Dog Dies from Slug Pellets

Tue, 02 Jun 2009

An inquiry has been launched into the labelling of Homebase’s slug pellets after a dog died from ingesting the pellets. A report in a national newspaper revealed that a pet belonging to the Walch family died within hours of eating the pellets whilst out in the garden. Milo, a four year old Labrador, had to be put to sleep after the vet who saw him labelled it as the ‘worst case of metaldehyde poisoning she had ever seen’.

Metaldehyde is the poisonous chemical contained within the pellets, and despite the World Health Organisation branding the chemical as ‘moderately hazardous’, Homebase’s packaging did not display a skull and crossbones logo on the product. Instead, the container offers a small warning on the reverse that the product is ‘dangerous to pets ’, whilst the pellets also contain an animal repellent which is designed ‘to reduce attractiveness to pets’.

Data from the Veterinary Poisons Information Service revealed that there were 267 cases of metaldehyde poisoning in dogs during 2008, and a further 32 incidents involving cats . The news of potentially poisonous slug pellets will be of concern to dog owners, particularly in areas such as Bury St Edmonds where there has been an outbreak of slugs and snails recently.

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