Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) is a readily available rodenticide that, on contact with stomach acid and water, produces phosphine (PH3), a highly toxic gas. Unfortunately, I know this to be fact…
My normal routine of letting the dog out to potty on my lunch break, was disturbed when I noticed 2 fresh gopher/mole holes in the back yard. I grabbed the poison pellets & applied them in each hole, covered them up & went back inside to eat lunch. This is something my husband had done many times & we knew it worked because we had recently seen a dead mole. Thirty minutes later, I went to let her back in & noticed one of the holes had been dug out. I felt around & could not locate the pellets. I was certain that my dog had eaten them. Acting quickly, I grabbed the dog, went back inside & called my veterinarian for help (12:50pm), telling him the name of the product and the active ingredient. He advised me to induce vomiting using hydrogen peroxide & said he would call poison control for pets. I forced 2 teaspoons of peroxide using a liquid medicine syringe. I waited about a minute & nothing came out. I gave her a few more until she started vomiting. I inspected the vomit with my hands to see if I could see the pellets. After about the 4th time, I could see what looked like pellets, only a little smaller. I cleaned up the vomit off the kitchen tile with 409 & paper towels. At 1:19pm, the vet assistant called to tell me to bring the dog in and that the vomit was toxic. I said ok and loaded the dog, still vomiting, in her kennel & put her in the back seat behind the driver’s seat. I rolled my front windows down & took off to Port Lavaca. At 1:24pm I received a text from the vet assistant that read- “The gas from the vomit is toxic to people”. I replied “So I’m driving with my windows down”- not thinking much of it. I had not noticed any kind of odor. My concern was getting the dog to the vet ASAP.
My normal routine soon became not so normal. At 1:38pm, I called my husband to tell him I was feeling weird & that something was wrong. I rolled all the windows down & I tried to tell him my location. I started feeling numb from my legs up to my head and hands. I was trembling. I could not catch my breath. I realized I was not going to make it to the vet & pulled over, almost to the end of FM 1289 @ Hwy 238. My hands seized up, I felt as if I could not catch my breath. I knew had to call for help. I had trouble dialing 911, but managed to call (1:41pm), put it on speaker, open my car door, set the phone in the door handle, and turn my body & legs so that I was sitting on the bottom of the door jam. As soon as I felt the wind in my face, I started to catch my breath. Waiting, pleading with EMS to please hurry, trying to explain what was wrong, and praying to Jesus. I was transported to Citizen’s ER via ambulance and the dog was taken to the vet by a deputy. As soon as I received oxygen, I started to feel better, taking deep breaths, moving my hands & feet. I was released after 5 hours of observation. I mostly experienced dizziness, fatigue & loss of appetite for several days. My bloodwork & tests came back normal. All of the doctors that treated me seemed to think I had a panic attack or that I hyperventilated & that my exposure to the toxic gas was “in my head”. Frustrated and knowing that not to be true, I had to do my own research to make sure I didn’t need some other type of medical care, because I did not feel well. My research led me to a report by the Center for Disease Control. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6116a3.htm This report gave me some peace of mind that the symptoms I was experiencing was to be expected and temporary.
A few days later, I spoke with the vet. He was sincerely glad that I was doing better. He assured me that as soon the information became known to him from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control that there was a danger to humans, they contacted me.
Although this crazy occurrence may not likely happen to someone again in this area, I feel it is my duty to share this experience as a precaution to others. We do have a lot of unwanted rodents living underground (I recommend snap traps)!
Here are some facts about zinc phosphide:
-Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) is a readily available rodenticide that, on contact with stomach acid and water, produces phosphine (PH3), a highly toxic gas. Household pets that ingest Zn3P2 often will regurgitate, releasing PH3 into the air. This precaution is not mentioned currently on Zn3P2 product labels.
-There is no antidote (remedy) for phosphine poisoning.
-Phosphine is a toxic gas that has no color and smells like garlic or fish. A serious exposure to phosphine could occur, however, even if a person does not smell it. Phosphine is heavier than air.
-Exposure to even small amounts of phosphine can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, cough, and chest tightness.
-More serious exposure can cause shock, convulsions, coma, abnormal heart rhythms, and liver and kidney damage.
– For nonfatal inhalation of PH3, symptoms usually resolve within 30 days and rarely cause any long-term disabilities.
I am back at work, back to my normal activities & life in general….Thank you to my family and everyone that called, checked on me, brought me a pot of homemade chicken & dumplings ;), but most of all, thank you for your prayers! And thanks to the vet…my dog is doing great!
