Vet’s 2025 Guide to Canine Metaldehyde (Slug Bait) Poisoning 🩺

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

💡 What Is Metaldehyde & Why Is It Dangerous?

Metaldehyde is a toxic compound commonly found in slug and snail baits in granular, pelleted, or liquid form. Easily mistaken for food, just a teaspoon per 5 kg of dog can cause severe toxicity. Upon ingestion, it's metabolized into acetaldehyde-the, the combination disrupts neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA, serotonin), causing life-threatening neurological and systemic effects.

🚩 Who Is at Risk & Why?

• 🐶 Primarily dogs, often by nibbling pellets in gardens or storage areas.
• 🏡 Cases increase in spring–early summer when slug bait is commonly used.
• ⚠️ Highly palatable bait plus rapid neurologic action make even small exposures dangerous.

👀 Clinical Signs & Timeline

Signs appear within **1–3 hours**:

• 🥵 Restlessness, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea.
• 🌀 Ataxia (“drunken gait”), hyperesthesia, tremors ("shake and bake").
• 🔥 High fever (up to 42 °C), tachycardia, tachypnea.
• ⚡ Seizures or continuous tonic-clonic convulsions.
• 🫤 Anxiety between seizures, nystagmus, muscle spasms; possible cyanosis.
• 🩸 Later: metabolic acidosis, DIC, organ failure; coma and respiratory arrest if untreated.

🧪 Diagnosis Techniques

• 🔍 Based primarily on clinical signs and owner history.
• 👃 Characteristic “apple cider” odor on breath or stomach contents.
• 🧪 Gastric contents analysis or lab tests if available.
• 📉 Rule out other neurotoxins or metabolic disorders via diagnostics.

🛠 Emergency Treatment Protocol

1. Immediate Stabilization & Decontamination

• 🧴 Vacuuming GI tract — induce vomiting if early and no seizures.
• 💊 Administer activated charcoal with cathartic to reduce absorption and enterohepatic recirculation.
• 🚰 Gastric lavage when needed; IV fluids to correct dehydration and acidosis.

2. Control Neurologic Signs & Body Temperature

• 💉 Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam 2–5 mg/kg IV) to manage seizures & tremors.
• 🧊 Aggressive cooling (fans, cold fluids) to manage hyperthermia.
• 🛏 If tremors are refractory, sedation or anesthesia may be required.

3. Supportive & Advanced Care

• 🔬 Control metabolic acidosis and electrolyte imbalances with IV fluids.
• 💊 Treat complications—liver support, oxygen therapy, manage DIC if present.
• ⚕️ Consider Intravenous Lipid Emulsion therapy (20%) as adjunctive—shown effective in severe cases.

📅 Prognosis & Recovery

• ✅ Early aggressive treatment usually leads to full recovery within 2–3 days.
• ⚠️ Delayed care or severe exposure increases risk of liver failure or death—fatality ~16%.
• 📈 Prognosis depends on time to hospital and seizure control; continued monitoring for delayed organ damage is essential.

🚫 Prevention & Owner Education

• ❌ Avoid using metaldehyde baits—choose iron phosphate alternatives or non-chemical methods like copper barriers or beer traps.
• 🔐 Store chemicals securely and out of reach.
• 🎓 Educate communities about seasonal slug bait risks.

🏠 Ask A Vet App Home Monitoring Tools 📲

• 📆 Alerts for hydration, temperature checks, medication schedules, and follow-up appointments.
• 📊 Log neurologic status—tremors, seizure frequency, body temperature over time.
• 📸 Upload photos or soft footage of recovery signs for remote vet review.
• 🔔 Notifications for warnings—dev. jaundice, lethargy, appetite loss.
• 📚 Includes recovery support guides—feeding, wound care, and follow-up care.

🔑 Key Takeaways 🧠✅

• 🚨 Metaldehyde is a swift-acting neurotoxin—requires emergency care.
• 🛡️ Early GI decontamination + seizure control + cooling = best outcome.
• 💪 Lipid therapy is promising but remains adjunctive to aggressive support.
• 🏆 With rapid ICU care, most dogs recover fully in 2–3 days.
• 🌱 Prevention via safe bait alternatives and owner awareness is essential.

🩺 Final Thoughts ❤️

In 2025, understanding metaldehyde poisoning equips pet owners and vets to act swiftly. When recognized early, aggressive treatment stabilizes dogs quickly. With digital support from Ask A Vet, you can help observe, track, and support your pup’s recovery at home, minimizing complications and maximizing their return to happy, healthy life. 🐾✨

Visit AskAVet.com and download the Ask A Vet app to record symptoms, manage care plans, upload recovery photos, set alerts, and keep in touch with your vet during the healing process. 📲🐶