A dog owner says her beloved pet is alive thanks to the quick thinking of her husband after the animal ate carrot pieces laced with poison while on a walk in Alexandra on Friday (July 11).

Nadine Black says Toffee was given the all-clear by the vet on Monday after being under close watch throughout the weekend.

The rainy Friday evening walk in a forested area near Alexandra Cemetery took a turn for the worse when Nadine’s husband spotted Toffee eating what appeared to be chunks of carrot covered in “green slime”.

“She's a lab - she eats anything, you know?” Nadine said.

“He pulled her away immediately, but she can wolf down a few portions in just a few precious seconds.”

An after-hours call to their vet prompted quick action.

“They said, ‘Bring Toffee in now, like, as fast as you can’. So, he rushed back to the car and drove her straight to the vet,” Nadine said.

“He picked up some of the carrots and brought them with him too.

“The vet said his fast action probably saved her life.”

Toffee had eaten pindone, a slow-acting anticoagulant poison used for rabbit control that works by reducing the blood's ability to clot, leading to internal bleeding.

The vet induced vomiting and instructed that Toffee be “bubble wrapped” and watched closely for any signs of bleeding over the weekend, Nadine said.

Vet Carol Laird, who works at PetFirst Alexandra, said any pet owner who suspected their pet had consumed a poison should contact a vet immediately, ideally with the name of the chemical involved.

Symptoms of poisoning could be varied, but in the case of pindone, lethargy and signs of internal bleeding (including pale or bruised gums, bruising, coughing and blood in stools) were clues, she said.

Her advice: Avoid dog walking in areas where pindone had been dropped for several months, even after bait had disappeared, as carcasses of targeted pest animals could also be dangerous to dogs.

Last week, Central Otago District Council began rabbit control operations at several public sites across the district, including the Alexandra Cemetery.

In a statement at the start of July announcing the eight-week programme, the council said it involved laying pindone-laced carrot bait targeting feral rabbits.

“Pindone carrot is used in winter, as this is when food sources are most scarce and fewer young rabbits are present,” the council said.

“The bait will be dyed green to make it easily identifiable and will be laid by hand and quad bike by a contractor. 

“All affected areas will be clearly signposted with warning notices.”

Pindone-laced carrots were also being used at the Cromwell, Clyde, Ranfurly and Roxburgh cemeteries, as well as the Half Mile Recreation Reserve in Alexandra as part of the pest-control programme.

Nadine said her husband had not noticed warning signs last Friday, but did acknowledge it was dark and rainy by the time Toffee was taken out.

“I was surprised to hear they would put rabbit poison in such an accessible area…such a popular dog walking area,” she said.