If your dog eats a toad, you should monitor them closely. Dogs can be poisoned if they eat, lick, or interact with a toad. Toads can be found in several places around your environment. You might see them jumping in ponds or just hanging out in gardens, lawns, and yards around your home. Many of these toads may be harmless, but some species are poisonous and pose a serious health risk should they come into contact with your pet. Learn more about what can happen if your dog eats a toad below.
What Types of Toads Should You Lookout For?
Poisonous toad species can be found throughout the United States. The most common poisonous toads are the Sonoran Desert Toad, Colorado River Toad, and the Marine Toad. These toads can be found in all types of aquatic environments: ponds, lakes, rivers, and puddles. These toads are hard to miss as they often grow to lengths of eight to nine inches when fully mature.
Symptoms Of Toad Poisoning
A toad’s skin contains glands that secrete toxins known as bufotoxins. The toxins are a defense mechanism against predators. If your dog eats a toad or holds one in its mouth, this can cause the skin glands to compress and secrete the venomous toxin. Toad poisoning clinical signs include:
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased body temperature
- Difficulty breathing
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Bright-red, inflamed gums
- Eye irritation
- Seizures
The severity of the clinical signs will depend on the toad species and how long your pet has interacted with it. If left unchecked, the venom can affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems causing heart arrhythmias or even sudden death.
Treating Toad Poisoning
Call Pet Poison Helpline® at 855-764-7661 or your veterinarian right away if you notice your dog behaving oddly. Treatment of toad poisoning will depend on the amount of toxin ingested and the time that has elapsed. Medical procedures to revive your pet may include administering medications to control seizures and IV fluids to address the toxins in the system.
