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My puppy ate a snail. Is it toxic or dangerous? What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed | 2 months and 18 days old

Hello.. my wee puppy that is 10 weeks old ate a big snail .. i loked it up and it says it could be dangerous.. she fall asleep now. What should ido

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 22nd, 2016

Snails are generally non toxic to dogs, but the problems come with with the parasites they carry, and if they have been poisoned with snail poisoning. Snails carry lungworms, which will be passed to dogs when the snail is eaten by the dog. Not all snails carry lungworms, so you can monitor Daisy for signs of coughing and difficulty breathing. If she develops those problems, you should take her into your vet. The snail's shell could also potentially cause GI obstruction or GI upset, but it's not too likely. Monitor her for vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or extremely lethargy, and if you see any of those signs, take her into your vet. Finally, as I mentioned, there can be problems if the snail was poisoned with snail poisoning. Signs of toxicity from snail poisoning include tremors and twitching, which are exacerbated by noise. If you see any of those signs, you need to take Daisy into your vet right away. If she is actually normally, eating and drinking normally, and having normal bathroom habits, I would not worry about her.

7Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
If she is acting lethargic and sleepy now, I would recommend having her seen by a vet right away - I'm not familiar with any species of snails that are toxic to dogs, but without knowing what area you live in I can't say for sure if this could be a concern. The safest bet would be to have her examined by a vet - he/she can do some blood work if needed to check for any toxicity issues.
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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