Posted on 10/09/2012 2:37:44 PM PDT by Daffynition
Deborah and Charlie Barrett want people to know about the dangers of Bufo marinus toads.
"People should be — as we weren't — aware how toxic the Bufo toads are," Charlie Barrett said.
The couple's 6-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Willie, died last week after biting a Bufo toad, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.tbo.com ...
Curious JR ping. :(
Toads are Bowser’s nemesis.
He just barks at them because he knows they taste nasty.
Bless you for all the good you do! :)
BTW, I am in awe of vets. They have to work across multiple species, and know an enormous amount.
/johnny
Fortunately we don’t have cane toads this far north.
As I understand it, all toads are somewhat toxic but the ones around here cause enough irritation that most dogs will drop them. I worry more about bees and raccoons.
Bufos have been common in S. Fla. for many yrs. Another import.
My dog grabbed one, once.
His eyes rolled back, slobbering, etc. Got him to the vet in time.
Toads used to come to the dogs dish and eat his food.
Some were big, larger than an outstretched hand.
22 BB caps are very effective.
Bufos have been common in S. Fla. for many yrs. Another import.
My dog grabbed one, once.
His eyes rolled back, slobbering, etc. Got him to the vet in time.
Toads used to come to the dogs dish and eat his food.
Some were big, larger than an outstretched hand.
22 BB caps are very effective.
Typically, there is no treatment. Especially for little dogs.
My Doberman got hold of one last year. I immediately flushed his mouth out with the hose SIDEWAYS to prevent as much of the poison as possible from going down his stomach. I then pushed a full pint of white vinegar .5% down him. This did two things, it neutralized some of the poison,(or so I’ve been told) but more importantly, caused him to barf up the contents of his stomach.
He almost died anyway. But at 100lbs, he was able to get over it in a few days. He coughed for almost two weeks.
The good news is that the Mini pincer doesn’t bite toads. At 14lbs, she would die no matter what.
Most folks see their dog foaming and convulsing and think its a good idea to race to the vet. But by that time, its usually too late. If you know you got toads around, keep a battle plan in mind and act fast.
I don’t know if vinegar actually does any good other than vomiting, but hey, it can’t hurt, and in our case was probably the thing that gave the dog an edge.
If anyone knows, let me know if there are other things that can be done.
I’ve also read that some big dogs actually bit the toads for the buzz, but I don’t know about any of that.
I use to have a bee man out every spring, he’d spray the total outside of the house and the ground around the home...Had a lot of yellow jackets and paper wasps...it worked good...then the government outlawned the stuff he used which of course it meant that what he had to use meant he had to come out twice a season...Don’t use him anymore, but my problem is not as bad as when I first moved in...lots of brush and wooded area...My daughters home is in a forest, she uses him even today...I still have his phone #, let me know if you want to try...but you do live quite a ways from my area... GG
/johnny
Putting cat food close to ponds inhabited by baby cane toads attracts carnivorous ants that are also immune to the toads' poisonous skin. The ants then attack the baby toads and eat them.
"In one spot we tested, 98 percent of the baby toads were attacked within the first two minutes," researcher Rick Shine told Reuters. "It was a bit like a massacre." Shine said the study was aimed at boosting the numbers of ants around the breeding areas of cane toads, and not upsetting the ecological balance by introducing the insects to an area that they wouldn't normally be in.
Having a plan in place is essential.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG IS POISONED BY A BUFO TOAD.
Step 1) DO NOT PANIC!!! You need to be able to think clearly and act
quickly to help save your pet. Panicking will only keep you from acting
properly!
Step 2) IMMEDIATELY rinse the dog’s mouth out with a large amount
of water using either a hose, kitchen sink sprayer, shower sprayer or
water bottle. Rinse the mouth from side to side. DO NOT DROWN
THE ANIMAL BY FORCING WATER DOWN ITS THROAT. The
toxin is very sticky and may need to be gently rubbed off of the mucus
membranes of the mouth. Be very careful so as not to get bit by your
pet. Even the gentlest animal may bite if it is scared, in pain or having a
seizure.
Step 3) Calmly transport the dog to your veterinarian for further care.
PLAN AHEAD! Save time in an emergency by preparing now. Keep the
phone number of your veterinarian by the telephone. Since most
poisonings occur at night CALL FIRST to make sure that the hospital is
open, don’t waste time driving to a closed facility. Keep the phone
number and address of a nearby emergency clinic near the phone too, in
case your regular veterinarian is not available.
There is no specific antidote for Bufo-toxin and treatment consists mainly
of supportive care. The toxin can affect the heart causing it to beat in an
irregular pattern and hyperthermia (body temperature greater than 105
degrees) may develop from seizuring. Intravenous fluids, cool-water
baths and anti-arrhythmic drugs are all used in the treatment of Bufo
intoxication.
So what can you do to prevent your pet from being poisoned? First of
all, learn to recognize what a Bufo toad looks like. Adults can be as large
as 6 to 9 inches in length and have brown, or gray-brown warty skin.
Younger toads are much smaller but just as dangerous. Bufo toads are
ground dwelling animals. Do not confuse them with tree frogs, which
have suction-cup feet and may be found crawling up the side of your
house.
Bufo toads live near water such as ponds, canals and swimming pools.
Search your yard in the late evening for them. If you have just moved to
a new neighborhood, ask a neighbor if the toads inhabit the area.
In addition to eating insects, small animals, snakes and vegetation, Bufo
toads are especially fond of pet food. You can avoid attracting toads to
your yard by not leaving bowls of dog or cat food down on the ground.
If you live in an area inhabited by Bufo toads, you need to be especially
careful. Direct supervision while your pet is outside is crucial and may
prevent a tragedy. If you have a fenced-in yard you can make it harder
for the toads to get through the links by putting chicken-wire fencing
along the bottom edge.
Learning to recognize and minimizing the risk of Bufo toads living in
and around your yard are the best ways to prevent your dog from being
poisoned. But knowing what to do in case of an emergency is the most
important factor in helping your pet to survive. Rinsing the mouth out
with large amounts of water is the single most important step you can
take. It will remove excess poison and may actually prevent a minor
intoxication from progressing into a life-threatening one. Next, call
ahead to your veterinarian’s office to confirm that a doctor is present, and
then calmly and safely transport your pet to the facility.
Yup, that sh!t is sticky. And he did have a pounding rapid heart rate for almost an hour. We put him on his pad, turned down all the lights, and sat next to him to calm him down.
Just like when minpin goes into an asthmatic seizure, calmly stroking her with a low voice calms her down and she comes out of it quickly.
Dogs do panic, but when their human is there to reassure them, they seem to come out of the panic a lot faster.
Just an observation after years of dealing with troubled dogs.
***As I understand it, all toads are somewhat toxic***
“Them things will give you warts!”-Oh Brother Where Art Thou.
You guys do great work. As I said, I have great respect for your profession.
Our country vet made housecalls back in the day when we had enough critters to warrant it. She rocked.
/johnny
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