Lisa Wilkinson’s dog paralysed after eating garden slug

Lisa Wilkinson’s dog Maggie has been left wheelchair-bound after eating a parasite-carrying slug in the backyard.

Wilkinson revealed on this morning’s TODAY Show that her boxer puppy was just 10 weeks old when she starting losing mobility in her back legs.

The puppy’s mystery condition came to a head on one Saturday morning in May, when she “completely collapsed”.

'I was having my traditional Saturday morning sleep-in and (husband) Pete said something is horribly wrong with Maggie... and he put her on the floor and she just completely collapsed,” Wilkinson said.

After taking Maggie to the vet, it was discovered the puppy had developed rat lung worm disease after ingesting a slug carrying the parasite.

Despite being given only a 20 percent chance of survival at the time of her diagnosis, Maggie is still alive but has to use a set of wheels on her back legs to walk.

Dr Katrina Warren, who joined Wilkinson on Today, said dog owners should be wary of letting puppies play in the backyard if there is a slug problem.

'I don't encourage anyone allowing their puppies outdoors if you know you have slugs and snails,' Dr Warren said.

Rat lung disease comes from rodent faeces carrying the rat lung worm, which can infect snails then be passed on to other species, according to NSW Health.