The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: Fleecewife on August 15, 2016, 06:31:04 pm
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Today my Jack Russell :dog: carefully picked a snail out of it's damp hiding place and proceeded to eat it. He very delicately nibbled the snaily bit out of the shell and appeared to find it delicious ???
Eeh I've never seen anything like it in all my born days :roflanim:
Anyone else got a snail eating dog? That is, a dog eating a snail, not a snail eating the dog ::)
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Eek !, I'd worm him pdq, snails are one of the main culprits for spreading lungworms in dogs, fatal if left untreated.
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Eek and double eek. I didn't know that :o This was a big garden snail not a water snail....?
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Definitely agree, have him wormed against lung and heart worm PDQ Snails and slugs carry it
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Ditto, I try not to let mine eat for that reason, bit of a worry with the amount of slugs around this year, but luckily they don't seek them out.
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Lungworm is rare in Scotland, most cases have been in dogs that have travelled over the border and spent time in England.
Bayer's website has a map of lungworm cases to give you an idea of risk areas.
If anyone is concerned about lungworm, particularly those in risk areas, and particularly if their dog eats slugs and snails, or grass where these are common, there are several treatments licensed to prevent lungworm when dosed monthly.
Advocate (or other brands are available) not only treats and prevents lungworm but also treats and prevents fleas, for which we should all treat monthly to prevent. The active ingredient that deals with lungworm is moxidectin so you can find the alternative. However, this is not an excuse to use things like cattle wormers that include this ingredient as the formulations for dogs have been tested rigorously to ensure safety as many dogs (particularly collies) can be sensitive to this class of drugs, so please always use as directed on the label ie. dog medication only for dogs.
There are also milbemycin tablets including Milbemax that treat worms in general including lungworm.
Hope that sheds some light on it for you.
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I have a snail eater too.
Advice as per above about worming but as a heads up = partially chewed snail STINKS if said dog gets any of their fur (or rolls on said chewed snail..) - you need proper shampoo to remove it not just a blast with a hose
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As above but if using Milbemax tablets to prevent lungworm they must be used MONTHLY rather than the 3 monthly normal dose.
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Idiot dog now treated with Advocate :dog:
He loves rolling in stuff, so one day it will be a snail, sure as eggs is eggs. We use shampoo on him anyway whenever he's found something particularly stinky to roll in, then expects a cuddle :yuck:
We have so many snails here in soggy Scotland that it's sure to happen again ::)