There are certian types of frogs/toads that secrete toxic fluid from thier skin. Dogs and cats have died from this secretion when ingested. Even the tadpoles have toxic skin. One type is called the Giant Toad (also called the Marine Toad). Our vet has a dead one in his office in a jar to show people what to look out for. This is what it looks like:



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The Colorado River Toad (which can be found along large streams in the southwestern United States, from Adminzona to southern California and Mexico) and the Giant Toad (which can be found in Florida and Texas) are the two most common venomous toads found in the United States.

A dog doesn’t necessarily have to lick or eat a toad to be poisoned. There have been cases where frogs have been attracted to a dog’s water dish and sat along the rim. Enough toxin can be left to make a dog sick.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

If enough toxin is ingested, your pet may have an irregular heartbeat and act strangely, as if in the grip of a hallucination. Call your veterinarian if you observe:

Mouth irritation with foamy salivation
Depression
Weakness
Collapse
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea

VETERINARY CARE

An electrocardiogram may be conducted to determine whether your pet has an abnormal heart rhythm. There currently is no way to find the presence of the toxin. Diagnosis is usually based on whether the pet was seen eating a toad, or if toad parts are in the gastrointestinal tract.

If your pet ate or licked a toad, you should flush his mouth with water to remove traces of the toxin. Your veterinarian may give your pet cardiac drugs such as propranolol to combat abnormal heart rhythms. Anxious, frightened or painful pets may need sedatives. Pet's with a high fever may benefit from a cool bath. A hospital stay with intravenous fluids is very likely, with your pet’s heart monitored by an electrocardiograph.