BEWARE THE Bufo Toad....

[Carl in Tampa]

I HAD A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING. My daughter dropped off her (our) Beagle at my house and rushed off to an appointment. A few minutes later the dog began staggering, seemed to be losing control of his back legs and seemed to be losing his vision. He came to me when I called, but was apathetic, lacking altertness. I detected slight foaming at the mouth.

I had my son grab him up and rush him to the Vet. After one look the Vet said the dog had come in contact with a Bufo Toad. This toad secretes a substance that is poisonous to dogs, cats and other small animals. The Vet gave our dog a shot, washed his mouth out with Dawn and water, and administered extra liquids by IV. He said the dog merely licked the toad, and that was enough to poison him. :MOJE_whot:

By the time that my son brought him home, about an hour later, the dog was fine. Some web sites say that if a dog or cat is exposed to this poison and is left untreated there is a high likelihood that it will die. I want to make sure all of my friends are aware of this hazard.

A photo of the toad appears at the linked web site. BUFO TOAD|Giant Killer toads invade So. FL threaten your pet (http://www.fondrenpetcare.com/bufo_toad.html)

[kcrazorbackfan]

Thanks for the info. I really watch my "girls" when we go out for a walk or their potty time.

[jimnc]

Another thanks to Carl in Tampa. We have a beagle. I have also passed this information on to a dog-loving friend.

[Taltarzac725]

I HAD A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING. My daughter dropped off her (our) Beagle at my house and rushed off to an appointment. A few minutes later the dog began staggering, seemed to be losing control of his back legs and seemed to be losing his vision. He came to me when I called, but was apathetic, lacking altertness. I detected slight foaming at the mouth.

I had my son grab him up and rush him to the Vet. After one look the Vet said the dog had come in contact with a Bufo Toad. This toad secretes a substance that is poisonous to dogs, cats and other small animals. The Vet gave our dog a shot, washed his mouth out with Dawn and water, and administered extra liquids by IV. He said the dog merely licked the toad, and that was enough to poison him. :MOJE_whot:

By the time that my son brought him home, about an hour later, the dog was fine. Some web sites say that if a dog or cat is exposed to this poison and is left untreated there is a high likelihood that it will die. I want to make sure all of my friends are aware of this hazard.

A photo of the toad appears at the linked web site. BUFO TOAD|Giant Killer toads invade So. FL threaten your pet (http://www.fondrenpetcare.com/bufo_toad.html)

Thanks Carl in Tampa. Beau does not seem very interested in these but I still pull him away from one when he is leashed and going towards one. I have never heard of one at Doggie Doo Run Run (DDRR) during the just about ten years now I have been visiting the place. First as a seeker of a new dog in 2006 when I even ran into Holly but did not know who she was. Then in 2007 after we got Sport in January of 2007. Holly was there too.

[LitespeedRider]

I think that "possibly" one was found a couple weeks ago at the "unofficial" dog park on Rio Grande...maybe. I know it was a toad...none of the dogs seemed to awfully interested in it. I held it and put it in some tall grass on the back side of the lawn bowling area...no ill reactions to my skin...

[Taltarzac725]

I think that "possibly" one was found a couple weeks ago at the "unofficial" dog park on Rio Grande...maybe. I know it was a toad...none of the dogs seemed to awfully interested in it. I held it and put it in some tall grass on the back side of the lawn bowling area...no ill reactions to my skin...

I used to go there with Sport my dog I had before Beau but now cannot go there as Beau would wander off somewhere.

[Carla B]

My husband and I were just saying last week that we had never seen a toad in Florida in 15 years. Guess we haven't been looking in the right places, not that we have missed them.