th, fireworks can continue all month. Help your pet stay calm with:✔️ Calming sprays or anxiety vests✔️...
07/09/2025

Even after July 4th, fireworks can continue all month.

Help your pet stay calm with:
✔️ Calming sprays or anxiety vests
✔️ White noise or soft music
✔️ Their favorite safe space

An anxious pet just needs a little extra care.

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Harlowton, MT

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Friday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm

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Animal Care Clinic

Our primary goal is to keep your animals healthy. We work with owners to provide the best veterinary care possible. Whether a small or a large animal is in need of help, we work hard to meet individual needs. Questions by owners are always encouraged to help ensure that they, and their animal, receives the best care possible.