Snail Bait Poisoning

Snail bait is the most common poisoning agent of dogs in California. Warning signs of snail bait poisoning include anxious twitching that becomes uncontrollable, racing heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea and respiratory failure.The twitching progresses to seizures and potentially death. Seizures can raise a pet's body temperature so high that brain damage can occur.

Know the facts:

• The toxic ingredient in snail bait is metaldehyde and can cause seizures in animals that can be fatal.
• Snail bait is commonly sold in pellets that resemble dog food and have a flavor that attracts dogs.
• Snail bait can be licked off paws during grooming.
• It takes less than one teaspoon per 10lbs of body weight for snail bait to become toxic.

Pet-safe alternatives to snail bait include Sluggo Slug & Snail Bait, handpicking, and copper barriers. You can read more about snail bait from Dr. Utchen by clicking here.  

If you think your pet may have ingested snail bait call us immediately at 925.866.8387! 

 

Snail Bait Awareness by Frank Utchen, DVM

There are two main types of snail baits, and one is considered relatively safe for dogs. Look for the active ingredient and use the kind that contains 1% iron phosphate. This is relatively safe for dogs, because there is actually very little iron in the compound, and what there is, is poorly digested and absorbed by dogs, so most of it passes through them without incident. That being said, iron phosphate can still be toxic to dogs if they ingest enough of it: a 40 lb dog would have to consume about 3 lbs of this bait to receive a lethal dose of iron, although vomiting and diarrhea can occur with as little as about 1/10 of that amount.

Certain brands of snail bait contain an active ingredient called metaldehyde. Metaldehyde causes muscle tremors that progress to convulsions. Dogs can easily die from this poison. Each spring when the snails come out, we see numerous dogs at our practice that have ingested metaldehyde that require emergency treatment, including iv fluids, injections of anti-seizure medication, and a one or two-day hospital stay. Keep all potential poisons well out of reach of dogs. Pet-safe alternatives to snail baits with metaldehyde include Sluggo Slug and Snail Bait, handpicking, and copper barriers.