Most people are aware of the dangers of a dog going after a snake or other reptile but may not know that frogs and toads can also be poisonous to dogs.
Frogs and toads secrete toxins in their skin and through glands in their mouth, so licking these amphibians can cause poisoning.
The most common symptom is drooling followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, lethargy and weakness.
In some cases, the toxin can lead to seizures or respiratory failure, resulting in death if not treated quickly.
Why are frogs and toads poisonous
Amphibians are often responsible for the release of some of the most toxic substances in the world.
Interestingly, they are not usually lethal to their predators but are a serious threat to small animals, especially dogs.
Frogs are one of the most dangerous species because they secrete toxins in their skin and through glands in their mouth.
The toxins are released when it licks the amphibian, so licking these frogs can cause poisoning.
Different symptoms are caused by a frog or toad poisoning.
They include drooling followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, lethargy and weakness.
In some cases, the toxin can lead to seizures or respiratory failure, resulting in death if not treated quickly.
Are frogs poisonous to humans?
Humans are not immune from the toxins of frogs and toads. There are many cases of people dying from eating toxic frogs.
The most common cause for this is eating a frog’s leg instead of its meat.
The poison in their skin is different and much stronger than the poison in their hind legs.
If a person eats the meat of an amphibian, the toxin can cause stomach pains, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties.
There are two types of frog toxins: cardiac and neurotoxic.
The cardiac toxin is responsible for muscle paralysis, making it hard to breathe and rapid heart rate, which are signs of poisoning in dogs and humans.
The neurotoxic are the ones that are responsible for respiratory failure and are more toxic than their cardiac counterparts.
What should I do if my dog eats a frog or a toad?
If your dog eats a frog or toad, you should look for the following symptoms related to the frog or toad’s toxins in their body.
They include drooling followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, lethargy and weakness.
In some cases, the toxin can lead to seizures or respiratory failure, resulting in death if not treated quickly.
Symptoms of poisoning are as follows:
– Excessive drooling and vomiting are symptoms of frog poisoning
– Constipation is a symptom of toad poisoning
– A lack of energy is a symptom of many forms of poisoning (e.g. from plants)
– Lethargy and weakness are symptoms of many forms of poisoning
– The excessive secretion of tears are caused by a form of frog poisoning
– Feeling dizzy are symptoms of toad and leopard frog poisonings
– Drooping eyelids are common for many types of toxicities but are especially present in the poison from toads
– Twitching are common throughout the body when toads poison a dog
– Nausea is usually caused by the poison from toads
– Seizures are a symptom of many kinds of poisoning – but are especially common in leopard frog poisoning
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, it may have been poisoned.
You should take them immediately to the closest veterinarian and describe the symptoms.
The vet will then be able to give you treatment and advice on what happens if they are not treated properly.
How can I keep my dog safe from eating frogs or toads?
There are a lot of ways you can try to keep your dogs from eating frogs or toads.
One way would be to avoid the frog’s habitat where possible and teach your dog not to hunt things down.
If you find frogs in places where they are likely to encounter them, make sure they are supervised or are wearing a muzzle.
Additionally, if you are looking for a frog’s natural predators, you can purchase one and have it living nearby.
This will help keep the population down.
Southern toad poisonous to dogs
Southern toads are not poisonous to dogs and are not much of a threat.
They are ubiquitous in the southern states of the US.
Southern toads are usually just a few inches long and are fairly easy to handle if you need to move them out of your yard.
They are so non-threatening that some people let their dogs play with them as a game – with no ill effects!
Woodhouse toad poisonous to dog
Most are not, but the woodhouse toad is.
The woodhouse toad is poisonous to dogs.
This is because the woodhouse toad excretes a toxin from its skin that can be toxic for dogs.
You should monitor your dog if they are around these frogs or are about to eat one.
Woodhouse toad is native to the south-eastern United States and is generally only found in warmer climates.
However, there are reports of them being found in cooler northern regions as well.
These are usually the result of shipping accidents that helped them escape into those regions.
They are black and light brown with white spots all over their backs.
They are about 1 inch long and have a large head.
The poison gland is located on either side of the base of its neck.
If they are threatened or handled, they may secrete this poison, which will contaminate your dog’s system through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact with the toxin secretions from these glands.
If your dog has ingested a woodhouse toad, you should seek veterinary care immediately.
The woodhouse toad has poison glands that are lethal when dogs are ingested.
You should monitor your dog if they are playing in areas where these frogs are located and try not to let your dog consume one of these animals.
Scene toad poisonous to dogs
A Toad is a member of the Bufonidae family that is a type of amphibian.
They are characterized by their short, wide bodies and heads that are wide at the mouth.
This frog has glands in its skin that secrete toxins that are secreted through pores.
The Scene toad is poisonous to dogs because it can cause severe vertigo, nausea, convulsions and respiratory problems.
Symptoms are more likely to occur with ingestion than with exposure to its toxin through the skin.
A Toad is characteristically are short-lived for such a large species.
They are found in many areas, including tropical regions, temperate forests and grasslands.
It is also common to find frogs in more urbanised areas due to the climate and abundance of insects near water sources for frogs.
Conclusion
Dogs should not eat frogs or toads because they are poisonous.
You can prevent your dog from eating a frog by keeping them indoors, away from ponds and streams where there is the risk of encountering one.
If you find that your dog has eaten a frog, take him to the vet immediately for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures.
In addition to this blog post on how frogs are dangerous to dogs if ingested, our team at Animal Hospital of Woodbury would be happy to answer any questions about pets in general!
Remember- don’t let your pet roam free outside without supervision; it’s important for their safety!
