With the Rains come-Toads
Tara A. Spears
Remember the fairytale that says “kiss a frog and it will turn into a handsome prince”? There are several members of the frog family (Bufonedae)- which includes toads- that you don’t even want to touch let alone kiss. One dangerous member of the toad family is the Cane Toad, a.k.a. Giant Toad, Sonoran Desert Toad, Colorado River Toad. This super toxic amphibian lives throughout Mexico and throughout the Jaltemba Bay area. It is dormant during the dry season and comes out of hibernation when the rains begin.
These huge toads particularly like to gorge on insects, especially June bugs that hover around outside lights or near lighted windows and doors. Male Cane Toads will also get into swimming pools and then vocalize to attract females. The Cane Toads are omnivorous meaning that they will eat whatever is available. They will eat almost anything they can swallow: small amphibians, reptiles, birds, and insects.
These large, slow toads have a very powerful defense mechanism in the glandular toxins. If a Cane toad is picked up or mouthed by a predator, the giant Cane Toad will exude a potent, milky white toxin from their parotoid glands. If this fluid is ingested, this toxin is capable of seriously sickening or killing an animal (dog) that bites the toad.
There have been reports of dogs being poisoned by drinking the water out of a container that a toad sat in! The poison is very quickly absorbed by the mucous membranes in the dog’s mouth. Seizures and death can occur in dogs or cats within 30 minutes from a Cane Toad poisoning.
Once toad poisoning symptoms appear, emergency veterinary care is needed. The symptoms of toad poisoning may include: drooling; slobbering foam; head shaking; tearing of the eyes; loss of coordination; apparent blindness; bright red gums; elevated heartbeat; dilated pupils; high fever; or even seizures. If you observe any or several of these symptoms in your dog, flush out the mouth carefully with a large amount of water.
Use a hose, a shower sprayer, or a kitchen sink sprayer on a low velocity and be sure to direct the stream in order wash the toxins out of the mouth and not down into the throat. Bring your pet to a veterinarian immediately, as even low doses of the toad’s poison may be fatal without proper treatment.
One friend had a dog die 15 minutes after picking up a Cane Toad in its mouth, so be aware of the hazard to your pet! I imagine that observant humans noticed dogs getting high from licking toads and thought it was worth a try.
When visiting Jaltemba Bay with your dog or cat, it’s important to be extra vigilant for the animal’s safety. Between the gorobos (Black Spiny tailed lizards), scorpions, and huge toxic Cane Toads, it really makes sense to survey your yard before letting the dog or cat run free.
The Spanish name for toad is sabo