Slug Control: Some blue pellets can be toxic to dogs

Have you checked your lettuce, radishes, arugula, and other vegetables currently growing in your garden bed, greenhouse, or cold frame? If so, you’ve likely noticed that some of the leaves show signs of being nibbled on. Yes, slugs haven’t gone into hiding this year either and are trying to destroy as much of our harvest as possible. Most of us buy the classic blue pellets and try to get rid of them quickly. We don’t have a choice. With pellets, however, you need to pay attention to what active ingredient they contain.

Beware of metaldehyde—it’s highly toxic

You can still find pellets containing metaldehyde on the market. This is a very dangerous substance that, while it kills slugs, can also cause significant distress to pets. In extreme cases, it can even kill them. Furthermore, it can poison hedgehogs, birds, and other animals that certainly do no harm to our crops. All it takes is for a dog to eat a piece of a dead slug or a single pellet. The dog will then experience convulsions, nervousness, unexpected muscle twitches, and possibly even collapse leading to unconsciousness. This substance is found in some products, such as Lima or Granulax.

Ferric phosphate is safe

Many products, on the other hand, are based on ferric phosphate. Granules such as Ferramol, Vitrol, and others contain this active ingredient, which is dangerous only to the animals we intend to eliminate—namely, snails. After ingesting the granules, slugs not only hide but also die. The substance does not poison pets, hedgehogs, or other animals that we certainly do not want to harm. The granules are very attractive, and slugs will seek them out.

Photo: Pixabay

You can also try plants that repel slugs

Slugs dislike certain plants. The most common ones are:

– Wax plants,

– watercress,

– columbine,

– sedums,

– lavender.

If you plant these along the edges of your flower beds, slugs should avoid them.

Classic eggshells or plain beer

Crush the eggshells into smaller pieces. Slugs won’t want to crawl over them. They’re sharp and can cause injury. As for beer, it works more as a lure for slugs. They’ll end up in the container with the beer, and then we can easily dispose of them.

Tip: Eggshells have many uses. There are plenty of alternatives.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Slug Control

Which pellets are natural?

Those containing ferric phosphate.

Which pellets should you avoid?

Varieties containing metaldehyde.

How do eggshells work on slugs?

They’re sharp, and slugs don’t like them.

Sources: Author, Meta

Photo and photogallery: Radek Stepan