Help Cane Toads

[w_68]

Hi

I have a 12wk old puppy called Dharma, and we live in Cairns North Queensland, Australia, which is very tropical. My problem is at night when we let Dharma out to go to the loo she chases Cane Toads and last night licked one it seems. She was not sick as such, however was gagging a little. My husband put the hose in her mouth to help. but wondering if any can assist me of what to do if/when it happens again. I realise if she is very ill we will call the Vet immediately but if it is a little dose what the best thing is to do...... any assistance will be greatly appreciated...

Cheers

Wendy
and Dharma

 

[Scorpio]

Gee thats awful they must give off a bad taste. You would think that after she does taste one and its that bad that she wouldn't do it again. maybe you could look up on the net cane toads and see what you find or ask your vet just to be on the safe side.

 

[Jan]

I'm afraid that I don't know anything about Cane Toads. Are they poisonous? There are a number of boxerworld members from Australia, so hopefully one of them will be able to help you out. Otherwise, I would just call your vet and see what they suggest.

I'm just going to move this to the Health Forum.

 

[boxerpeople]

We don't have Cane Toads where we live (or any other poisonous toads that I know of) but we do have toads that taste really really bad to animals.

I've seen our Minnie pick a toad up in her mouth 2 times. Both times she really frothed at the mouth and drank lots of water to get the bad taste out. I guess that was enough for her to learn not to mess with them anymore. If she sees one now she'll jump around and paw at it a little bit, but she NEVER licks them or tries to pick them up in her mouth anymore.

If a Cane Toad tastes that bad to your pooch, it won't take the pup long to learn not to mess with them. I'd just watch the pup closesly and make sure you're there to get medical attention if need be. Short of finding a way to completely rid your yard of the toads, I can't think of any other options.

 

[bridget's mum]

Hi there fellow Queenslander! Beware seriously of the Cane Toad, they are poisonous with a capitol P. Our pup was picking up the dried out carcasses of them in the dog park where we walk, the mower had chopped them up previously. I had to teach her not to pick them up, and asked our vet if they were a problem for her health. He told me that once they have been dead for over about 10-15 minutes the toxin is no longer effective and they won't harm her, but if they are alive and she licks their back area, she will be poisoned. Probably your husband washing her mouth out with the hose saved her from a horrible outcome. My cousin's dog died a fast and sickening death from picking up a cane toad. You really need to start training the pup that these are forbidden. Watch out for the dog water at night because the toads will often sit in it for a swim. If it is quite deep, say a bucket, the toad cannot get out and will continue to swim in it for days..it takes a lot to kill a toad, but it takes little for them to kill our pride and joy. Good luck and its nice to talk with someone "local".