Dog-Friendly Slug Pellets & Repellents: How to Protect Your Garden Without Harming Your Pet
If you’re a dog owner and a gardener, keeping slugs away while ensuring your pet’s safety is a little bit more tricky then for gardeners without a dog. Many traditional slug pellets contain chemicals that can be harmful to dogs, leading to serious health issues if ingested. Even worse, slugs and snails can carry lungworm, a potentially deadly parasite for dogs. So, what are the best dog-friendly slug repellents, deterrents, and pet-safe alternatives? In this guide, we’ll explore slug control methods that won’t put your furry friend at risk, including dog-safe slug pellets, natural deterrents, and effective slug barriers to keep your garden protected.
Quite simply in this blog post we’re going to cover 3 main points:
1. What Risks Do Slugs and Snails Pose to Dogs?
Slugs and snails can carry lungworm, a dangerous parasite for dogs (not to be confused with ringworm).
- Symptoms of lungworm in dogs – Learn the warning signs, from coughing and lethargy to serious health complications.
- How to protect your dog from lungworm – Simple steps to prevent infection and keep your pet safe.
2. WHAT SLUG TREATMENTS AREN’T DOG-FRIENDLY?
Many common slug control methods contain harmful chemicals that can pose serious risks to dogs.
- Which slug pellets aren’t safe for dogs? – Understanding the dangers of metaldehyde and certain ferric phosphate-based products.
- Signs of slug pellet poisoning in dogs – What to watch for and when to seek emergency veterinary care.
3. How to Get Rid of Slugs Effectively in a Dog-Safe Manner
You don’t have to choose between a slug-free garden and your pet’s safety.
- Follow our 3-step guide to a slug-free garden with dog-friendly solutions.
- Discover safe and effective alternatives in our comprehensive guide.
What risks do slugs and snails pose to dogs?
Lungworm is carried by some slugs and snails
What is Lungworm and How Does It Relate to Slugs and Snails?
Lungworm is a parasitic infection that can affect your dog, causing the parasite to travel through their blood vessels and impact their heart, lungs, and other parts of the body. This infection is transmitted through slugs and snails, which can carry the parasite larvae.
symptoms of lungworm in dogs
Lungworm can be tricky to diagnose since its symptoms can vary. Here are the most common signs to watch for:
- Coughing and breathing difficulties
- Reluctance to exercise or play
- Loss of appetite or vomiting/diarrhoea
- Unexplained weight loss
- Excessive bleeding, especially from minor injuries (even small cuts may take longer to clot)
How do dogs catch lungworm
Dogs usually become infected by eating larvae from infected slugs and snails. They may accidentally ingest these pests if they are found on a toy or their fur. Ingested larvae grow inside the dog, eventually moving to their heart and blood vessels, causing various health problems like breathing issues, heart disease, and even pneumonia.
In mild cases, lungworm infection can go unnoticed, but over time, the worms begin to reproduce, spreading larvae through the dog’s system. Severe infections can lead to internal bleeding and organ failure, and can even be fatal if left untreated.
preventing lungworm in dogs
While lungworm is treatable, preventing your dog from coming into contact with slugs, snails, and frogs is the best defense. Here are steps to help reduce the risk:
- Regular vet treatment: Speak to your vet about parasite treatments that protect against lungworm, especially if you live in areas where cases are more common, like southern England or South Wales.
- Keep your dog away from slugs and snails: Be mindful of these pests in your garden or when walking in local parks.
- Change outdoor water bowls frequently to avoid contamination.
Additionally, dog-friendly slug control methods can be essential in protecting your garden while keeping your pet safe. Consider natural repellents and barriers to avoid contact with these harmful pests.
What slug treatments arn't dog friendly
dog friendly slug killing pellets, do they exist?
There are two main types of active ingredients in slug pellets: Metaldehyde (which is banned in many countries due to its toxicity) and iron (ferric) based slug pellets, as seen in the example above. Ferric-based pellets are generally seen as the “less toxic” option, but after reading their label, is it really as dog-friendly as some sellers advertise? Or are they simply trying to sell their product and make money?
While ferric phosphate is considered less toxic than metaldehyde, it doesn’t mean it’s entirely harmless, especially when it comes to pets. Dogs who ingest these pellets could experience gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting or diarrhea, and in extreme cases, iron poisoning. While some sellers market these pellets as “pet-friendly,” the reality is that if a dog consumes a large quantity, it could still be harmful. The product’s safety largely depends on the quantity ingested, and manufacturers may be downplaying potential risks to increase sales.
Additionally, metaldehyde-based slug pellets are banned in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and parts of the European Union, due to their toxicity to both animals and humans. While ferric-based pellets may be a safer alternative, it’s always important to check the label for precautions and consider alternative solutions to ensure the safety of pets.
Should you use slug pellets if you want to keep your dog safe?
Our recommendation would be no—even IF a slug and snail killer were developed that isn’t harmful to any other creature, including your dog, we still don’t think you should use them. Here’s why:
You have a slug and snail problem in your garden because your garden is an ideal environment for them. Simply killing the slugs won’t address the root cause (in the long term if it’s the only action you take). Your garden provides a nice place for them to live and eat. By using these products, you’re putting your dog at risk, and you’re not actually solving the issue that makes your garden so attractive to them in the first place. This leads to only short-term results. Remember, one slug can lay up to 500 eggs, so soon enough, you’ll find yourself back at square one—buying more product and throwing it around your garden again (and don’t forget, the product can get ruined by rain and needs to be reapplied regularly).
This is similar to a very overweight person taking painkillers for knee pain caused by standing all day. While the painkillers may temporarily mask the problem, they don’t address the real issue. The person needs to sit down more or lose weight—just as you need to make changes to your garden to deter slugs and snails in the long run and not search for a quick fix.
How to get rid of slugs and snails in a dog safe way
Should you just use a barrier like copper tape? Should you use beer traps? Should you try egg shells like your friend suggested?
When it comes to getting rid of slugs and snails, we at Stopslugs are the experts. We’ve conducted hundreds of hours of experiments to create the chart above—but that’s just one piece of the puzzle, knowing what barrier or repellent to use.
I strongly recommend reading our comprehensive 3-step guide to a slug-free garden, where we explain why we rank barriers and repellents the way we do and provide a clear, step-by-step plan to help you tackle the problem effectively:
- Step 1: Controlling the environment – These are typically cheaper and longer-term solutions that prevent slugs from thriving in your garden.
- Step 2: Using barriers and repellents – Learn which methods work best and how to apply them correctly. Don’t waste you time with old wives tales, we’ve done the trial and error, so that you don’t have to!
- Step 3: Choosing the best way to kill slugs (if necessary) – In this section, we clearly label which methods are pet-safe and dog-friendly so you can make an informed decision.
By following these steps, you’ll stop slugs at the source, rather than just treating the symptoms of the problem. Read the guide now and take control of your garden for good!
