Slugs and snails and puppy dogs

Just back from the vet's. He asked what worming/flea regime we were using. he warned us there had been cases locally of dogs getting very ill from eating slugs and snails. He used lots of big words and I found myself just nodding and accepting the stuff he recommended. He prescribed a drop-on called Advocate that seems to get rid of everything, fleas, worms and these nasty slug-related things. Have vets only just discovered there's a problem with dogs eating snails and slugs? I've never noticed our dogs paying any interest in these things, but I guess you can't be too careful. What is the problem with slugs and snails and what are the symptoms to watch out for if you're not using a special treatment?
Jimmy Williams, Camberley

RICHARD ALLPORT ADVISES:
It's very interesting that there has been immense publicity about snails and slugs since one pharmaceutical manufacturer got its parasite treatment officially licensed to treat lungworm - this is the worm that can be picked up from these slimy molluscs. Lungworms have a two host cycle, this means they have to develop in a slug or snail first; and then the little slimeball has to be eaten by a dog for the worm to be infective to the dog. If your dog doesn't eat slimy things, then there is very little to worry about.
Lungworm infection is quite unpleasant, causing coughing, nose bleeds, lethargy and anaemia. It is treatable when it occurs, but rapid diagnosis is important.
Lungworm used to be a rare condition, confined mainly to the Southwest. There is some anecdotal evidence that it is spreading to other areas, mild winters have been blamed for an increase in slug and snail populations - so perhaps the recent severe winter will reduce the incidence.
It's quite possible that there is more lungworm around. But there are no facts or figures I know of to prove this, and in my opinion no reason to give extra worm treatment unless your dog actually has lungworm.

Beverley Cuddy, Editor says
I'm normally a pretty cynical sort, too but one of our staff's relatives who lives locally has had a dog pick up lungworm in the last year - the dog died not long after. There was no post-mortem so there may have been no link. We've had a few readers report having dogs contract it, too. As there have been cases in our village, I've switched to Advocate as it covers lungworm as well as fleas and normal worms. Tess will indeed eat anything that moves, no matter how slowly!