Health & Fitness
Top 10 Poisons Reported for Dogs and Cats Part II: Snail Bait
Get the facts about snail and slug baits and how to save your pet if it should ingest.
Last time I talked about rat bait poison, so I figure before we leave the topic of toxic baits we should talk about snail bait.
Although snail and slug bait (metaldehyde poisoning) was not mentioned on the ASPCA list, it certainly goes to the top of the list in our area. Unfortunately snail bait ingestion cases in our area are common. Metaldehyde is an ingredient found in the snail and slug baits that causes the problems in our pets.
Although it can affect cats, almost all of the cases we see are dogs that have ingested the toxin. Snail and slug bait is available under various trade names such as pellets, granules, liquids, or powders. In some countries, metaldehyde is also sold as solid or pelletized fuel for camping stoves and lamps.
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This used to be a toxin where it was rare to loose a patient with aggressive hospitalized treatment. It has now become potentially lethal as more potent formulations are available. This has resulted in deaths despite our best efforts as veterinarians to save those pets exposed to it.
In the event of known ingestion, as with most toxins time is critical.The pet should be seen immediately by a veterinarian, preferably before you start to see any abnormal behavior. The clinical signs will begin shortly after the poison has been ingested and includes profuse salivating, dangerously high body temperatures, seizures, muscle tremors, inability to walk, stumbling, or they are found in a coma.
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As an avid gardener, I stick with decollate snails to deal with my snail situation. I've heard beer works well, too. The best garden treatment I ever had was a few years ago when a neighbor's two young girls were looking for extra pocket money and approached me as I was out in the garden (figuring out what to do about my snail problems). Problems solved, I hired the two new aspiring entrepreneurs, gave them each a bucket...snail problem gone. For a while at least, good job security for the snail busters! Stay tuned for the next toxin!
