Old slug pellets a death risk for dogs

Press, 7 January 1987, Page 3

Old slug pellets a death risk for dogs

Poisonous slug pellets used in gardens are concerning some pet owners.

In a letter to “The Press,” Mrs Susan Wallis, of Rangiora, whose family dog died after eating pellets, said that not enough was being done to make the public aware of the dangers o’f this type of poison. “I think it’s a terrible thing to happen, the packets should stress that the. bait can be extremely dangerous,” she said. “You could be forgiven for thinking that the worst effects from consuming it might be a stomach upset.”

Mrs Wallis said instructions on the packet she had used said it “may be harmful if taken.”

She knew of two other dogs who had been affected by bait, one of which had died. A Christchurch veterinary surgeon and member of the Canterbury Veterinary Association, Mr Mike Bell, said yesterday that the first metaldehyde slug killers available about three years ago had been palatable to cats and dogs. The producers had realised this and withdrawn them from sale. New pellets contained a compound which was off putting to animals.

“I think the horticulture firms have acted responsibly, but people may well still have old packets in the garden shed and dish them out in spring when the slugs are at their

worst,” said Mr Bell. Spring was the worst time for slug bait poisoning, and about 20 animals were then brought to his client suffering from it' each year. “It’s very unusual for an animal to die from it; usually they will salivate and have convulsions, but the effects are mostly short term,” said Mr Bell. A spokesman for a Christchurch nursery said he doubted if any old slug bait stock was still being sold. “All the bait is quite new. The season has been so wet the slugs have been bad and we’ve sold dozens of packets of bait. I doubt that anywhere in the city is still selling old packets.”