What To Do In Case Of Frog Poisonings

by Lexis Arlington October 8, 2020

The Cane Toad or Buffo Toad (Rhinella Marina) is a non-native amphibian introduced in Florida as a method of biological pest control in the 1930s. They have become a big problem due to high toxicity at all stages of their life cycle. They are very competitive predators that easily adapt to various habitats, are nocturnal and appear almost everywhere after it rains.

You should be aware that an encounter with this animal can be lethal for your pets. For that reason it should be a priority to keep your pets inside or walk your them on a leash, and they should be well supervised at all times when outdoors.

In the case your pet has the bad luck to encounter and lick one of these frogs these are the symptoms and what you can do to save its life.

Symptoms

Symptoms occur within minutes after an encounter. Your pet may appear dizzy, disoriented with foamy salivation, exhibit difficulty breathing, have red-colored gums, stagger and stumble, vomit, have convulsions or seizure activity, and have an irregular heartbeat. If your pet is left untreated it will die quickly, so time is of the essence.

First Aid

If you see any of the symptoms described above, immediately start rinsing your pet’s mouth using a wet towel to clean out any residue of the toads poison. Thoroughly wipe out the insides of the lips and cheeks, as well as the gums on the outside of the teeth and continue with a hose or running water under the faucet, making sure the water runs from one side of the mouth out the other. This is super important because any residue of the toxin on their mouth is enough to continue killing your pet. If your pet is conscious, try to give it some milk, and take it immediately to the nearest veterinary clinic. On your way there call ahead so that the clinic is prepared to provide treatment the moment you come in the door.

There is no antidote for the toad poison, so immediate first aid followed by treatment in the veterinary hospital is required to survive the poisoning event.