My dog ate metaldehyde – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 4 sources

Based on: Animal PoisonLine (UK, VPIS), Pet Poison Helpline, Metaldehyde poisoning in 26 dogs, Open Vet J 2023

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Metaldehyde can cause rapid gastrointestinal and neurological signs, often within a few hours.

What to do now

What to do right now

  1. Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
  2. Note what was eaten, how much and when.
  3. Bring the packaging.
  4. Keep your dog calm.
  5. Remove what is left.

Don't

  • Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
  • Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Metaldehyde ingestion can lead to rapid gastrointestinal and neurological signs, including drooling.[2] These effects can occur quickly after ingestion, often within a few hours.[1] Reported acute LD50 values in dogs are approximately 100–1,000 mg/kg and 200–600 mg/kg in different reports.[3][4]

Signs to watch for

  • Drooling
  • Gastrointestinal signs
  • Neurological signs

Signs can occur quickly after ingestion, often within a few hours.

Where it is found

  • Slug and snail bait
  • Slug pellets
  • Snail bait
  • Liquids
  • Wettable powders
  • Granules

What the experts say

“These effects can occur quickly after ingestion, often within a few hours.”

— Animal PoisonLine (UK, VPIS) [1]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

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Common questions

How much metaldehyde is dangerous?

Reported acute LD50 values in dogs are approximately 100–1,000 mg/kg and 200–600 mg/kg in different reports.[3][4]

What signs can metaldehyde cause?

Metaldehyde ingestion can lead to rapid gastrointestinal and neurological signs, including drooling.[2]

How soon can signs start?

These effects can occur quickly after ingestion, often within a few hours.[1]

Sources

  1. Animal PoisonLine (UK, VPIS)
  2. Pet Poison Helpline
  3. Metaldehyde poisoning in 26 dogs, Open Vet J 2023
  4. Dialyser for severe metaldehyde intoxication in three dogs, Vet Med Sci 2026

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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