Save your beer, you won't hit a significant portion of the population.
Fortunately pets can recover from metaldehyde poisoning; unfortunately
slugs and snails can too, although I don't know any percentages. I would
guess that there are few success stories of home gardeners using
molluscicides.

Jody Thompson

>>> [log in to unmask] 04/28/05 1:35 PM >>>

Beware of Dangers Lurking in the Garden: Snail Bait Poisoning in Dogs is
on
the Rise


LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)----With spring in full bloom, many people
are
applying sun block and heading to their gardens to plant seasonal
flowers,
fruits and vegetables. But amongst the daffodils, tulips and tomatoes, a
deadly
poison could be lurking, posing a potential health threat, or even
death, to
beloved family pets. During the spring and summer in the moist,
temperate regions
of the Western United States, snails and slugs create an unwanted
nuisance for
gardeners. In an effort to protect their plants from mollusks that enjoy
feeding on new seedlings, gardeners often use snail bait to kill the
pests --
without realizing the hazard this poison can pose to dogs.

"Snail bait toxicity leads to many emergency veterinary visits during
the
warmer months, with some of our hospitals reporting as many as three
cases a week
during the season," said Todd Tams, D.V.M., DACVIM and Chief Medical
Officer
for VCA Antech, Inc. "Pets that ingest even very small amounts of
metaldehyde,
one of the major ingredients in snail bait, must be treated immediately
by a
veterinarian because it can result in serious symptoms, including
seizures,
coma and even death," he added.

Snail and slug bait is commonly formulated in pellets, which can
resemble dry
dog food. Adding to the danger, the poison can be flavored with
molasses,
bran or apple meal to attract snails, and this flavoring can be
appealing to
household pets as well. Although snail bait is also found in powder and
liquid
forms, this type of formulation can get onto pets' paws and be licked
off during
normal grooming.

Ingestion of the poison can result in metaldehyde toxicity. Symptoms can
begin as early as 30 minutes after ingestion, or up to six hours later,
and can
include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, panting, anxiety, accelerated
heart rate,
dilated pupils, seizures, coma and death. The most obvious sign of
poison
ingestion is muscle tremors and/or twitching.

Owners suspecting their pets may have ingested the poison are urged to
contact a veterinarian as soon as possible for proper care and
treatment. Depending
on the amount of metaldehyde ingested, the average hospital treatment
time for
a poisoned pet is between 12 and 24 hours or longer.

"While there is no direct antidote for metaldehyde toxicity, we aim
treatment
at controlling the symptoms, which can involve general decontamination
(inducing vomiting if less than four hours since ingestion, then giving
an oral
charcoal slurry), hospitalization with intravenous fluids, intravenous
methocarbamol therapy -- a strong muscle relaxer -- and sedation,"
explained Chris
Bonnell, D.V.M., Medical Director for VCA SE Portland Animal Hospital.
"With quick
intervention and proper veterinary treatment, most pets recover fully
from
snail bait poisoning," he added.

To protect pets from this hazard, Dr. Tams recommends using snail bait
products that are nontoxic, for both pet owners and non-pet owners.
"Although there
may not be any pets in your home, toxic chemicals in your garden may
affect
other people's pets," added Dr. Tams. Pet owners also need to be aware
that
while they may use nontoxic alternatives in their own gardens, their
pets may be
at risk for exposure to metaldehyde in neighbors' yards and gardens as
they
take their dogs for walks around the neighborhood.

In addition to using nontoxic snail bait, pets can be protected from the
hazards of poisoning with safe snail traps that fend off the pests.
Traps can be
baited with beer (studies show that fermented yeast in beer is an
excellent
attractant, and nonalcoholic beer seems to work best) or "slug dough," a
mixture
that includes molasses, cornmeal, flour, water and yeast that is
effective yet
harmless to dogs. Other experts point to iron phosphate (a compound that
occurs naturally in soil) bait, or even coffee as nontoxic alternatives
to deter
snails.

Whatever options gardeners choose to ensure a beautiful and thriving
garden,
it is important to keep pet safety in mind. While pesky slugs and snails
can
threaten to damage new plantings, toxic snail bait poses a serious and
deadly
threat to pets' lives. With a number of effective alternatives
available,
gardeners can choose nontoxic products to ensure the safety of their own
dogs as
well as neighbors' pets.

VCA Antech, Inc. (Nasdaq:<A HREF="aol://4785:WOOF">WOOF</A>), operates
the largest network of freestanding,
full-service animal hospitals across the country and employs more than
1,200
qualified veterinarians at over 320 animal hospitals in 36 states. VCA
Animal
Hospitals offer a full range of general medical and surgical services
for
companion animals, as well as specialized treatments including oncology,
ophthalmology, cardiology and neurology. Dedicated to the provision of
compassionate
and comprehensive veterinary care, VCA also provides advanced diagnostic
services.

Agnes Huff Communications Group Agnes Huff, PhD, or Anna Jerden,
310-641-2525
[log in to unmask]

04/28/2005 12:14 ET

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