metaldehyde poisoning from garden turf

Re: metaldehyde poisoning from garden turf

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:13:49 GMT

[quote user="Alexander Campbell"]

Hi Steph

This sounds a bit alarming. Do you have any further details?

Metaldehyde usually causes tremors or convulsions and is the substance that seems to cause most fatalities in cases referred to the VPIS, so I am understandably anxious! As far as you can tell is the turf pre-treated so it is mollusc free - or does it still have metaldehyde in some pelleted or other form within the turf?

Although surprisingly few traditional slug pellets can cause poisoning in dogs and cats (and other animals) if ingested the severe cases tend to occur when the pellets have been laid in piles or when the animals have eaten the pellets from the packaging directly.

But I'd be keen to have more details if you can find any! Please send a message on here, or email me if you can add more!

Thanks

[/quote]

Hi Alex, not really sure what the deal is. Not even positive it was metaldehyde. It was just an assumption made by the breeder. I would love to put you in contact with her and maybe help her get some samples run to find out what the hell caused the problem. I think with subcut fluids and tlc the cats have recovered but they were very unwell for a few days which is rather unsettling. she got the turf from Freecycle and is currently trying to get the details of where the turf came from. What is your email address and I can pass on your details and concern. I think the owner would be ever so grateful.

Re: metaldehyde poisoning from garden turf

Alexander Campbell — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:08:22 GMT

Hi Steph

This sounds a bit alarming. Do you have any further details?

But I'd be keen to have more details if you can find any! Please send a message on here, or email me if you can add more!

Thanks

Re: metaldehyde poisoning from garden turf

Doolally — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:17:42 GMT

That's interesting, thankyou....I'm in the process of digging over my lawn ready to re-turf so i'll be quizzing the sellers on what it's been treated with....

Actually....now you mention it.....my moggy that lives at my parents was ill a few months ago, V+, very weak, pyrexia, anorexia and a significantly raised ALT...after a few days hosp on fluids he was much brighter and slowly started eating again at home..his repeat bloods a few weeks later were back to normal..we've put it down to him possibly eating something toxic...this all occurred a few weeks after my parents had laid a new lawn...

.....coincidence?