The toad, a very dangerous batrachian for the dog
Toads are batrachians that can be very dangerous for the dog because of the venom glands that these animals have behind their eyes and on the skin of their back, similar to warts.
When a dog "meets" a toad, his natural curiosity will sometimes lead him to lick the toad or take it in his mouth. It is under the pressure exerted by a strong licking or by a bite on the skin of the toad that the toad venom is released on contact with the mucous membranes of the dog's mouth.It then enters the dog's blood and exerts a toxic action on its heart and nervous system.
Toad venom contains several toxic substances among:
- biogenic amines which give it its inflammatory character,
- bufotenin, with hallucinogenic effects,
- substances with vasoconstrictor and hypertensive effects,
- compounds similar to digitalis derivatives, toxic to the heart.
" The risks of crossing paths with a toad are higher:"
- during peak toad activity between April and September, with an even greater risk in the height of summer, July and August,
- at dusk,
- in all natural areas where the toad lives: gardens, ponds, parks, mountains or even forests.
Good to know!
Salamanders and newts can also be responsible for dog toad-like envenomations.
Toad poisoning in dogs: symptoms
If the dog is envenomed by a toad, the symptoms appear very quickly, generally within an hour of contact with the batrachian.
They immediately consist of a painful inflammation of the dog's oral mucosa responsible for very significant hypersalivation. If in contact with the dog's eyes, the venom causes inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis), conjunctiva and keratitis associated with eye pain.
The most serious forms of envenomation can be accompanied by:
- digestive disorders including intense abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting,
- heart rhythm disorders that can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest,
- neuro-muscular disorders such as ataxia (abnormal gait), tremors, convulsions, paralysis or even hallucinations,
- the occurrence of acute lung edema, caused either by heart failure or by the inflammatory action of toad venom.
Envenomation can sometimes be complicated by the occurrence of kidney failure, liver failure or even heart failure.
The venom of a single toad can be deadly for a small dog. It can then occur in less than an hour in the most severe forms of envenomation.
My dog bit a toad: what to do?
When a dog is poisoned by a toad, it is a real veterinary emergency that should convince you to take your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic as soon as possible and all the more so it is a small dog, more prone to serious envenomations.
At the same time, remove the toad from the dog's mouth (the venom will not penetrate the skin of your hand, if it does not contain any wounds) or make it let go of it then immediately and abundantly rinse the oral cavity of your dog using tap water or mineral water, depending on what you have on hand.
If the toad venom has been in contact with the eyes, rinse them thoroughly with water or better still, with saline solution.
Warning!
Envenomation by toad venom is painful for the dog so that your animal, even if it is usually very nice, may be likely to show signs of aggression when you try to remove the toad or to approach it to rinse its mouth and/or its eyes. If this is the case, do not put yourself in danger and wait for the intervention of your veterinarian, trained to deal with this scenario.
What can the veterinarian do when a dog has been poisoned by a toad?
The veterinarian will first try to eliminate as much venom as possible if the dog is taken care of very quickly after contact with the toad and to detect the presence of any cardiac signs, which cannot be identified only by cardiac auscultation or an electrocardiogram.
If there is no specific antidote to toad venom, the veterinarian will nevertheless do what is necessary to relieve the dog as much as possible of the symptoms of envenomation, administering it as needed:
- anti-emetics or medication to protect the stomach wall (gastric dressings, antacids),
- drugs to treat heart problems,
- anti-convulsants,
- anti-inflammatories,
- anti-histamines aimed at reducing the effect of venom on the mucous membranes,
- and/or placing the dog on oxygen therapy or infusion.
Hospitalization of the dog is often essential in the most serious cases. The vital prognosis is more reserved in small dogs and when digestive and cardiac disorders persist.