Rodenticide derived from red squill (Urginea scilla).

---

Animals most affected
Dogs, cats, (all species).

---

Etiology
Accidental ingestion of rat bait (either granular or in another form), containing 0.02-0.03% of scilliroside. (In theory the extract acts as an emetic, but this effect does not occur in all animals.)

---

Toxicity
Digitalin-like cardiac glycoside.
Oral doses in mg/kg:

LD50	rats	0.4-2
	chickens	400
LD	cattle	100-400
	sheep	250
	goats	500
	dogs	145
	cats	100

---

Clinical features

• vomiting, diarrhoea;
• weak pulse with bradycardia;
• occasional hyperexcitability with cardiac arrhythmias;
• ventricular fibrillation with a risk of ventricular block;
• risk of death occurring in 2-3 days;
• clinical signs may persist for 6-8 days.

---

Lesions
Non-specific:

• gastroenteritis, occasionally haemorrhagic;
• generalized congestion.

---

Treatment

• oxygen therapy;
• cardiac monitoring;
• atropine (for ventricular block) sc or im,
• do not use diuretics as any loss of potassium will exacerbate the toxicity.