FYI

Caution - Pet Alert
Our weather allows people and their pets unlimited opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. But if you are not careful, contact with the poison of a bufo toad can kill dogs and cats and even make humans sick.

The bufo marinus toad is native to South America, but now lives in Dade, Broward, and parts of Palm Beach County. The toad was introduced to eat citrus pests in the 1930's.

This toad can grow up to 9 inches and can weigh as much as 3 pounds. Although it is a year-round problem, these toads breed in the spring and are most active during the rainy season.

As a defense mechanism against predators the toad releases a poisonous white pasty substance from two glands behind its ears. Curious dogs or cats that try and bite the toad only have to contact this paste on lips, gums, or in their nostrils to be at risk.

An alert pet owner who knows the symptoms of bufo toad poisoning has a good chance of saving their pets' lives. First, after the dog or cat ingests the poison, it salivates from 5 to 20 minutes. Then the poison travels to the central nervous system causing tremors, convulsions, and in some cases, death.

Quick action is the key to saving a pet's life. Someone should flush the pet's mouth with water to dilute and remove the toxin. I caution owners to wash the mouth from side to side so water runs out of the mouth and not down the throat. Pets have been known to accidentally drown while owners with good intentions try to rinse out the poison.

Always call a veterinarian as soon as possible. He is able to give an injection of a drug to compete with the toxin and protect the central nervous system.

Caution and knowledge is your best defense!