What If My Dog Ate Slug Pellets?
No. Metaldehyde slug pellets cause tremors and seizures within hours — one of the most urgent garden poisonings. Go straight to the vet.
Quick facts
| Verdict | Toxic |
|---|---|
| Risky amount | No safe or toxic dose is established — treat any amount as a risk. |
| Key symptoms | Anxiety or restlessness, Drooling, Muscle twitching and tremors, Stumbling, unsteady gait, Seizures, Dangerously high body temperature |
| What to do | Metaldehyde poisoning escalates from twitching to continuous seizures fast — "shake and bake" is the grim clinical nickname. Go to a vet immediately after any suspected ingestion; do not wait to see whether tremors start. |
Why slug pellets are a garden emergency
Traditional slug and snail baits use metaldehyde, a potent neurotoxin, blended into grain-and-molasses pellets that dogs eat as happily as slugs do. Once absorbed, it sets the nervous system on fire: restlessness and drooling first, then twitching, whole-body tremors and seizures — often within hours. The seizures themselves drive body temperature to dangerous levels, which is why untreated cases are so often fatal.
There is no antidote. Survival depends on how quickly a vet can decontaminate the dog and control the tremors, so the time you save between garden and clinic is the treatment.
What to do if your dog ate slug bait
Go to a vet or emergency clinic immediately, even if your dog looks normal — bring the packet if you can. If tremors have started, transport with the car cool and quiet; stimulation makes them worse. Expect intensive care rather than a quick visit, like other high-speed poisons such as antifreeze.
Prevention beats everything here
If a dog uses your garden, do not use metaldehyde at all — choose ferric phosphate baits, beer traps or barriers instead. And note the irony: the slugs themselves are also a hazard, since raw slugs and snails transmit lungworm to dogs that eat them.
If your dog ate it
Metaldehyde poisoning escalates from twitching to continuous seizures fast — "shake and bake" is the grim clinical nickname. Go to a vet immediately after any suspected ingestion; do not wait to see whether tremors start.
In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply).
Frequently asked questions
- How fast does slug bait poisoning happen in dogs?
- Signs often begin within an hour or a few hours of ingestion — anxiety, drooling and twitching that escalate to full tremors and seizures. The seizures generate dangerous body heat, which is part of what makes this poisoning so lethal without treatment.
- Why do dogs eat slug pellets?
- Metaldehyde baits are typically made with grain and molasses to attract slugs, and dogs find the same recipe tasty. Dogs will dig up scattered pellets and chew open stored boxes, so the only safe garden is one without metaldehyde in it.
- Is there an antidote for metaldehyde?
- No. Treatment is aggressive supportive care — controlling seizures, cooling, decontamination and IV fluids, often for one to several days. Outcomes are good when treatment starts early and poor when it starts late.
- Are pet-safe slug pellets really safe?
- Ferric (iron) phosphate baits are far less dangerous and are the standard recommendation for pet households, but eating a large amount is still worth a vet call. Check the active ingredient before assuming safety.
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