Yes. Secondary poisoning is the term whereby a second animal is poisoned by eating the tissues of another animal that was killed by ingesting a lethal dose of a particular poison. The danger for secondary poisoning increases according to the amount of poison ingested by the primary target, the time lapse between ingestion of poison and consumption of the carcass, and the body condition of the animal ingesting the secondary poison. As a precaution, all pets should be secured while a rodent control program is in progress and for several days after all baits have been removed from the area. All dead rats and mice that are found should be retrieved and disposed of.
Particularly for dogs, there is danger from pets actually eating the poison bait (primary poisoning) since many rodent baits are grain-based (like a lot of pet foods). Secured bait stations reduce this hazard.
Hazards and risks are minimized when the application and use of the pesticide follows the label instructions (a state and federal law). Always read the label instructions before using pesticides.
If you think your pet has consumed poisoned animals, consult with your veterinarian about possible treatments and/or monitoring protocols.
