Slug bait is most commonly used in wet, coastal areas around the world. Toxicity manifestation to our canine friends usually occurs within a thirty minute to three hour time period. In most cases, poisoning results when a dog has access to stored slug bait, or when the application produces piles of bait over the garden or yard. The metaldehyde is available in liquid, dust, granular or pellet form, with the efficacy remaining for approximately ten days over the area where it was placed.

The symptoms indicating that your dog may have ingested slug bait are listed below.

Metaldehyde poisoning can occur through inhalation of the vapors (which causes serious injury to mucus membranes), ingestion (the most prevalent occurrence with dogs, which can lead to kidney and liver damage), and dermal absorption (can cause skin and eye irritation).

Poisoning by metaldehyde can result in eventual death if left untreated. Do not delay in taking your canine family member to the veterinarian if you suspect a case of ingestion. Irritation to mucus membranes and the lining of the gastric system can occur rapidly after exposure.

If you suspect that your furry family member may have eaten a portion of slug bait, it would be very helpful to the veterinary team to have the empty package or container of bait. Every bit of information available is a plus. If possible, as you make your way to the veterinary clinic, and you have not used snail bait yourself, have a member of your household call your neighbors to inquire if they have snail bait on their property.

Your dog may be vomiting; it could be likely that the stomach contents will have an odor similar to formaldehyde, or even an apple cider like smell. Blue pellets may be seen in the vomitus. It is possible that the stomach contents will be analysed for snail bait poisoning. This is the most accurate form of diagnostic confirmation.

Blood tests like biochemical profile and complete blood count, along with urinalysis could be done, but these tools do not always give your veterinarian a clear picture of the problem in this case.

Time is of the essence when treating slug poisoning in dogs. Because of this important factor for successful treatment, we must stress again the emphasis of bringing your dog to the clinic as soon as you become aware of the bait ingestion, or if unaware, as soon as symptoms appear.

Your pet will need to be hospitalised because rapid, aggressive treatment with careful monitoring will ensure the most positive outcome. Expeditious treatment, within 24 hours at the very most, can bring a full recovery within two to three days.

Your veterinarian will commence with a regimen including the following medical aids.

Though there is no antidote for slug bait poisoning, studies show that both metaldehyde and acetaldehyde are rapidly removed from the body.

When your much-loved pet returns home from the hospital, be sure to provide a quiet, serene resting area. Your veterinarian will have given you instructions on immediate home care and follow up. Caution must be used when storing snail bait in the future. Despite his ordeal, your pet may have developed a taste for the bait and ingest it again at the first opportunity.

You may decide to check with your local garden center for advice on natural deterrents for snails and slugs. There are alternatives like biological control, such as worms, or hand picking snails and slugs in the early morning, to remove them from your yard or garden.