So today in this topic what do Rat Terriers die from we will talk about ten things that can kill your Rat Terrier, and how to prevent any dangerous accident.
You surely love your Rat Terriers with all your heart, or you want to adopt one and want to keep them safe and happy at all times.
And you will love to buy them the best dog food and take care of their every need. However, accidents can happen around the house.
Just like childproofing your house, so your children cannot accidentally hurt themselves, you could pet-proof your home, so your pets are self on their own, without your supervision.
Let’s keep reading…
What Do Rat Terriers Die From
Rat Terriers can die from things that humans do, such as ingesting toothpaste containing toothpaste, eating play dough, consuming toxic foods and beverages, and many other things that we shall address in this article.
These are all inappropriate foods for your Rat Terriers. If you detect that they have eaten any of them, you should take your Rat Terrier to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
There are many edible and non-edible dangers lying around in your home without you even acknowledging them.
Knowing about what might hurt your Rat Terrier, whether old or young will help you create a safe environment for your little furry friends.
The following are ten human things that can kill your Rat Terrier:
1. Rat Terriers can die from eating Toothpaste.
Ratties might die from xylitol. Toothpaste usually contains xylitol. Xylitol is a natural type of sugar alcohol that can be found in some fruits and vegetables.
Your Rat Terrier might not necessarily be fond of vegetables or fruits, still, xylitol is also used as a sugar substitute for several other products we daily such as toothpaste, chewing gum, some chewable vitamins, etc.
Xylitol is perfectly safe for us humans. However, for our Rat Terriers, it can be deadly.
Rat Terriers can be curious and love to chew on pretty much anything they find interesting.
If they start chewing on your toothpaste tube, they might get toothpaste poisoning. Look for symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Seizures and even
- Coma
If dogs ingest more than 0.1 grams per kilogram of body weight in less than an hour, they can experience acute hypoglycemia.
In dogs compared to humans, xylitol is absorbed almost instantly in the blood, causing the glucose levels to drop and leading to other complications such as liver failure.
So, if you notice your Rat Terrier is incredibly fresh breath and your toothpaste tube has been chewed, you should rush them to the vet immediately.
2. Rat Terriers can die from eating Play-Dough.
Rat Terriers can die from play dough. If your kids love playing with play-dough, chances are your Rat Terrier might eat some.
Play-Doug has a specific smell and textures your Rat Terrier might treat as food. In fact, most dogs find play dough to smell fresh.
So it is not uncommon for your Rat Terrier to eat play dough here and there.
So, how bad is it for Rat Terriers? Play Doug can be really dangerous to your Rat Terrier if ingested in large quantities.
A small amount of play dough might not any problems. It also depends on the kind of play dough your kids are playing with.
Usually, play dough contains salt and cream of tartar. Large quantities of salt can lead to salt poisoning in dog.
Cream of tartar can also be toxic for your Rat Terrier and can produce kidney failure.
However, different dogs are affected differently. More research is needed in this respect.
So, suppose your Rat Terrier ate a significant amount of play dough and displays symptoms of salt poisoning and kidney failure such as vomiting, diarrhea, or tummy pain.
In that case, you should go see a vet immediately.
3. Rat Terriers can die from taking Toxic foods.
Toxic foods may cause death in Rat Terriers. Certain foods that we consider delicious and healthy can cause some real problems for your Rat Terrier.
You probably already know that chocolate is poisonous for your little Rat Terrier. So, you should keep them away from it.
Avocados are also toxic for dogs and cats alike, especially avocado pits. They can cause:
- Diarrhea
- Severe vomiting and even
- Intestinal blockage.
You should also keep your Rat Terrier away from fatty foods such as garlic, grapes, resins, onions, salt, or yeast products.
4. Rat Terriers can die from taking toxic drinks.
Toxic drinks can cause death in Rat Terriers. Large quantities of caffeine can prove fatal for dogs, so keep your Rat Terrier away from your coffee at any cost.
Actually, it is not only about coffee. Caffeine can be found in other familiar sources such as diet pills, energy drinks, over-the-counter pain medications, syrups, etc.
So keep your Rat Terrier sniffing noses away from these drinks. Alcoholic beverages are also dangerous for dogs just like caffeine.
You need to think of other several sources of alcohol, such as syrups or raw bread dough. The most common signs of alcohol intoxication in dogs are:
- Vomiting
- Disorientation
- Restlessness
- Excessive panting
- Seizures or
- Muscle tremors
Keep your eyes on all these things and rush your Rat Terrier to the vet if you have discovered he has been drinking.
5. Batteries are dangerous to Ratties health.
Rat Terriers can die from eating household batteries. Household batteries contain many dangerous chemicals that are highly toxic to dogs ingested.
