Ugh... TOADS!

[Tuff Love]

Well, it's Spring now and the temps are officially starting to rise. A few weeks ago we fenced off our yard (which is wooded) so Thora could run and get more exercise... and now we have a whole new problem we never even thought of- she won't leave the toads alone! She has been sick on and off all week and last night she was just a mess. DH and I were both up all night because she was so restless and wouldn't eat and was just one sad sight. It didn't click until I remembered she came to the door the other night with a frothy mouth. I saw her eating grass earlier and she's had a sad belly all week so I thought it was just from her throwing up grass. DUH- she's been after toads! We had rain on and off this week and I can already hear them chirping out there so I'd bet $100 that's why she's been ill all week. She goes after them every time she sees them and has put me in a panic half a dozen times before. Now what in the heck can be done about it??? We're not in the South, so they're not Bufo toads, but clearly they're still toxic and I'm concerned about her repeatedly going after them. We spent a small fortune fencing in nearly an acre just for HER, and now I can't let her out there? UGH.

 

[msnitsirk]

The toads are likely seasonal where you are right? Would she tolerate a muzzle for her outdoor time? Not ideal I know, but perhaps it is better than the alternative for toad season? You can try to control the toads by eliminating their favorite places as much as you can, (dark damp places like pots, water containers, lumber piles, etc.), but I know 1 acre isn't exactly a small are to go searching for toad hidey holes.

 

[Tuff Love]

The toads are likely seasonal where you are right? Would she tolerate a muzzle for her outdoor time? Not ideal I know, but perhaps it is better than the alternative for toad season? You can try to control the toads by eliminating their favorite places as much as you can, (dark damp places like pots, water containers, lumber piles, etc.), but I know 1 acre isn't exactly a small are to go searching for toad hidey holes.

Lol, I was JUST googling boxer muzzles. Yes, they're seasonal and will be a problem until Fall. Thora won't like the muzzle one bit but if it's going to save her (and us) from dealing with more of these episodes, we may have to at least try it. She has had tummy issues since puppyhood and her liver and kidney levels last time were already a little off after years of dealing with her issues, so that makes me feel like we need to be even more vigilant in preventing further distress to her insides. We may be able to get by with only using it at certain times, such as at night or after a rain. Unfortunately we live in the mountain. There's really no way to control the toads and I cannot fathom putting a mesh liner around our entire fence (that's a lot of fence!). I'm sure they would still manage to get in anyways. Darn toads.