theMillwatermag
vetspeak Slug Bait Poisoning With the arrival of spring come new bulbs and blossoms breaking through the earth. But spring also brings slugs and snails, followed close behind by the perennial gardening-season danger – slug bait. Unfortunately, it’s highly toxic and even small amounts are enough to cause poisoning: less than a teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight can be life-threatening. The toxic substance found in slug bait is a compound called metaldehyde. The majority of toxicities are accidental; either due to lack of knowledge of its dangers or thinking that the compound has been properly stored or applied. To attract the snails, slug bait is formulated in chewable pellets that are flavoured with molasses, apple and bran. Unfortunately, dogs find this a tasty treat as well. Slug bait is also available in liquid and powder formulations, which can get onto paws and be licked off with normal grooming. Signs of poisoning begin quickly after the bait is ingested. Generally, the first clinical signs observed are anxious behaviour with mild twitching, which progresses to uncontrollable and severe twitching, followed by seizures and possibly
death if not treated promptly. Unfortunately, there is no direct antidote for slug bait toxicity and treatment is aimed at controlling the clinical signs. If you think your dog might have been exposed, get it to a vet as soon as possible and take the packaging of the product so your vet can evaluate the active ingredients. If your dog has recently ingested slug bait and is stable your vet will induce vomiting, which will improve the chances of recovery. There are various alternatives to using toxic slug baits: watering schedule, seaweed, copper, diatomaceous earth, electronic “slug fence”, lava rock, salt, beer, overturned flowerpots, garlic-based slug repellents, coffee grounds... Jemma Hedges
