Pet First Aid: Toad Poisoning

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

07 Sep 2007 11:02 AM

There is a strange fascination many young dogs have with toads. When dog meets toad, the dog will often try to pick up the toad in his mouth.

Why is this bad? All toads secrete mucus through their skin; the mucus can irritate the dog's mouth and cause some serious drooling. Most toads are harmless.

When is this really bad? When your dog encounters a poisonous toad. There are two types of poisonous toad seen in the United States: the Colorado River toad and the marine toad.

• Colorado River toads are found in the southwestern United States from the Pecos River west into southern California. These toads are between seven and eight inches long and have small red spots on their backs. Most often, the Colorado River toad is found in the desert after a rain.
• Marine toads are found in Hawaii, along the Gulf Coast, and up the Atlantic Coast. These toads can reach a size up to nine and a half inches and have brown skin with cream-colored spots. Look for a flatter head and body than other toads. Most often, marine toads are found near water sources.

Whether or not your dog has caught a poisonous toad, you need to rinse his mouth immediately. Use a hose or a sink sprayer to shoot a steady stream of water into your dog's mouth for at least five minutes. Don't have a hose or sprayer handy? You can use a squirt gun or a spritzer but you'll need to rinse longer.

Symptoms of toad poisoning:

• Drooling
• Pawing at the mouth
• Seizures
• Shock -- glazed eyes and pale gums, possibly followed by collapse

Toad poisoning can kill a dog within thirty minutes. You need to see your veterinarian immediately after rinsing your dog's mouth. On the ride, your dog may need artificial respiration if he stops breathing or CPR if his heart stops.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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