do snails leave their shell and become "slugs"?

Question

We live in a complex that is littered with snails. When i say littered, i mean there are snail parties of about 30 or so at random parts of the walkways throughout the community. we easily see 150-200 snails every night. 
Normally this would not bother me, in fact when on my walks with my dogs, i would avoid stepping on them, and i would pester my husband to be more careful after hearing one crunch beneath his shoes. 
My dogs are starting to eat them, and getting sick the following morning. the vet said that as long as the complex are not using poisons to control the snails we dont have to worry about the snails being fatal, but they can cause parasitic problems that can become serious when eaten.
so, to protect our dogs and the other animals in the neighborhood, we have begun stepping on every snail in our path to cut down the population. hopefully this eliminates enough of them so that the complex does not start using dangerous pesticides.

***************************************The real question: it appears as if there are a lot more slugs than i had noticed before, have the snails that we have stepped on survived and now live without shells?

Lessaware · Accepted Answer

While slugs and snails are closely related, the snails you have stepped on are not now slugs, they evolve, but not that fast.  Good luck with your Gastropoda problem.

cerritelli · Answer

Snails and slugs are distinct animals. A snail can't 'become' a slug. they are both molluscs, regardless of the undeniable fact that the slug would not advance a shell for the period of progression. while the snail does. Snails can't stay without their shells (except some aquatic snails and that i imagine 1 rainforest style - and it really is for particular physiological and environmental causes unique to those varieties). The body of the snail spirals up with the spiral of the shell. it really is *very* delicate and don't have the thick epidermis like the foot of the snail, so eliminating the shell will make the snail dry out and die. it truly is in case you do not kill it even as attempting to get rid of the shell. (in case you do ever get a danger to get rid of a snail from it really is shell, it really is going to seem a touch like a corkscrew). eliminating the shell will also get rid of the help the snail needs to get round and feed. it truly is extremely a lot equivalent to eliminating the bones of a mammal and waiting for it to stay. A slug has protection throughout, and is designed now to not have a shell.

Anonymous · Answer

nope, they're two different species. maybe since the snails are gone, the slugs have moved into the area. something around there must be what they eat. maybe if u find out what it is that attracts so many u can get rid of it and than thy'l move somewher else

? · Answer

no, snails are snails, slugs are slugs
also your dog eats snails??????????? lol

? · Answer

I dont think so- i think they r 2 different animals..... probably have the same ancestors so they are probably related somehow.......

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do snails leave their shell and become "slugs"?

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