Your Rat Terrier doesn’t have to gulp down an entire battery to be at risk. It is enough if they puncture the battery, causing the toxic fluid to leak out.
You should also keep remotes and battery-powered children’s toys away from your Rat Terrier.
Chewing on a remote or toy can also result in biting the batteries and ingesting the extremely toxic chemicals.
6. Rat Terriers can die from eating Dryer sheets & fabric softeners.
Dryer sheets and fabric softeners can kill Rat Terriers if consumed. Dryer sheets are made from synthetic materials that dogs can not digest well.
They also contain harmful chemicals such as benzalkonium chloride and centromonium bromide.
We can also find these chemical compounds in fabric softeners.
Dryer sheets are dangerous for dogs because they might cause a severe gastrointestinal obstruction if ingested whole.
Your Rat Terrier might need a surgical intervention to have its GI tract unblocked. Moreover, dryer sheets pose a serious problem because of their chemicals.
Fabric softeners are also dangerous. They can cause irritation to the mucous membranes and stomach lining, leading to burns or ulcers.
If you suspect your curious Rat Terrier has eaten dryer sheets or gulped down a liquid fabric softener, you should rush him to the veterinarian right away.
7. Rat Terriers may die from eating Toxic plants & flowers.
Toxic plants & flowers can kill Rat Terriers if consumed. Houseplants and different types of flowers can also prove toxic for your Rat Terrier.
In fact, each plant can poison a particular system in the body, for example, aloe vera is mildly toxic, and it can poison your Rat Terrier since it’s toxic for dogs and cats.
Symptoms of aloe vera poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Tremors, and
- Urine color changes
Other plants that can be harmful to dogs include Daphne, ivy, hibiscus, lilies, laurels, oleander, tulips, (especially the bulbs), and daffodils.
All these plants have a low to high toxicity to dogs. They can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, agitation, and seizures.
If your Rat Terriers have any of these symptoms you need to call the vet.
It might be difficult to find the cause. This is why it is important to know that no plants are safe for dogs. So be careful.
8. Using the wrong size of collar and harness is harmful to Rat Terriers.
Rat Terriers can be harmed by using the improper size collar and harnesses on them.
If you step into any pet store you will find a wide variety of harnesses and collars. There are different types of materials and sizes and there is a good reason for it.
When Rat Terriers have tracheal issues, they would wear a harness, not a collar.
Your Rat Terriers might have the habit of escaping their harnesses so the collar is more useful.
However, no matter what you choose, make sure the collar or harness is of the right size.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to measure your Rat Terrier and find the right fit.
In the nutshell, you should be able to slip a finger between your Rat Terrier’s collar and neck, not too tight, or it can hurt its neck. Don’t go to lose, he could escape.
9. Rat Terriers can die from eating rodent poison.
Rodent poison can kill Rat Terriers if consumed. The chemicals usually found in rodent poison can also be dangerous for Rat Terriers.
Bromethaline is a chemical that directly affects the central nervous system. Brodifacoum is an anti-coagulant that keeps blood from clotting.
Both these chemicals can be fatal to your Rat Terrier, especially if it is a small-sized dog.
Poisoning can also occur if your Rat Terrier discovers a dead poisoned rodent and nibbles on it. Since there are many types of mouse poisons on the market.
You should keep the original packaging. In case your Rat Terrier accidentally ingests some of it, you should show the packaging to the veterinarian.
The vet will be able to determine the main ingredients in the rodent poison and decide the best treatment.
10. Rat Terriers can die from eating Cigarettes.
Cigarettes can kill Rat Terriers if consumed. Really, nicotine can kill your Rat Terrier.
If your Rat Terrier has been chewing on your cigarettes, nicotine patches, or e-cigars, watch out for any symptoms involving severe vomiting, seizures, depression, or tremors.
Be very careful with the vaping liquid, as its flavor will attract your little Rat Terrier, and it could prove deadly for him.
Recreational marijuana can be also dangerous to your Rat Terrier. The THC is also poisonous to them. Veterinarians do not have enough data in support of CBD oil either.
So do not treat your Rat Terrier with CBD oil. Moreover, watch out for brownies, as dogs always have a way of sniffing out the sweet in the house.
With brownies, it is double trouble for dogs. It could result in both THC and chocolate poisoning.
According to pet. WebMD. Veterinary products can lead to dog poisoning-This includes medications as well as flea and tick treatments.
Just as we can be sickened or killed by medications intended to help us, cases of pet poisoning by veterinary drugs are not uncommon.
We know you love your adorable Rat Terrier, and we do too. This is why it is important to make sure they don’t accidentally hurt themselves.
We hope this list of ten things that can actually kill your Rat Terrier has helped you pet-proof your home to make it a better and safer environment for your Rat Terriers.