Cane Toads and Pets

[Guest The Pom Queen]

I had a frantic call from a puppy owners whose little one had got hold of a cane toad and had to spend the night in ICU. Thankfully he is fine again today and has been discharged. I usually put lots of dangers and first aid measures in my puppy packs but forgot about the dreaded Cane Toad, so I've just put something together but thought it was also worth sharing with the forum.

 

 

 

Cane toads generally come out at night and after the rain. Dogs, especially puppies view cane toads as toys and love to catch and play with them.  However, cane toads are one of the most poisonous animals your dog is likely to encounter. 

 

Cane toads are an introduced species brought in to help with the plague of cane beetles. Unfortunately over the years they have spread from Far North Queensland and can now be found in NSW, WA and the Northern Territory. Each female lays between 80,000 - 30,000 eggs per clutch which hatch in 2/3 days. Cane toads poison any predator that attacks and there is no known way to stop the cane toad from multiplying.

 

Dogs and cats are drawn to the movement of the cane toad and try to catch it in their mouth, unfortunately when this happens the cane toad secretes a substance through their skin which is a highly toxic chemical that is then absorbed through membranes in the dog’s mouth. The dog will begin to feel sick, hallucinate, foam at the mouth and collapse.

 

Your dog doesn't have to mouth a cane toad to come in to contact with the toxin, less common ways are absorption through open wounds or broken skin, there have also been reports of poisoning from toads sitting in a pet's water bowl, or even just sat on the lip of the bowl. Cane toads can also squirt their poison up to 2 metres when feeling threatened.

 

Cane toad toxin is similar to the human heart medication digoxin and consists of compounds called bufotoxins and bufodienolids, and biogenic amines such as bufotenins, bufotionins, epinephrine, and serotonin that are produced in the toad’s parotid glands and skin. 

Symptoms of cane toad poisoning vary dependant on the amount of poison inflicted

Symptoms of Cane Toad Venom Toxicity

If your dog comes in contact with a toxic toad, he’ll exhibit one or more of the following symptoms almost immediately:

        Severe drooling

        Head shaking

        Pawing at the mouth or eyes

        Mucous membranes that turn a muddy red color

        Hyperthermia (overheating)

        Difficulty breathing

        Vomiting of yellow fluid

        Diarrhea

        Neurological signs such as dilated pupils, loss of coordination, seizures, collapse, and death

 

Cane Toad poisoning is a life-threatening medical emergency. If you know or suspect your pet has been exposed to a cane toad, rinse his mouth out immediately (preferably with a constant stream of water from a faucet or hose) and call your veterinarian, the closest emergency animal hospital, 

 

Diagnosing and Treatment 

If your vet suspects cane toad poisoning in a dog, he or she will perform a physical exam and run a complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry profile, and urinalysis.

The results of these tests are typically normal, however, there is often an unusually high level of potassium (a condition called hyperkalemia), and the dog may also have an abnormal heartbeat. 

 

Treatment Protocol for Cane Toad Toxicity

The first step in treating cane toad toxicity is to flush the dog’s mouth with large amounts of water for 5 to 10 minutes to prevent further absorption of the venom. Often this is done under anesthesia so the entire mouth and throat can be thoroughly flushed. Activated charcoal may also be administered.

Since an abnormal heart rhythm is a common symptom of this type of poisoning, your veterinarian will monitor your dog’s heart function and response to treatment using an electrocardiogram (EKG). Drugs may be used to control an abnormal heartbeat.

Your dog may also need to be placed in a cool bath to keep her body temperature stable. IV fluids will be administered to keep her hydrated and to manage seizures. 

Sedation may be necessary, especially for dogs in obvious pain or extreme distress.

Your dog will need to be continuously monitored until she is fully recovered. 

 

Remember

If your dog has been exposed to a cane toad or is showing any or all of the above symptoms time is running out. It is of paramount importance that you get your pet to your veterinarian or an emergency animal clinic immediately. 

 

Always keep activated charcoal on hand and use it immediately to help absorb the toxins until you reach the vet.

 

Dogs that are treated before the toxin is fully absorbed, within about 30 minutes, have the best chance of recovery.

Unfortunately, the overall prognosis is not good, and death is very common in dogs exposed to toad venom.

 

 

 

[Alligator-eyes]

Are cane toads as deadly for cats?

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Alligator-eyes said:

Are cane toads as deadly for cats?

AFAIK, yes they are. Just cats are less likely to grab them. Its usually dogs more often than not that go for them.