Toxicity to pets

All toads have surface glands that excrete toxic chemicals (bufotoxins) when threatened. Mouthing or ingesting any toad by a pet animal will likely result in drooling and vomiting.

Individual North American species of toads including the Cane Toad and the Sonoran Desert Toad (i.e., Colorado River Toad) excrete larger amounts of these toxins resulting in life-threatening signs in pet animals that mouth, lick, or swallow these specific toads. Severe drooling, difficulty breathing, irregular heart rate, stumbling, seizure, and death can occurs in pets following exposure to Cane Toad or Sonoran Desert Toad.