ARIZONA CITY INDEPENDENT (Arizona) 23 October 13 Toxic toad a danger to local dogs (Christina Sampson)
Fall means cooler weather and an end to the monsoon season, but it’s a potentially dangerous time for dogs because of the Colorado River toad.
The toad, so common to the Southwest it’s also called the Sonoran Desert toad, is a psychoactive species of toad that secretes a highly toxic substance through its skin.
Generally, the toads stay underground hibernating through the hot summer but they’re known to come out right after a rainstorm, especially when the weather starts cooling off.
Curious dogs, seeing the toads leaping about or even sitting still, have a tendency to nudge them with their nose and then lick their noses, thus absorbing dangerous toxin.
“If they get a large dose, it can kill them within 15 minutes,” said Dr. Katheryne Kasper, veterinarian at Animal Medical Center of Casa Grande.
Fortunately, most dogs have a more mild first encounter, stopping after an exploratory lick or nose nudge.
“Most dogs do stop there,” said Dr. John McWhirter, a veterinarian at the Casa Grande Animal Hospital.
The toxin tastes bitter and causes immediate excessive salivation for the dog.
“The saliva is just running out of their mouth,” McWhirter said.
McWhirter said if an owner sees the dog around a toad or exhibiting drooling or drugged behavior, it is important to rinse the dog’s mouth out with water immediately and thoroughly. Then, take the dog to a veterinarian to listen to its heart, the organ most likely to be affected. Effects from the toxin can last up to 30 minutes.
More aggressive dogs will bite or even swallow part of the toad, increasing the amount of toxin it ingests.
“Some dogs actually inhale them, in which case the toxicity can be more severe,” Kasper said. “They can look like they’re drunk when they walk, they can have seizures and they can die.”
McWhirter said dogs that have licked the toad once are highly likely to do it again.
“It’s almost like addictive drugs for humans,” McWhirter said. “If a dog did it one year, it’ll likely do it again.”
Kasper warns that “usually the smaller dogs are more susceptible” to encounters with the toad.
Owners can limit their dog’s chances of exposure to the toad.
If the yard is irrigated, Kasper recommends looking over the yard for toads before letting the dog out.
McWhirter advises the same level of caution if letting the dog out after a rainstorm or around the end of summer.
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