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Warning: We are not medical professionals. The information provided below are mere suggestions of what to do when your dog has been exposed to a toad. For professional advice, please consult with a vet.
Earlier this week, WiggleB found a toad in our backyard. WiggleB quickly became curious of the toad as it jumped along the base of the house and WiggleB decided he needed a closer look at this strange creature. Unfortunately, though, his curiosity got the best of him and despite his desire to make the toad his friend, this did not happen, and WiggleB decided to bite the toad.
WiggleB immediately started shaking his head as if he had a horrible and unwelcomed taste in his mouth that he was trying to get rid of. We quickly encouraged him to get away from the toad and back into the house. However, the shaking of his head did not stop. He continued to run around the kitchen quickly shaking his head back-and-forth.
Within a few minutes though, WiggleB started vomiting, which was shortly followed by him having diarrhea. For the next two hours, WiggleB then had several incidents of vomiting and diarrhea throughout the house and in his crate. WiggleB even woke me up in the middle of the night to go outside to attempt to poop. Unfortunately, when he got outside he struggled to have a bowel movement and he whimpered in pain as he attempted to poop. The poor guy was a pretty sick little pup.
The following day it was clear that WiggleB still did not feel well, but he appeared alert, oriented and continued to have an appetite (we feed him rice and tuna when he is not feeling well, which he still seemed to enjoy). He had a few more incidents of diarrhea, but no more vomiting. In addition, he did not display any new or worsening of symptoms or reactions.
Thankfully, throughout the week WiggleB has continued to feel a little bit better each day. However, it was a rough week for the poor little guy. Since this incident, we have learned several things about why dogs and toads do not make very good companions and we felt it was important to share it with others in case you experience a similar situation. Bottom line though, if your dog bites a toad it should be taken as a medical emergency and you should consult a vet.
Toads
Toads are amphibians that have dry skin, warts and parotoid glands that produce a poisonous secretion called bufotoxin. Along with some toad’s coloring of brown and/or green that allows it to better blend into its surroundings, and its ability to puff itself up, the secretion of bufotoxin is a toad’s way of defending itself from predators.
The bufotoxin that a toad release is enough to kill a small animal or cause an allergic reaction in some larger animals and humans. Some say that toads are not toxic enough to kill a dog or to cause it much harm. However, it all depends on how much of the bufotoxin they are exposed to through contact with the toad and how poisonous the toad actually is as some toads are more poisonous than others.
Toads are found throughout the United States and the world and tend to prefer wet and open areas such as around ponds or in grasslands. Certain kinds of toads also enjoy spending their time in gardens where they can feast on insects. Toads can also be found in backyards, especially after recent rain.
Potential Reactions/Symptoms
When a dog bites a toad, it is likely that they are going to have some form of reaction to their exposure to the bufotoxin. Some reactions might be more severe than others depending on the size of the dog and how much bufotoxin they consumed. Here is a list of reactions/symptoms your dog might experience after biting a toad:
- Foaming at the mouth
- Head shaking
- Pawing at their mouth
- Drolling
- Inflamed or red gums
- Vomiting
- Watery eyes
- Weakness/Collapsing
- Fever
- Confused/Disoriented
- Diarrhea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Labored Breathing
- Seizures
What You Can Do
If you know or believe your dog has been exposed to bufotoxin through contact with a toad you can take a few steps to aid your dog. Most importantly though, we recommend that you consult with a vet as soon as possible.
Rinse Your Dog’s Mouth Out with Water
Use a hose to rinse your dog’s mouth out with water. Be careful not to let the water run down your dog’s nose or mouth while you rinse their mouth out. To help with this position the hose on the side of the dog’s mouth and position their head down towards the ground.
Check Gums for Inflammation or Redness
Check your dog’s gums to see if they are inflamed or red. While you rinse your dog’s mouth out with water, gently rub their gums until you no longer feel a sliminess to them.
Monitor Your Dog’s Symptoms
Be sure to keep a close eye on your dog and any symptoms they might experience. Keep note of what symptoms your dog is having and their onset. If your dog does not show any improvement or if their symptoms get worse, be sure to seek medical attention immediately.
Be sure to continue to keep a close eye on your dog for days after the exposure to make sure he/she does not develop any complications or have any ongoing issues.
Seek Medical Attention for Your Dog
When in doubt, seek medical attention for your dog after they have had an encounter with a toad, especially if they become disoriented, their heartbeat becomes irregular, they develop a fever and/or they start to experience seizures. Depending on your dog’s symptoms a vet might decide to give them medications to address their pain, fever, abnormal heartbeat or seizures and/or they may choose to keep the dog for observations.
It is always best to consult with a vet after your dog has had an interaction with a toad and has been exposed to bufotoxin.
Traveling with Your Dog
If you are traveling with your dog, it is important to know that toads can be found anywhere in the United States and most of the world. As a result, a dog could potentially encounter a toad anywhere.
It is always a good idea when you are traveling with pets that you are aware of where the nearest vet’s office is and what their contact information is, including their after-hours emergency contact information, if it is different. Hopefully, you will never have to use it, but it is not a good thing to have to try to locate when you are in an emergency situation and/or are possible without cell or data service.
In Conclusion
As much fun as it might be to watch your dog attempt to play with a toad, it is important to know that allowing your dog to have contact with the toad could potentially make them very ill or worse could cost them their lives. As a result, if you see your dog around a toad it would be in the best interest of your dog’s health to prevent them from having any contact with each other.
As it is impossible to watch your dog at all times, be sure that you are aware of the reactions/symptoms your dog might experience if they have come in contact with a toad, and to consult a vet if you believe that they might have been exposed to a toad.
We hate that WiggleB had to live through this awful experience, but we are so glad that he did not have a reaction worse than he did and that he is on the mend. We hope that WiggleB’s experience will help to educate others on the dangers that toads can bring to dogs.