My puppy chewed a slug, but didn't swallow it. Is a vet visit needed?

Lungworm larvae do not live in the slime of a slug. Your dog would need to eat the slug to get infected with lungworm (angiostrongylus spp) and the slug would need to be infected as well. I would not worry about it.

What you saw is not a lungworm, you saw a snail/slug that could potentially carry a lungworm. it takes several months for this worm to develop so even if he got infested it can still be treated with Ivermectin or Advocate spot on for example.

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.

Slugs in themselves do not pose a significant problem to cat’s digestive system – insects and the like are a natural part of the feline diet. Though slugs are non-toxic, the mucous they produce may cause your cat to drool or vomit. I would be concerned, however, if there is slug deterrent used in your yard, as that is toxic to cats. Depending on the slug-deterrent used, one slug is unlikely to cause terrible results, but you can monitor Zoe for signs of agitation, excessive drooling, muscle tremors and seizures, and a racing heart rate. If you see any of those signs in her, take her to a vet right away.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Regular earthworms and most insects are not harmful for your pet to ingest. Also as a quick reference you can visit Aspca pet poison control website for a complete list of toxic plants/foods your pet shouldn’t ingest. Otherwise Lucky should be just fine. Best wishes and take care.

Most snails are not dangerous, but snails can carry parasites such as lungworms that can infect dogs, and they may cause GI upset such as vomiting and diarrhea so it's best to discourage him from eating them. Puppies explore the world with their mouth so there's no quick and easy way to prevent him from eating them, other than keep him away from where they are (if possible), or simply watch him closely and tell him "no!" and take it away when you see him try to pick one up. It will probably help to have some of his kibbles with you, or small treats, both to encourage him to drop the snail and to reward him for listening when you tell him "no". Good luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Frank. I would maybe advise trying to feed Frank a very small amount of food and see if that doesn't settle his stomach. The slug is probably causing the nausea and vomiting because I'm assuming Frank was fine before this exposure. If the vomiting doesn't resolve, I would advise that you call your local emergency vet hospital and discuss the case with them. I would hope that with a little food on his stomach, things would settle for him but only time will tell. Good luck with Frank.