Dogs and slugs

[Hilary B]

Not sure if this is the right place for this one.


While at the vet's yesterday evening, started reading one of the leaflets. Dogs can get a VERY nasty parasite if they eat slugs, snails or frogs, or even sometimes from licking or chewing something a slug has left a trail on. Lungworm can be a killer if not treated........

[Flummery]

I think a lot of the worms that chickens get are from eating slugs, snails and earthworms. Can't say I'd fancy them myself either!

[bluemoon]

Thanks, Hilary. Our mad dog frequently picks snails up, she seems to think they're some sort of toy. I always take them off her because I'm worried that she'd swallow one, but it sounds as if by that point the damage would already have been done. I'll try and keep a closer eye on her in future. I've owned dogs all my life and never heard of this before.

[Hilary B]

Thanks, Hilary. Our mad dog frequently picks snails up, she seems to think they're some sort of toy. I always take them off her because I'm worried that she'd swallow one, but it sounds as if by that point the damage would already have been done. I'll try and keep a closer eye on her in future. I've owned dogs all my life and never heard of this before.

Apparently it has only reached some parts of the UK in the last couple of years. Global warming again......

[vicky]

In february this year my lovely lurcher died of a very sudden 'auto immune' disease. At 5pm she was fine, by 6am the next morning she had to be put to sleep. The disease caused her body to attack it's own clotting cells in her blood - you can imagine the rather horrific results... At the time the vet wasn't sure what it was, since then he's seen another case where the dog survived 36hrs before dying - long enough for a postive test result to come back for lungworm.
We are in (west) Essex. The first signs we saw was a purple meningitis type rash on the dog's tummy, so if you see this get the dog to a vet asap.

[terrier]

Thankfully none of our terriers have died but in the last two years our lot have had two dogs suffer from Parasitic Lungworm ( just Google it if you've got a strong stomach). In one case, a vet had told the owner to use a different (better!) wormer than the full spectrum wormer that we had told them to use. Unfortunately, this wormer had NO effect on Lungworm, the result was that they nearly lost their beloved terrier. This parasite is a killer and is spreading (and it can affect humans as well). Make sure your animals are wormed up to date with a full spectrum wormer and if you are collecting and handling slugs (as we gardeners do) was your hand well afterwards and/or wear gloves.

[Tam]

Unfortunately, hedgehogs can catch some nasty diseases if they ingest slugs - lungworm is the most common.

[terrier]

No Hedgehog pie for Xmas dinner this year, then!

[SlugLobber]

Yep, was going to mention the full spectrum wormer. I wouldn't ever consider the 'Shirley's' and 'Bob Marshall's' type things bought over the counter. They're not effective even on the common 'non-fatal' worms. Sorry to read about your lurcher, Vicky.

[allotmentlady]

Yes I had heard about this from a friend and then a woman who has a plot, had probs with her greyhound, it fell ill and died suddenly, after an autopsy, it was revealed that it died of lungworm. This dog went to her plot everyday. Now when my chihuahuas go outside, I am on full alert as my bitch enjoys playing with slugs!!

[TraceyCusick]

Hi vicky, see that your on line and thought I would drop a line. My dog is today in hospital for "suspected" lung worm but the vet is saying it is not showing up in blood tests even though he is showing all the symptoms. He is coughing, heaving and does not seem to be able to breathe properly. Do you know how vets should test them?

[vicky]

Hi Tracey, sorry to hear that, my dog had different symptoms from yours, the vet sampled her blood but she died before any other results came back, I don't think he suspected lungworm till another died a few months later with the same symptoms. My vet is Anil Nathan in North Weald, 01992 525556, he's really friendly if you want to talk to him, my dog was Ellie, he'll remember her. PM me your tel no if you want to talk. xxx

[TraceyCusick]

Hi Vicky thanks for response. I used to go to that vet too.He is very nice. What symptoms did your dog have? I will send my number to you on your email. Happy new year hun xxx