Although it is not a common practice, as caregivers we may find ourselves faced with the situation that our dog ingests a snail or a slug, especially if we have an orchard or garden where these molluscs proliferate and, therefore, therefore, the animal has easy access to them. Although it may seem like a minor prank, in this article on our site we will see what happens if a dog eats a snail, since these mollusks can transmit diseases life threatening. Avoiding ingestion and a correct deworming schedule is essential.
Is it bad for dogs to eat snails?
Some parasites reach our dogs transmitted by other animals. The best known are ticks or mosquitoes, but snails can also can infect our dogs with two nematodes or roundworms that parasitize the heart and lungs. They are Angiostrongylus vasorum, also known as the French heartworm, and Crenosoma vulpis. In this way, it is bad that dogs eat snails or slugs.
Although infected dogs may remain asymptomatic, others develop blood and respiratory symptoms, such as coagulopathies, which can kill the dog. In the following sections we will see what happens if a dog eats a snail or a slug and contracts any of these parasites.
Diseases transmitted by snails to dogs: angiostrongylosis
The worm Angiostrongylus vasorum can cause coagulopathies in our dog, decreased number of platelets, obstruction of pulmonary arteries, thrombosis, injuries due to to larval migrations, congestive heart failure, cough, respiratory failure, exercise intolerance, anemia, bleeding, bruising, neurological signs, weight loss, and even death.
This parasite is native to Europe but is expanding and can already be found in other countries. What happens if a dog eats a snail infected with this worm is that it will ingest its larvae L3that will travel to your heart, specifically to the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, where they will complete their development to the adult state. The mature females lay eggs that, through the bloodstream, reach the pulmonary capillaries where they hatch into L1 larvae that move to the pulmonary alveoli. When the dog sneezes or coughs, these larvae reach the mouth and are swallowed, ending up in the digestive system and being expelled with the feces. From them the larvae access different types of snails or slugs, where they will develop up to L3, restarting the cycle if a dog eats them.
Sometimes, the dog is infected by eating frogs, lizards or even mice, because these animals can also be infested if they have eaten shellfish. As we have seen, the symptoms of this parasitosis are quite non-specific, so it must be the veterinarian who reaches the diagnosis. Larvae can be seen in the feces, although this technique presents false negatives because their elimination is intermittent. Blood tests and X-rays or ultrasounds can be done, although, due to their small size, these worms will not be seen.
Due to the serious consequences that this parasitic infection can have, it is essential to maintain correct deworming guidelines in order to prevent them, following the recommendations of our veterinarian. In this sense, and despite the fact that there are multiple antiparasitic products, specialists recommend opting for monthly deworming, especially in those dogs with daily access to field areas, with snails, slugs, ticks and fleas. Likewise, to avoid administering more than one product to the animal, it should be noted that there is double deworming, through which we manage to protect dogs from the most common internal and external parasites, with a single tablet. Because we love them, we protect them, ask your vet and deworm your pet.
Diseases transmitted by snails to dogs: crenosomiasis
This disease, also known as verminous pneumonia, is caused by another roundworm, or nematode, the Crenosoma vulpis, whichaffects the lungs and reaches our dogs if they eat infested molluscs. What happens if a dog eats a snail or a slug is similar to the cycle we have described for Angiostrongylus vasorum, with the difference that these parasites end up in the bronchi, bronchiolesand, in some cases, to the trachea, places where adult females lay eggs that develop into L1 larvae.
In the same way as in the previous case, through coughs, sneezes or expectorations, these larvae end up in the digestive system and are expelled in the feces, from where they penetrate slugs or snails, continuing their development until L3 larvae. If a dog ingests a contaminated snail or slug, larvae will pass from the intestine to the lungs through the bloodstream within three weeks, about. In the lungs they will complete their cycle. Adults can live up to 10 months.
Due to its location, the clinical signs that we are going to find in dogs will affect breathing, appearingcough and exercise intolerance , although many dogs remain asymptomatic. This disease is usually present in rural areas with cattle, since they are usually the main affected, and although it is not usually serious, it is necessary to prevent it with adequate deworming. It should be noted that it is not contagious to humans.
General recommendations to prevent your dog from eating snails
Now that we know what happens if our dog eats a snail or, also, a slug, we will see how we can minimize the risks:
- Training our dog so that he doesn't eat anything he finds outside the house.
- If you have frequent access to an area with an abundance of snails or slugs, we must make sure that they do not eat them.
- Living in places near fox populations also increases risk, as these animals can act as reservoirs.
- The traces left by mollusks on the surfaces over which they move can also be a source of contagion.
- Given the difficulty of controlling worms in foxes or molluscs, it is essential to establish and follow the deworming guidelines recommended by our veterinarian.
- Finally, we must go to the veterinary clinic in case of any symptoms.
