are slugs harmful to guinea pigs?

[billielowes]

hello, i am a fairly new guinea pig mother (they are my babies), and when i let them out for some grass time i am always finding slugs near them, i was wondering if slugs are harmful to them? will the guinea pigs eat them? if so what will happen?

 

[PigglePuggle]

If a guinea pig actually ate a slug it could be a bit problematic, possibly a tummy upset or a vague slight chance of catching lungworm that slugs can transmit if an animal eats them. But piggies are pretty discerning, I grow grass trays to bring in for my piggies and once there was a very small slug in there and the whole grass tray was ignored- another time 3 snails came in and were carefully eaten around by the piggies then taken to safety when I spotted them! Slug pellets are much more harmful than actual slugs, to all animals, and a piggy would spit out a slug or anything coated in slug slime pretty fast I think

 

[billielowes]

thank you very much for this

 

[Bill & Ted]

Slugs carry lungworm and other parasites which can cause problems for cats, dog and hedgehogs if eaten. I doubt any guinea pig would consider a slug as food as they are herbivores and would be find them repellent. Slugs love pellets and Muesli so never leave a bowl out on the lawn, it will be surrounded by hungry slugs and snails especially overnight! keep the lawn as clean as you can. Move any leaves and debris away from their run.