Pet care: Kiss, lick, or eat a toad?

Third in a series.

Our pets have good lives: a comfy bed, three squares and a flat-screen TV. But they aren’t little people in furry suits. Beneath that cuddly exterior beats the heart of a predator. Tom and Andrea’s dog, Alita, like any self-respecting savage, was always ready. A toad in the garden, minding its own amphibious business, suddenly hopped. Then it hopped again. Wow! A snack!

Toads, consumers of insects, snails and slugs are beloved by gardeners. They move suddenly and quickly, making them fun backyard toys for dogs and cats. The species found in our corner of the world, Bufo alvarius, is somewhat less poisonous than its cousin Bufo marinus that resides in Florida.

Bufo toads are most active during their breeding season (March through September). Encounters with pets often occur following a good rain, during dawn, dusk, or nighttime. Also known as Colorado River toads or Sonoran Desert toads, these endearing animals are not defenseless. When they get scared, glands on their skin secrete a thick, white, creamy substance called Bufo toxin. Poisoning symptoms came on fast: drooling and often retching, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythms, pawing at the mouth and head shaking.

The hallucinations some dogs experience can’t be fun. These pets may become hyperexcitable, stagger, convulse, or pass out. A few have died from this dietary indiscretion. Toads sitting in an outdoor water bowl can leave behind enough toxin to poison a thirsty pet.

Licking, biting, or even wolfing these creatures down in one bite isn’t rare among dogs and cats. You’ll have to act fast; there is no specific antidote. Alita’s family got her to us quickly. She recovered well.

There are folks who’ve embarked on a psychedelic trip by licking toads or dining on toad soup, toad meat or eggs, or even devouring the entire beast whole. I discourage these recreational escapades. Lonely hearts beware. Romantic overtures toward a frog can yield a life of love and fulfillment, but if you kiss a toad instead, well, I won’t comment on that. Ask Dear Abby. I treat behavior disorders in pets, not people.

For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com

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