Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs

Gardening

dog friendly but fatal to slugs


sweet 17 10/05/2008, 21:15

I know, I know, you're either into killing other animals or you're not so, theoretically, there is no difference between killing a dog and killing a slug.

Well, we have tried our utmost to leave the slugs be but now that all our new sunflower shoots, potato plants, etc are all getting eaten, I fear the time has come to do a bit of selective species engineering.

Can someone please recommend an effective slug killer that will not harm my dog?  Thank you.

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


Russethouse 10/05/2008, 21:49
Coffee grounds ? Would a dog be tempted by them ?
www.quimperclub.org

99

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


sweet 17 10/05/2008, 22:01
I can but try, RH.  Today, my greedy little dog even ate the carrot peelings that I left on the veg patch to dig in later.  Grr!!!!  Do the coffee grounds really work, RH?  We have cafe au lait every morning so supply would not be a problem.  

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


Russethouse 10/05/2008, 23:04

I just checked and it looks like being a big no to coffee grounds for dogs- sorry !

http://www.mgbtraining.co.uk/docs/Foods%20Which%20are%20Potenially%20Toxic%20to%20Dogs.pdf

Costa Coffee bag up used grounds for customers to use in this way I'm told

Egg shells really work, crushed up, but they might be abrassive on a dogs tum.......


www.quimperclub.org

99

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


sweet 17 10/05/2008, 23:17

Goodness, RH, I never knew so many things were harmful to dogs!  I'd rather use a non chemical means to eradicate the slugs. 

I have found out, since I started this thread, that there is a bateria called nematodes that get into the stomachs of slugs and poison them.  These nematodes are harmless to birds and animals and can be used continuously (if you could afford them year round).  There are some firms in the UK that sell them and I have emailed a firm in Suffolk.  Will await the results.

Does anyone (Chris pp, how about you) know whether nematodes are available readily in France and where would I need to go to get them?

Otherwise, it will have to be sending the OH out on mild nights to pick them up and take them elsewhere!

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


yetagain 11/05/2008, 8:58
 sweet 17 wrote:

 

I have found out, since I started this thread, that there is a bateria called nematodes that get into the stomachs of slugs and poison them.  These nematodes are harmless to birds and animals and can be used continuously (if you could afford them year round).  There are some firms in the UK that sell them and I have emailed a firm in Suffolk.  Will await the results.

Here is a link to a French company that sells the nematodes. They are very expensive and unless you have only a smallish area to treat pretty impractical. You will not be able to buy them from a UK company as they are live creatures and would not survive the time in the post.

http://www.fermedesaintemarthe.com/produits/jardin/02/1014H.htm 

Algoflash - and no doubt other companies- sell a product that is based on a ferrous compound rather than the metalahyde(sp) which can be deadly.

It is claimed to be usable by bio growers.

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


powerdesal 11/05/2008, 12:05
Are conventional slug pellets harmful to dogs, would a dog even be interested in scoffing them?

Salt works wonders on slugs. It dissolves them Ick! [+o(]

Steve
Fujeirah Emirate, U.A.E + 50 (in France)
...........................................................................

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


yetagain 11/05/2008, 12:41
It is the conventional slug pellets that contain the metalhyde(must check spelling) They have something added to make them unattractive to dogs and cats but some dogs will eat anything. Furthermore hedgehogs are at risk either from eating the pellets or eating the slugs killed by them. If you are only treating decorative areas there is a product called slugclear available in the UK. It is a liquid and is watered onto the beds and is invisible to animals so there is no temptation to try it. It works really well as it gets to the tiny black slugs that live in the soil and are real pests.However, IT MUST NOT BE USED ON FOOD GROWING AREAS.

Re: dog friendly but fatal to slugs


sweet 17 11/05/2008, 15:22

Thanks, everybody.  Special thanks to yetagain who is so knowledgeable.

The English firm has replied.  They said that they'd send to France provided the postal system is reliable as the nematodes need to get to us within 3 days.  The cost is relatively modest; just under a tenner and £2 for postage.

Perhaps I'll see which kind friend will bring me some when they come to visit.  Can you imagine the conversation?  Yes, of course you can come to stay and, by the way, do you mind bringing with you some live bacteria in your luggage?  Still, that's what friends are for, aren't they?

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