Vitamin K Deficiency

Introduction

The absolute or relative deficiency of vitamin K can give rise to defective coagulation. Anticoagulant rodenticide toxiticy is one of the most common causes of acquired coagulopathy in small animals. Warfarin itself has a short half-life and a fairly low toxicity in non-rodent species, so unless large or repeated doses are consumed clinical bleeding is rare. However, the second generation anticoagulant rodenticides are far more potent, and it is possible for a domestic animal to acquire secondary poisoning by ingesting a killed rodent¹. Dogs are most commonly effected, but predator species such as cats and owls do occaionally suffer from secondary poisonings.

References

Also see Anticoagulant Rodenticide Toxicity