Summertime Toxic Toads
By Dr. Nancy Moser
Summer is at its peak and more people and their pets are enjoying all the outdoor amenities that Florida has to offer. However, with more outdoor time comes more chances that your pet can come across a Cane Toad. Cane Toads (also known as Bufo Toads) are an invasive amphibian species that secretes a potent toxin through their skin. Though we can see this species year-round, they are more prevalent and active during the summer / rainy season and at night. Common exposure is seen through dogs finding them when sniffing through bushes, trying to catch and eat them. The toxin absorbs through the gums and first irritates the oral cavity, causing excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth, dark red gum color, vomiting, pawing at the face, whining and frantic behavior. Anywhere between 30 minutes to several hours after exposure, the toxin can cause abnormal heart rate and rhythms, tremoring, seizures and potentially death.
Florida does have a few species of toads that are not as harmful, so proper identification can be critical to your pet’s treatment. Cane Toads are typically four to six inches in size, grey to reddish-brown in color, with dark spots, and the top of their heads, between the eyes, are flat. Their large, dark colored, triangular-shaped toxin-secreting glands are located behind their eyes and extend over the shoulders.
If you ever suspect your pet has been poisoned by a Cane Toad, there are immediate steps you can take to alleviate and potentially prevent the above symptoms. First, take a wet cloth to thoroughly wipe out the sticky to creamy toxin from your pet’s mouth, making sure to clean all surfaces of the outside and inside the mouth. Then use a hose, with a strong but not explosive stream, to flush out their mouth for 10 minutes. Make sure to point your pet’s nose and mouth downward so the water and any residual toxin does not run towards the back of their mouth. Afterwards, call your veterinarian immediately to have your pet assessed. Your veterinarian and their team will be ready to help!