This isn't a usual post for me, but it is a rant so it belongs here. I have a poll for all of you, "Are Snails really THAT bad?"
Now before you answer let me give you a little information. . . and remember people I see this every day so before you argue with me because I'm not a Veterinarian just a Veterinary Technician, know that I've been there overnight, with the animal and its not fun to watch. . .
First off I want to give you a name, Metaldehdye. Sounds nasty right, well its the toxic ingredient in most snail baits. Now do you want to hear what it does when your dog gets into it?
Panting, excessive drooling, vomiting, followed up with seizure, muscle spasm, tachycardia (fast heart rate), respiratory failure and if not treated quickly DEATH.
Now also know there is no "antidote" for a Metaldehdye poisoning, just symptomatic care, which is not cheap. Your looking at 2-3 days in the hospital for your pet. Now this isn't your comfortable fluff my pillow, bring my pudding, kind of hospital stay. The last animal I stayed over 2 nights with had muscle spasms the entire time. That's 20 hours of cramping and twitching that your animal is going through. (And remember thats just the time I spent with the dog, there were people there during the day watching this too.)
Last night a 16 week old puppy came through our ER, full on seizures, foaming at the mouth, unresponsive to stimuli, all thanks to that wonderful toxin.
We all love our gardens but is it really worth your best friends life?
So I ask again, "Are Snails really THAT bad?" You tell me, and the police dog I watched die a year ago thanks to snail bait.
