T K
T K
Authored by Dr. Rob Webster, Veterinary emergency & critical care specialist, Animal Emergency Service
Metaldehyde (often green coloured "Defender") and Methiocarb (mostly blue coloured Baysol) are used to kill snails and they are just as effective killing dogs and cats. Animals like the taste of these pellets and will seek them out even after being poisoned previously by snail bait.
Excitement, panting, trembling (which can develop into major convulsions leading to death), excess salivation, diarrhoea or heat stress (caused by the muscular contractions causing major damage in its own right).
The seriousness of the signs will depend on the amount of poison eaten.
Depending on the condition of the pet, we may try to make it vomit up the poison or proceed directly on to washing out the stomach under sedation/anaesthesia.
To avoid snail bait poisoning:
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