ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) – Pet owners can add cane toads to their mount lists of clothes as it turns out to be potentially deadly for their hairy friends.
Toads secrete milky toxin, called buphotoxin. This can make your pet sick, or even worse, even death, if consumed.
Orlando veterinarian Dr. Jonathon Keener warns that swallowing can cause diarrhea and vomiting. If symptoms worsen, more serious effects are expected, such as dilation of the pupil, increased heart rate, and increased temperature. An affected dog can become coma, and if consumed in large quantities, it can even be killed within 15 minutes.
Other symptoms include desperate or confused behavior, red gums on the brick, seizures, and mouth foam.
Here’s how to make a difference toad on a cane from other toads in Florida:
Cane toads are larger than standard southern toads and are usually 6-9 inches long. They are also dark brown to greyish brown colours, with dark marks and light yellow or beige lower abdomen. Their venom glands are behind the eyes and fish downwards on the shoulders.
When removing toads from cane, safety precautions should be taken as contact with humans can cause skin irritation and burning of the eyes.
The recommended way to remove canes is to hire a wildlife trapper because they cannot be relocated and released cane toads. Anyone trying to remove the toad on their own cane should wear protective eyes and skin gear.
Since cane toads are cold-blooded, the most humane way to kill them is to put them in the fridge or place them in the fridge until they are not moving before switching to the freezer.
What if your pet is in contact with a cane toad:
If your pet bites or swallows the cane toad, it is important to use a hose to flush the toxins out of your mouth for 10 minutes. Be careful not to direct water towards your throat. Next, you need to wipe your pet’s gums and tongue with a dish towel to remove any excess toxins.
As a final precaution, you should take your pet to the vet to make sure everything is good.
For more information, please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee website.
