Results for the initial serum calcium and magnesium concentrations were only noted for some patients. Two of five patients whose serum calcium concentration was recorded had hypercalcemia. Three of seven patients whose serum magnesium concentration was recorded had abnormal results. If you come into contact with a cane toad, wash your hands and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water. Avoid touching your face or eyes until you have cleaned the affected area. During warmer months DPIRD can receive between five and 20 suspected cane toad reports per week from across cane toad-free parts of NSW, however some can be misidentified animals.

Cane toad toxin in alternative medicines

Most patients have gastrointestinal symptoms consisting of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. Laboratory studies may show hyperkalaemia and a detectable digoxin concentration. Serum immunoassays for digoxin may cross react with the toad venom resulting in increased digoxin concentrations.

• In other words, most dogs with seizures from toads often look stiff.
• The majority of patients (70.55%) with toad toxin poisoning recovered with a hospital stay ranging from 1 to 15 days, averaging around 5 days.
• It’s important to wash your hands thoroughly after handling cane toads or objects that may be contaminated.
• The eyes will often have nystagmus or move back and forth horizontally in a rapid pattern.
• Learn how to treat poisoning from cane toads and when to get medical help.
• You can consult a pest control service to see what can be done but you’ll likely find that the population is nearly endless.

We identified 1542 relevant publications initially across multiple databases. Upon full-text review based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 126 publications were excluded, leaving 72 that met all criteria for detailed analysis. From these, we identified 180 cases of toad toxin poisoning (Supplementary Fig. 1). Although they are native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia, fire-bellied toads are sometimes kept as pets in the US. The fire-bellied toad (Bombina species) gets its name from its bright red, yellow, or orange underside.

Bufo Toad Toxicity

Supportive, symptomatic care might be the main therapies for this poisoning, especially if DsFab is not available. We carried out a retrospective study of patients with toad poisoning from the Ramathibodi Poison Center Toxic Exposure Surveillance System during a 5-year period (2012–2016). When stressed, cane toads can ooze and sometimes squirt poison from glands behind the head. Dr Earl said a cane toad has enough toxin to kill an adult dog in less than 30 minutes, and while toxicity in cats is less frequent it can occur. University of Sydney researchers have taught free-ranging goannas to avoid eating poisonous cane toads about to invade their study area – a floodplain in the remote Kimberley wilderness in Western Australia.

My dog is getting high on cane toads. Should I be worried?

The invasive cane toad has spread across much of Southwest Florida in recent years, and the nasty creatures have killed countless pets and native wildlife in the process. Cane toads pose a range of biosecurity risks for the economy, environment and wider community, including competing with native fauna for food and disrupting natural ecosystems. The spokeswoman said the majority of the state is free of cane toads, but long-distance dispersal can happen when cane toads stow away on vehicles and in produce like firewood, potted plants and landscaping supplies. Dogs may experience seizures or convulsions, often proving fatal without urgent veterinary attention. The toxin can also impact the heart, potentially causing immediate cardiac arrest in both dogs and cats.

First, the study was retrospective and based on data obtained from telephone consultations; therefore, some data might be incomplete. The medical history was obtained from patients as reported to medical personnel; therefore, sometimes this information might not be clear or completely accurate. Finally, no laboratory test was performed to confirm the identity of the specific toad toxin.

What do I do if my dog’s licked a toad?

• Further study is needed to determine the specific indications for and doses of DsFab for toad poisoning.
• Patient ages ranged from 4 to 82 years, with a significant number of cases occurring among the elderly and children.
• “The poison is really sticky and you’ve gotta scrub it out of there. If you can remove as much as possible … it might mean the animal is more likely to survive.”
• In clinical settings, poisoned patients typically receive standard detoxification treatments such as gastric lavage and hemoperfusion to eliminate the toxin.
• In summary, cane toad poisoning in humans can lead to a range of symptoms, from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to severe respiratory and cardiac complications.
• Cane toads pose a common threat of poisoning, primarily in dogs and occasionally in cats.

Seizures and rigidity are treated with either valium, midazolam, or propofol. Most patients will spend at least 12 hours in the hospital until being sent home and this, of course, depends on how well they recover. Many patients will spend some time on oxygen and may also get IV fluids.

Along with harming these two body systems we also see local irritation of the mucous membranes and we see gastrointestinal problems as well such as vomiting and diarrhea. The most common presentation for a dog that just got a hold of a bufo toad is either seizures or ataxia. Seizures caused by bufo toads are often grand mal and usually cause tetany or extensor muscle rigidity. In other words, most dogs with seizures from toads often look stiff. The eyes will often have nystagmus or move back and forth horizontally in a rapid pattern.

The most important poison in newts and salamanders is tetrodotoxin (TTX), one of the most dangerous toxins known to man. It’s found in the skin, symptoms of cane toad poisoning in humans muscles, and internal organs of newts and salamanders, as well as in about 100 freshwater and saltwater animals, most notoriously the pufferfish and the blue-ringed octopus. TTX-containing newts are found in Oregon, California, and southern Alaska. Any brightly colored, rough-skinned newt or salamander likely contains TTX. For the initial laboratory results, the mean of the initial potassium recorded in 27 patients was 4.2 mEq/L. From the data of 32 patients, four and five had hyperkalemia (range 5.5–7.7 mEq/L) and hypokalemia (range 2.8–3.48 mEq/L), respectively.

Study Design

Being aware of the risks and taking preventive measures can significantly reduce the chances of cane toad toxicity in your beloved pets. If you suspect poisoning, swift action is essential for a positive outcome. Broadly, Professor Allavena says there are two types of behaviours that lead to dogs getting poisoned by cane toads. Toad venom acts on gastrointestinal smooth muscle, enhancing peristalsis and thereby inducing nausea and vomiting.

Treatment for cane toad poisoning may include supportive care to manage symptoms, such as intravenous fluids for dehydration and medications to control nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, antidotes may be administered to counteract the effects of the toxin. Cane toads are a common sight in many parts of the world, especially in Australia and parts of Asia.