An invasive species of toad found in Florida can sicken and quickly kill pets who bite, chew, or swallow them. The cane toad, which can be found year-round in the state, is spotted more often in central and southern Florida, but one has even been reported as far north as Nassau County.
So, what is a cane toad? How do you know if your pet has come into contact with one? And, what can you do to protect your pet from this danger?
What Are Cane Toads?
Also known as marine, giant, or bufo toads, cane toads are large toads ranging in size from about 6 to 9 inches fully grown. They are reddish- or grayish-brown with a beige or light yellow belly. Native to parts of South America, Central America, and southern Texas, these amphibians were initially introduced to Florida to protect sugar cane crops from agricultural pests.
The Danger Cane Toads Pose
Although many toads are mildly toxic if bitten or eaten by pets, symptoms tend to be limited to foaming at the mouth, excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth, and possibly vomiting.
Cane toads, on the other hand, are extremely toxic. They have large glands located behind the eyes that secrete bufotoxin, a milky toxin that helps protect the toads against predators.
Chewing or eating a cane toad may initially cause similar signs in pets as consuming a less toxic toad, but this can turn into tremors, changes in heart rate, an irregular heartbeat, seizures, shock, and even death if not treated quickly. Cane toad eggs are also toxic to pets and other animals.
Without proper treatment, a pet who bites or eats a cane toad can die within 15 minutes!
Touching cane toads can also irritate your own skin or cause a burning sensation in your eyes. Avoid touching the toads with bare hands!
Cane Toads vs. Southern Toads
Because cane toads aren’t seen as frequently in our area, they may pose more of a danger if they’re mistaken for native southern toads, which are less toxic and generally don’t cause serious symptoms in pets.
Cane toads have big triangular glands behind their eyes and don’t have any crests or ridges on their heads, unlike southern toads. See the difference here.
Cane toads are also much larger than southern toads, which only grow to about 1.5 to 3 inches (sometimes a bit larger).
Vet Recommendations If Your Pet Encounters a Cane Toad
If your pet is conscious and showing signs of being exposed to one of these toxic toads:
- Call us immediately (or ask someone else to do so while you perform the next steps).
- Rinse your pet’s mouth with a steady stream of water (such as from a hose) for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Make sure you direct the water from the back of your pet’s mouth toward the muzzle, not down your pet’s throat.
- Use a washcloth or dish towel to help wipe away any remaining toxins from your pet’s tongue and gums.
- Do not make your pet vomit, unless we tell you to do so.
- After rinsing out your pet’s mouth, drive your pet to the closest Jacksonville Community Pet Clinics location or to an emergency vet.
Rinsing out your pet’s mouth quickly is crucial, especially if a cane toad is the cause. However, if you spot the toad and can snap a photo (or ask someone else to get one), that can help with identifying whether the toad is indeed a cane toad or a less toxic species.
Preventing the problem in the first place is ideal, so avoid leaving your pet’s food and water bowls outside, because they can attract these toads. Even consuming water or food that a cane toad has come into contact with can make your pet sick.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has additional recommendations to help discourage cane toads from taking up residence on your property and advice on how to dispose of any cane toads that you find.
