Do dogs eat slugs?

Luckily, most dogs do not actively look to eat slugs and snails as they omit a foul-tasting slime. On the downside, lungworm can be picked up if your dog accidentally licks or eats grass that a slug or snail has crawled across or drinks from water outside.


What happens if my dog eats a slug?

The dangers of dogs eating slugs

Besides an upset tummy, eating slugs can cause dogs to contract lungworm, a potentially deadly condition if left untreated. Lungworm is a parasite that attacks the blood vessels in the heart and lungs.

Do dogs like eating slugs?

They don't taste particularly pleasant, so most dogs won't actively seek them out, they are usually eaten by accident. This means that your dog or puppy may have also eaten whatever the slug was attracted to, such as rotten or mouldy food, which is more likely to cause digestive upset in your pet than the slug.


How long after a dog eats a slug?

Symptoms may include: vomiting, cranial nerve dysfunction, weakness in the limbs or paralysis, coma, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, seizures, and constipation. These symptoms usually present 1 to 3 weeks after your dog has eaten the slug or snail, so diagnosis can be tricky.

How do I get my dog to stop eating slugs and snails?

Get rid of slugs and snails without harming dogs with these simple tips:
  1. Use a natural anti slug and snail spray. ...
  2. Apply organic slug and snail defence gel. ...
  3. Transform your garden with horticultural grit. ...
  4. Encourage natural predators and turn them into a tasty meal. ...
  5. Grow a garden slugs and snails will hate.


What Should I Do if My Dog Eats a Slug? | Wag!



Can my dog get sick if he licks a slug?

It's true! Ordinary slugs and snails you find in your back garden can carry a parasite called lungworm. If your dog becomes infected – often after eating a slug or snail – the parasite can pose a real threat to their health and the disease may even prove to be fatal.

How do I know if my dog has lungworm?

Symptoms of lungworm include:
  1. Excessive bleeding.
  2. Unexplained or excessive bruising.
  3. Coughing.
  4. Difficulty breathing.
  5. Loss of appetite.
  6. Vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
  7. Weight loss.
  8. Tiredness and depression.


What Can dogs catch from slugs?

Dogs get lungworm by eating larvae found in infected snails, slugs or frogs. They can also accidentally eat infected slugs if they are on a toy or their fur. The lungworm larvae then grow inside the dog and adult lungworms move through their body to live in their heart and blood vessels.


Do all slugs carry lungworm?

Not all slugs or snails contain lungworm larvae, but according to an almost unbelievable Countryfile statistic, an average British garden is home to more than 20,000 slugs and snails. The risk of a dog encountering a lungworm host is therefore high.

Do dogs have to eat slugs to get lungworm?

Don't forget, dogs do not have to eat the actual snail or slug to get infected. Although habitual slug and snail eaters are more at risk, any dog with access to slug and snail environments may come into contact with lungworm larvae.

Why does my dog like slugs?

Why does my dog eat slugs and snails? Dogs often ingest them by accident. When they're playing in the garden or in the great outdoors, dogs may chew on a toy which has a slug or snail on it, or drink from puddles of water containing the creatures.


Is it OK for dogs to eat snails?

Did you know that it can be dangerous for your dog to eat snails and slugs? In fact, every year at Turramurra Veterinary Hospital, our vets treat at least one case of a nasty disease called angiostrongylosis, which is caused by a parasite found in snails and slugs.

Can dogs throw up slugs?

What happens if a dog eats a slug? Eating slugs can hurt your dog for two reasons; Whilst not toxic, the slug and slime will react badly with your dog's digestive system leading to vomiting and possible diarrhoea. In worst case scenarios your dog could develop lungworm, and could even die due to the infection.

Does dog worming protect against lungworm?

Your standard over-the-counter dog worming treatment targets intestinal worms (such as roundworm and tapeworm) but is ineffective against lungworm – a potentially life-threatening disease in dogs.


Are garden slugs poisonous?

While slugs are slimy and damaging to plants, they are not poisonous to humans. However, some of them may carry diseases and parasites, such as the rat lungworm, that can be dangerous to other animals and us.

Can dogs poop out slugs?

Can dogs poop out slugs? From a science perspective, it's not possible for dogs to poop out slugs. They could vomit them up, minutes after swallowing, but pooping slugs out is impossible due to the stomach acid inside your dog. A slug would not survive passing through a dog's digestive system.

What kills lungworm in dogs?

The parasites can be killed with specific antiparasitic drugs depending on the type of lungworm. Different medications include ivermectin, fenbendazole (Panacur™), Moxidectin+Imidacloprid (Advantage Multi™), and Milbemycin Oxime+praziquantel (Interceptor Plus™).


What wormer kills lungworm in dogs?

Advocate is the only product to prevent and treat lungworm. When given monthly, Advocate prevents the establishment of an infection. If your vet suspects your dog may have already become infected with this parasite, they can be prescribed Advocate to treat the condition.

Where do slugs go during the day?

Slugs and snails hide in damp places during the day. They stay under logs and stones or under ground cover. They also hide under planters and low decks. At night they come out to eat.

Can you see lungworm in poop?

No. Lungworm eggs and larvae cannot be readily seen by looking at dog feces with the naked eye.


Can a dog get lungworm from sniffing a slug?

Unlike many diseases, lungworm is not actually passed directly from dog to dog. The worm needs slug and snail hosts in order to grow and develop, and it's from eating these that infection may occur.

Can a dog recover from lungworm?

If your dog is diagnosed and treated early (before severe symptoms have developed), their outlook is likely to be good. However, lungworm infections that cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties and seizures, generally have a poor outlook and sadly, severe lungworm infections can be fatal.

How do I get rid of slugs in my yard?

Slugs are soft-bodied molluscs so sharp, prickly barriers are a great way to deter them from precious plants. Use crushed egg shells, pine needles or thorny cuttings to create barriers and recycle unwanted leftovers and foliage. Another great material to use is sharp sand.


What should I do if my dog eats a snail?

However, it is always worth monitoring them just to be on the safe side. If you know that your dog has eaten a snail or slug, keep an eye out in the following weeks for any of the symptoms associated with lungworm. These include: difficulty breathing.

What are the symptoms of a dog eating a snail?

Any dog can potentially become infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum if they happen to eat a slug or snail carrying the larvae of the parasite. Symptoms are many and varied but can include breathing difficulties, ranging from a lack of energy to coughing.