TOAD POISIONING
Toads are amphibians that spend part of their life in and out of the water. There are over 100 species of toads, and at least 16 are found in the United States. Toads spend most of their lives out of the water and are often found in moist environments, such as gardens, woodlands, or near ponds. In the daytime they usually hide, and at night they hunt and catch insects with their sticky tongue. Toads have rough “warty” skin, whereas the frog’s skin is relatively smooth.
Toads belong to a group (genus) called BUFO, and they all have skin glands that scerete a milky, irritating, and diatasteful material that protects them against being eaten by predator. In most cases the result is only a very unhappy, salivating predator, and the ordeal stops shortly thereafter without serious problems. If, however, the toad about to be eaten is one of the two poisonous species, the predator's (or your pet's) problems can become very serious and sometimes fatal.
Two species, the Colorado river toad (Bufo alvarlus) and the marine toad (Bufo mar1nus) secrete a strong poison called BUFOTOXIN that is powerful enough to cause rapid deathl!
The following events may occur rapidly and be over within 30 minutes if your pet bites or eats one of the poisonous toads. The pet quickly releases the toad and hakes 1te head vigorously while begining to salivate profusely. The mouth becomes irritated, cardiac irregularities develop, the gums and lips turn blue, and depression sets in followed by seizures and, often, death.
IMPORTANT POINTS IN TREATMENT
1) Treatment of toad poisoning is considered a MEDICAL EMERGENCY, and hospitalization is required!
2) Treatment is directed towards stabilizing heart function and preventing seizures.
3) The prognosis (medical forecast) is guarded to grave.
4) If your pet has been exposed to a toad, and is beginning to show thesymptoms above,
THE FIRST THING TO DO BEFORE EVEN CALLING YOUR VETERINARIAN, IS TO RINSE YOUR PET'S MOUTH OUT WITH COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF WATER. After doing this, call your Veterinarian and notify them that you are bringing your pet in for toad poisoning IMMEDIATELY.
