TOADS AND YOUR PETS
Vets
The Western Leopard Toad Sclerophrys pantherina lives largely in suburban gardens and thus close to domestic animals. Some breeds of dogs and cats, especially those bred for vermin control, may take excessive interest in toads.
The Western Leopard Toad, like most other toads, has a toxin gland (called the parotid gland) just behind the ears. The toad secretes bufotoxins when it feels that its life is threatened, typically when its body is in the grip of a predatorӳ jaws or if the body cavity has been perforated.
This toxin is not of much harm if consumed in small amounts. When copious amounts are consumed, it can however be harmful to the animal and in all cases must be treated. Some individual pets may be hypersensitive to these toxins, just as some humans have allergies to bee stings.
The majority of breeds of dogs and cats avoid toads, as toad skin is exceedingly unpleasant to the taste. Most animals that once mouth, lick or even smell a toad, will never touch another again.
Symptoms of poisoning
Symptoms of poisoning are typical of ingesting a poisonous. The first sign is foaming and frothing at the mouth, which is a reaction of the saliva. Most pets attempt to gag or wipe away the foam. In most cases, this is as bad as it gets, and treatment is merely to wash out the pets mouth. Where heavy doses are consumed your pet will experience a rapid increase in heartbeats, nausea and a reduced consciousness. In very selected cases, when the animal is hypersensitive to the toxin and consumes large amounts of it, there is a chance that without treatment, the animal can die. Whenever your pet foams at the mouth take it seriously! Wash the dog's mouth out thoroughly with water and take it to a vet immediately. Unless you have seen a toad nearby, beware of other causes of foaming such as eating rat poison or drinking poisonous substances.
A survey among vets regarding Western Leopard Toads and Pets
The Western Leopard Toad Conservation Committee conducted a survey of 18 veterinary clinics in Cape Town during 2009.
Doctors were asked ten questions specifically relating to dogs. The results were:
1) How many dogs are brought into your practice annually suffering from WLT poisoning?
Answer: Half (50%) had no confirmed cases, a third (33.3%) have had less than 5 cases. None had more than 5 cases, and 3 did not answer the question.
2) How many of these dogs died?
Answer: Almost 90% (88.9%) of vets did not know of deaths caused by Western Leopard Toad. Only a single vet had experience of a Jack Russell that had been brought in without any initial treatment (washing out the mouth) by the owner and was unable to be revived. One vet had heard of a death, but not at his clinic.
3) What breeds of dog are most susceptible?
Answer: Terrier breeds like Jack Russellӳ and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. German Shepherds were mentioned, but no cases have been documented.
4) Are there any "problem areas" or times when poisoning is more prevalent?
Answer: About half (44.4%) suggested at night time, when toads are active. About half (44.4%) noted winter when the toads were migrating and one tenth (11%) suggested during spring, during the time that toadlets emerge from the breeding pools.
5) How do you treat the dogs?
Answer: Cases are treated symptomatically using anti-nausea medication. Activated charcoal is suggested as well as IV fluid drips. Lignocaine, diuretics and valium were other substances used in treatment. This is all standard treatment for poisonous foods and drinks.
6) What do you advise pet owners in terms of prevention and first aid?
Answer: You must wash out the mouth with water. Keep dogs indoors during risky periods. Other suggestions include: check water bowls, prevent dogs from playing with toads, and train dogs not to attack toads.
7) Compared to other threats to pets such as vehicles, how would you quantify the threat of WLT to pets?
Answer: The incidence is very low: less than 1% of cases.
8) Do people ever bring to your clinic injured toads for treatment?
Answer: Almost a third of vets (27.7%) said yes.
9) if yes, what do you do?
Answer: The five vets indicated that they use antiseptic liquid to clean the wound, but if it is a serious injury like a crushed head or the body cavity is ruptured or the spine is snapped, as there are no facilities to treat this.
What you should do to prevent a serious pet/toad encounter
Place a stone or two in the pets water bowl to allow the toad to get out easily and not get stuck in it. Alternatively keep the water bowl inside, preventing the toad from reaching it.
If you have a terrier breed, or your pet has a history of attacking toads, consider keeping it inside during toad breeding season (July-September) and toadlet emergence (November-January).
Find out if you have leopard toads in your garden and be conscious of their behaviour and where they tend to move or like to be. This way you can keep your pets away from the toads.
Know your pet. If you see that your pet does not worry toads, it is unlikely that it will begin. Most likely it has already learned to leave toads alone. If you know that your pet does not leave toads alone, then you can train it to ignore the toads and leave them alone.
Be conscious of your pets movement if it roams, because as the vets indicated, vehicles and other humans pose a far greater danger to pets.
If you have any further information of a personal experience with your pet/s and a toad, we would like to know. Please Contact the WLT Hotline 082 516 3602.
Information compiled by Marc Day, May 2009
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