Cane toad poisoning of dogs

[Judy Sacco]

I recently put a notice on news.boquete regarding this topic.  I have received some additional advice and information, which I have added to the instructions on fadab.org.  If you want to be up to date on this topic, please go to FADAB link

If anybody wants to read the Spanish version and send me any corrections, I would appreciate it.  Sometimes Google Translate says some strange things.

[Jefe Lady]

Can you help me with how to print out ONLY the instructions about toad poisoning? Thanks.

[Judy Sacco]

Highlight the text and either hit Control Print and check "selection", or cut and past the highlighted text into a Word doc, or print what Fran posted here.

[Fran Hogan]

The following is a copy of the information on www.fadab.org. 

ACT IMMEDIATELY.  A PET CAN DIE IN 20 MINUTES.
Symptoms: Drool or mouth irritation, shaking head, vomiting or dry heaves, weakness (or collapsing), difficulty breathing, blue gums, seizures, death.

After it has mouthed a toad, it is vital that you remove all trace of the poison from your pets’ teeth and gums, take the following 4 steps to eliminate the toxin from its system, and SEEK URGENT VETERINARY ATTENTION.
DO NOT TOUCH TOADS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS!

1.  Flush the mouth with a jet of water from a hose.  The water jet should be directed forward out of your pet's mouth, not down into its throat.
Then give the dog lemon or lime juice with a turkey baster to neutralize the toxin.  If the dog has just licked the toad, the lemon juice and water flush should be effective, but do the rest of the steps as a precaution.

2. Induce vomiting with Hydrogen Peroxide: 10cc every 10 minutes - up to 3 times.
If you don't have Hydrogen Peroxide, use skim milk in a turkey baster and then some lemon water.  Or use cold coffee and salt water in a turkey baster.

3. Absorption with activated charcoal tablets, or activated charcoal slurry available from pharmacies (Any's Farmacia in Boquete sells this in bulk.  Dra. Chely also has a large supply). 
Mix 1 capsule or 1 Tablespoon with 10cc water, then give 4 cc per kilo of body weight.  Give it with a syringe (no needle) in the corner of the mouth, not directly down the throat.

4. Speed elimination:  about 30 minutes later give a laxative:  Milk of Magnesia 1.5 cc per kilo of body weight, or give 2 whites of egg mixed with milk with the syringe in the mouth.

For advice or to obtain charcoal tablets, contact
Marion 6454-8522 or Doctora Chely 6518-4127

 

also:

comment by Judy Sacco

08/10/2012 7:07am

Toad Prevention and Protecting your Pet
There are several ways to control the toad population in your yard. The best is probably to place a 1/8" mesh screen around the outside of your fence. The screen should be buried 4" and extend at least 20" above the ground. You can also try to trap the toads with funnel traps along the fence, or by placing a 5 gallon bucket in the ground near a light. The toad is attracted to the bug, falls into the bucket, and can't climb out.

Eliminate, as much as possible, any fresh standing water as the toads look for fish-free water in which to breed. Empty your dog’s water bowl at night. Cover the swimming pool and turn out pool and outside lights as much as possible.

To prevent the dog from catching toads, do not allow your dog to go outside unattended at night. Take it out on a lead if the need arises.

Place two or three bells on your dog’s collar. The bells will not affect the toad, but you will learn to recognize the telltale jingling sound the bells make when your dog is ‘suspiciously active’. Immediate investigation when the bells are ringing may save your dog’s life.

also:

comment by Judy Sacco

08/10/2012 7:17am

Toads exude a milky white toxin from poison glands behind their eyes. They squeeze this poison onto the surface of their skin when they are under threat. Toads do not spit or squirt the poison as commonly believed, and they don’t bite. Dogs and cats are poisoned when they mouth the toad or sometimes when the toad’s poison gets into their eyes.

The toad’s poison is also dangerous to humans and deaths have occurred. Some adults have even been affected when they absorbed the poison through cuts in their skin after handling a toad.

 

also:

comment by Fran Hogan

08/10/2012 8:20am

Before I put up a fine mesh wire barrier to those beasts who found their way into my yard via the gap under my gate, I had to deal with them frequently. And, since I don't really want to kill one by bashing it or slicing it or by any other bloody means, I asked my friend "Google" how to HUMANELY dispose of them.
Freeze 'em! That way they just go into hibernation (sleep) mode and don't suffer and don't leave bloody remains on my patio or driveway.

So, when I encounter one, I pick it up with a small but heavy cloth and put it into a plastic bag. It goes into my freezer for 3-4 days and then into the trash.... it is important that dogs cannot get to that trash!
At one point, some years ago, I had 6 or 7 of them in the freezer. Freaked my housekeeper out, to say the least. I think she may have thought I was going to cook and eat them!

Just my contribution as to one way of disposing of these nasty critters.

 

[Jefe Lady]

Thanks..........I was able to get this form of the info to print!

[Bob Raksnis]

Are there any discussions concerning vampire bats in Panama on Boquete.ning? I know this discussion isn;t for that, but could use some help instead of creating a new discussion.

Thanks

 

[Judy Sacco]

Aren't vampire bats mostly a problem for cattle?  Nobody has ever reported that they are a threat to pets.

[Bob Raksnis]

Yeah, my mistake, I meant a problem for humans. Any stories of bat bites?

[Woody]

A quick thought for entrepreneurial types:  If a cane toad poisoning "kit" were to be made available with dosed quantities of the above ingredients, it probably would be very salable to those of us who own dogs.

[Judy Sacco]

Woody, dogs are all different sizes.  How would you do pre-measured doses?  The doses are expressed in cc/kilo body weight.

[Stephane d'Ursel]

Thank you ladies,

[Judy Sacco]

Though the treatment is described for toad poisoning, it may also be used if you think your pet has been poisoned by weedkiller (like Roundup) or rat poison.  The symptoms are similar.  In any case of suspected poisoning, this treatment is done as emergency intervention until you can get the animal to a vet.  The vet might to give it additional treatment, like atropine.