You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Slug bait is potentially lethal for dogs and cats as well as it's intended victims...so keep it out of the reach of your pet

Metaldehyde is a widely used molluscicide which can be found in many garden sheds and in the borders of gardens where slugs and snails are a problem.. It is also found in fire lighters.  Unfortunately, dogs find that metaldehyde smells attractive and they will actively seek out the granules/pellets to eat them. They have even been known to break into cupboards and climb up on to shelves to get at packages.  Some preparations contain a dog and cat repellant.

For dogs and cats the toxic dose (LD₅₀) for metaldehyde  is 500mg/kg body weight.

Small quantities of metaldehyde cause typical gastrointestinal signs of poisoning :

• Excess salivation
• Vomiting
• Later the animal will develop foul smelling, haemorrhagic diarrhoea

Higher doses of metaldehyde cause neurological signs and cardiovascular changes, and  can result in death :

• Over-reactivity of normal reflexes (called hyperaesthesia)
• Increased heart rate
• Increased respiratory rate
• High body temperature
• Aggression
• Loss of co-ordination
• Muscle tremors/twitches
• Seizures (fits)
• Unconsciousness
• Blindness
• Death within hours

Unfortunately, there is no specific antidote for metaldehyde poisoning, but some animals will survive high dose toxicity if early veterinary treatment is administered. This includes washing out the stomach contents (if the case is seen early enough), controlling  the seizures and giving intravenous fluids.

Updated October 2013