Poisonous (to dogs) toads & how to get rid of em

I’ve had a resident toad under a big boulder for a while but now I have a bunch of baby toads all over my yard. The neighbors and I believe they are Bufo toads that release a toxic fluid if a dog or cat were to give it a curious poke or bite.

I don’t have any water sources in my yard so I don’t know why they like me. I have a dog so I want rid of them and I know they will also attract snakes which I’m terrified of.

Anybody familiar with this issue and how to get rid of em? I’m not the frog gigging type.

in Austinby Electronic-Theory251

38%

intensecharacter

Post a picture. I'm willing to bet that it's a Gulf Coast toad - they have a very visible white streak running down their backs. While their toxin can be an irritant to a dog, it's nothing like a cane toad. I've co-existed with toads, dogs, and other animals for decades and have never heard of a serious illness or death caused from an encounter between a GC toad and a pet.

RockMo-DZine

Question: Why do you think they are Bufo/Cane toads?

They are in TX but I thought mostly further south. Was the mother very large?

tbh, most toads can be toxic but they can also be beneficial. otoh, they mostly look alike.

As for a water source - if you have areas of grass that grow bigger/greener than others, then you have a water source - usually broken irrigation/lawn sprinkler lines.

Electronic-Theory251

Good question. A dog licked one then foamed at the mouth for days and was sick. He didn’t get much of a lick one him before we got him. Didn’t really think about it being the toad but after investigating and talking to a vet decided that’s most likely what it was.

The big toad (I call her Fredrika) has the gland looking things behind her eyes. She’s huge and kinda cute. I liked her living under the rock until that dog incident and now the babies are pretty populous in the yard.

I don’t wanna worry about the dogs.

Electronic-Theory251

Also, we compared a picture online that pointed out the characteristics of a Bufo/Cane toad to a close up pic of Fredericka.

Shrewsie_Shrew

They're Gulf Coast toads. They won't attract snakes to your yard. My dogs have licked them plenty and foamed at the mouth for a while and they are fine, though I question their intelligence. I don't think you can purge the toads anyway, unless you nuke your back yard. Get a cage muzzle if you're really worried about it, or walk your dog in the morning and evening when toads are active. Gulf Coast toads used to be in the genus Bufo but aren't any longer.

Stuartknowsbest

I haven't heard of cane toads in central Texas. If that's really what you have, then the city will want to know. Can you post a picture of momma so we can have a look?

Electronic-Theory251

How do I post a pic? I seem to only be able to attach a link..

Electronic-Theory251

The vet told my neighbor they are in Austin. Yes, let me get the pic from them. They did the analysis as they were trying to figure out why their dog was so sick. I’d never heard of em. Thanks for the info.

luckyartie

Toads secrete a bitter, nasty fluid when they’re scared! Your dog hasn’t suffered any real harm, and probably won’t bother another toad. lol

solairefromstatefarm

Bufo toxins are toxins that primarily affect the heart. Most likely the dog was experiencing a reaction to the taste of the toad. Irritating and unpleasant, but not the toxicity with fatal risks you are thinking of.

I am no herpetologist, but the toxicity event you describe does not resemble a bufo toad toxicity. Don't let your dog get them in their mouth and they will be fine. Any poison you put on your yard to deal with them will probably be worse than the toads are.

reddiwhip999

Looks like it's time to go full toad! Ditch the dog...

Yooooooooooo0o

Easy solution, dont do anything. Live and let live

stevendaedelus

Let your dog trip balls like all the rest of the people his age (x7) It's just a bunch of foamy drool.

Electronic-Gas4121

Just leave them alone, your dog will learn to leave them alone as well after they get a little toad juice in their mouth.

Electronic-Theory251

-1

It can kill dogs so that’s a no.

Miserable_Seat6834

My friend has the poisonous ones in Tampa. They fenced in their yard to try to keep them out after her dog got sick from saying hello to one. He didn’t die but def showed the same symptoms of foaming and barfing up nothing for a day or two. So sorry maybe the fence will help??? Otherwise snakes would definitely help and they aren’t usually harmful to dogs or humans unless rattlers, right?

Electronic-Theory251

I’d never heard of poisonous frogs until the neighbors dog situation. Hopefully we are all wrong but the vet did tell them they are here. The pics I have of her are not the ones used for analysis and we aren’t sure if the toad we have pics of is the one her dog encountered as it wasn’t a big deal at the time.

aechmeablanctiana

What’s with everything licking toads these days ?

imp0ssumable

Muzzle the dog before letting it outdoors and it can't lick any more toads. Pretty much impossible to remove toads from a property without them coming back again later. Your yard seems to be prime habitat for toads.