Snails are a common sight in many gardens and parks, and some dogs may be tempted to eat them. However, this can be a dangerous habit, as snails can pose various health risks for dogs. Snails can carry parasites that can infect dogs and cause lungworm disease, which can be fatal if left untreated. Snails can also contain toxins from the plants they eat, which can affect dogs nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
Cooking snails does not eliminate all the risks, and some seasonings used for snails can be toxic to dogs as well. Therefore, it is best to avoid feeding snails to your dog, and to prevent them from eating snails in the wild.
Key Takeaways
- Snails can carry various parasites, such as lungworms, that can infect dogs and cause serious health problems.
- Snails can also accumulate toxins from the plants they eat, which can be harmful to dogs.
- Cooking snails does not make them safe for dogs, as some parasite risks and toxin content remain, and some seasonings can be poisonous to dogs.
- If your dog eats a snail, monitor them for symptoms of illness and consult a vet if they persist for more than 24 hours.
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Can Dogs Eat Snail?
No, dogs cannot eat the snails. Snails are edible for humans and are considered as delicacies in many European countries like France, Spain and Italy. Snail dishes are usually high in protein, low in fat and contain various vitamins and minerals.
While a well-cooked snail serves so many benefits to us, can it be the same for dogs? Can dogs eat snails? Well, the answer to this is not that simple. If your dog 🐶 just tastes a cooked snail then it won’t harm him. However, you need to consider various factors before jumping to the conclusion. Here is what you need to know!
Health Risks of Dogs Eating Snails
Directly coming to the health risk as there aren’t any possible benefits of eating snails. Though snails 🐌 are a rich source of protein, vitamins and minerals, they won’t influence the dog positively, even if consumed cooked.
Parasites That Snails Can Transmit
Snails may carry parasites such as roundworms, hookworms or lungworms that can infect dogs. The larval stage of these parasites sometimes dwells on snails. If your dog 🐶 eats it raw then there are chances that the dog ingest the infected snails 🐌 and become infected. One of the most common risks is developing lungworm, which can cause respiratory issues in dogs.
Lungworm in Dogs
Lungworm is caused by a parasitic worm that can travel around your dog’s body through its blood vessels. It affects his heart, lungs and other parts of the body. Generally, dogs get lungworm by eating larvae found in infected snails, slugs or frogs.[1]
The lungworm stays in the body for several days and over time it grows and starts producing its own larvae. This can lead to serious problems like heart problems, breathing problems and pneumonia. Thus, it becomes important to look for symptoms and consult a vet 👩⚕️ if your dog accidentally eats a snail.
Symptoms of lungworm are:
- coughing
- breathing problems
- not wanting to exercise
- loss of appetite
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- weight loss
- minor injury or cut might bleed for longer
“There are no blood tests that will definitely diagnose lungworm in dogs. A definitive diagnosis of a lungworm infection is usually made by the identification of parasite stages in the faeces of an infected animal“, confirms Krista Williams and Cheryl Yuill at VCA Hospitals.
Toxins and Poisons That Snails Can Contain
Snails eat a large variety of plants, fungi and organic matter. Many of them might be poisonous, accumulating toxins in its body. When a dog 🐶 eats this he can likely be at a risk of these toxins. However, the toxicity depends on the type of snail as well as what has he been eating.
Damage from Sharp Snail Shells
The sharp, jagged shells of snails 🐌 can harm dogs if ingested, causing damage to the mouth, throat, or stomach lining, resulting in tears or internal injuries. Hence, dogs should avoid eating raw snails. Most dogs don’t actively seek them out but will eat them by accident because they don’t taste good.
Exceptions and Special Considerations
Although snails are generally considered risky, certain species may be less hazardous. Take, for instance, decollate snails, which are occasionally employed by gardeners to manage other snail pests. These snails are known to harbour fewer parasites and toxins.
However, it is important to be cautious as they can still cause injury to the mouth or digestive tract due to their sharp shells. Moreover, these snails are less hazardous than others but still can pose health risks to a dog 🐶.
A small amount of snail slime or meat is usually harmless for dogs. They can lick it or taste a little bit of it. However, it’s best to avoid feeding them intentionally due to difficulty in controlling the amount consumed. Thus, it is better not to feed raw snails to dogs.
What About Cooked Snail?
Now that you have known that raw snails 🐌 are dangerous to a dog’s health you might be tempted to feed your dog cooked snail. Now, is it healthy for your dog? Can dogs eat cooked snails? Well, wait! Your dog can’t eat cooked snails either! Why? Here are some reasons.
Reasons you can’t feed cooked snails to dogs:
- Cooking snails can kill some parasites but does not eliminate all parasite risks. Lungworms and others can still be present after cooking.
- The toxin content in the snails is not negated even after cooking them and can pose the same danger for dogs 🐶 as the raw ones do.
- Some seasoning used while cooking snails like onion, garlic and other spices can be poisonous to dogs and lead to serious problems.[2]
- The risks of gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhoea still exist when dogs eat cooked snails, especially if a lot of them are ingested.
Cooking may reduce some risks compared to raw snails but does not make snails entirely safe. Therefore, it clearly makes sense not to feed snails to your dog; neither raw nor cooked!
What to Do if Your Dog Eats a Snail?
But, what to do if my dog eats a snail? Well, many paw parents linger around this question. There’s nothing to worry about if your dog has eaten one snail out of curiosity from the backyard. However, you need to keep a close eye 👀 on him.
Check for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing or loss of appetite. If any of these symptoms persist for more than 24 hours then you should check with the vet 👩⚕️. Your vet may induce vomiting, treat for potential toxicity or prescribe any medication depending on the case.
FAQs
Is it okay for dogs to eat snails?
Accidentally eating a snail from the garden or the backyard is okay, but never intentionally feed snails to your dog; neither raw nor cooked. Not only this can pose a danger to your dog but in the long run, it can cause serious health problems.
Why dogs can’t eat snails?
Snails carry parasites like roundworms, hookworms or lungworms which can affect the dog badly if consumed. Even a small amount of these parasites are enough to cause poisoning in dogs. It can not only hurt dogs but can be fatal.
Do snails make dogs vomit?
Dogs can get infected with lungworm when they come into contact with the slimy substance produced by snails. As a sign of lungworm, the dog might show symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea or breathing problems.
Wrapping Up
So, can dogs eat snails? Well, the answer to this question is definitely a no! Dogs can’t eat or even lick snails. The reason behind this is the parasites that dwell on the snail. These can cause fatal diseases can may even lead to death if not cured on time.
Many nutritious food is available out there for your Fido; both natural as well as packed. It is better to feed him food that is beneficial for him and promotes his overall health. Said so, if your dog accidentally eats up a snail then don’t worry just look for signs of illness, but never intentionally feed him snails. Let you Fido have a happy and healthy life! 🐾🐶
References:
- Potentially lethal rat lungworm parasite found throughout Florida » College of Veterinary Medicine » University of Florida.
- Onion, garlic, chive, and leek toxicity in dogs | VCA Animal Hospital | VCA Animal Hospitals. (n.d.). Vca.
