Toad Eating

[mattys mum]

Just wanted to mention what happened the other night.

Matty, about 18months old, we have had about 5 months now, was a rescue.  He eats everything especially poo, dead things and likes them whole.

He ate a toad the other night and he was very very poorly.  He went totally lifeless, his eyes were glased, apparently illusinating (soory about spelling), could not stand up - back legs gone.  didnt notice his name being called wouldnt drink or eat.

We went to the vets - she said toads are poisoness even if only held in the mouth.   Matty had two Jabs and we had some rehydration granules for his water.  he came round a bit 24 hours later.  had two more jabs, and he has been on antibiotics etc for a week now and our Matty is back to his gobbling ways.

I have since been told that this is common, and if your dog has a toad in its mouth to hose its mouth out with water as quick as poss to remove as many toxins as poss as not all dogs are as lucky as our matty and pull through.

[Becky and Wilson]

I knew toads secreted some nasty poison from their skin but I thought it just tasted horrible I didn't realise is was as harmfull as that! 

I'll be keeping a watchful eye on what they're all up to in my garden as we get a lot of frogs and toads as my neighbour has a pond!  Even found a baby frog in the girls water bowl in the kitchen the other day, it must have crawled under the back door somehow!

Are frogs dangerous too?

[Eloise]

Glad to hear that Matty recovered well, thanks for sharing this I didn't know that toads were poisonous to dogs. we get a few frogs (at least i think they are frogs, don't actually know the difference between frogs and toads ) in the garden which Alfie tries to play with, I will keep him away from them now though.

[Bluebell]

OMG I had no idea that toads were poisonous to dogs, though I had heard of humans licking giant toads to get a 'high' 

[GinnyB]

Elsie like chewing them and spitting them out. Would it be toads living in a pond free garden, rather than frogs?

[Jane S]

We don't have a pond but have a couple of resident toads and numerous frogs too - our Jimmy used to try to pick up the toads but has given up now (didn't like the nasty taste in his mouth). Luckily he suffered no ill effects and has learned his lesson. Glad Matty is ok You can tell the difference between toads & frogs as apart from being bigger, toads don't jump like frogs, they walk.

[Cockertime Blues]

I didn't know they were that dangerous either.  Thanks for the lesson and am really glad Mattie's recovered.

[Countrygirl]

I didn't know they were that dangerous either.  Thanks for the lesson and am really glad Mattie's recovered.

And from me. 

[Geordietyke]

Yes, glad Mattie is OK.  I hadn't realised either they were so dangerous, thanks for that.  It's a difficult job sometimes making sure our dogs stay away from so many potentially dangerous things in our gardens

[lindseyp]

So relieved to hear that Matty is OK     ... sounds horrific poor boy 

we moved house & gained a pond in the process - the dogs are fascinated by it but mainly the frogs. So far it is just a fascination & hoping it doesn't become lunch     When younger, our cat used to bring in live frogs/toads as gifts (& would leave them on our bed during the night  )   ... the only way I knew the difference was by her salivating after putting them down.
just googled & found this info 

http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/sciam/faq.shtml

.....didn't know toads could be so deadly - thanks for starting the thread - would of stayed in ignorance if you hadn't 

[catcmartin]

Many thanks you have answered a question I had.  We have 2 resident toads in the garden.  I know know they are toads because of this thread as one walked away the other night.  Luckily we have a gate half way down the garden and I spotted the toads on the house side of the gate.  I was worried about charlie finding the toads and got OH to lift the one that was left and move it to the other side of the gate so charlie couldnt get at it.  I didnt know they were poisonous to dogs I just didnt want to see charlie eat one I know now.