The Toxicity of Red Squill Raticide to Domesticated Animals

Abstract

Summary The dangers to which domesticated animals are exposed as a result of rat-elimination procedures are discussed, with special reference to Red Squill raticide. Red squill powder is very unpalatable to pigs, sheep, goats, cats, dogs and bovines. Even at very low concentrations the poison is detected and disliked. Baits much weaker than field bait are completely refused even when the animals are denied food for up to 36 hours. Red squill produces toxic effects in female pigs, sheep, goats, bovines, cats, dogs and rabbits, in doses per unit body weight, of the same order as those effective in the female rat. The most resistant animals in these experiments were goats; the least resistant were cats and calves. Except for very young animals a toxic dose for any pig or ruminant would not be available after the laying of baits on a farm. Emesis may occur in some species after ingestion of red squill but it cannot be relied upon to protect the animal. Red squill, in addition to acting as a convulsant, may give rise to gastritis and enteritis, and may slow cardiac conduction. The principal symptoms and post-mortem lesions vary from animal to animal depending on which of these actions predominates.