Recently, I had an emergency come in for medical care. A West Highland Terrier named Oliver had been bitten by a Bufo Toad in his backyard. This is absolutely an emergency situation so I wanted to share some precautionary details.
The Bufo Toad’s Poisonous Protection
The Bufo Toad uses a poisonous secretion as a defence mechanism against predators. As far as the toad is concerned, your curious dog is absolutely a predator!
If your dog starts salivating a lot, followed by vomiting, it’s quite possible that your dog has gotten a hold of a toad. Your dog may experience seizures, which is why acting quickly is so important.
What to do When Your Dog Licks or Bites a Toad
If your dog licks, bites, or ingests a Bufo Toad the first thing to do is wash their mouth out vigorously with water, being sure to hold their head down so they do not ingest the water. At the same time, rub the gums and mouth to remove the toxins. The purpose of this is to reduce the toxins from being absorbed, as much as possible.
It is then important to seek veterinary care as quickly as possible. The Bufo Toad’s toxins can cause shock-like signs (low heart rate, low blood pressure, low electrolytes- potassium) and other neurological signs.
Fortunately Oliver was stabilized after some fluids and medications and was monitored for 24 hours. He is now back at home with his family and we’re happy to report that he’s doing great.
Bufo Toads
Bufo Toads are sometimes known as Giant, Cane, or Marine Toads. Bufo Toads were brought to the United States to help control white grubs in sugar cane fields. However, they were accidentally released in the 1950’s and 1960’s. They will eat almost anything from frogs, pet food and even other toads!
Bufo Toads tend to live near standing water, ponds, and ditches. If you know that your dog has access to wet areas like that, or if you’ve seen toads in the area, it’s best to keep your dog away from those areas as best as you can.
Just in case, keep the phone number of your emergency veternarian nearby — and we hope you never have to use it!
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