Protecting Your Pet: Bufo Toads

WSVN--This is no fairy tale...It's a tragic story about toxic toads that often ends badly. They're always around - but in massive numbers until the rainy season ends.

Dr. James Dee: "Right now we're seeing about one to three toad poisonings a night in emergency services."

No matter how ugly bufo toads are - some animals can't resist them.

Dan Moroso: "He was just about 10 feet from where we are now over by the shed"

Maximus loves chasing frogs - when he spots one - not even a fence can hold him back. The last encounter almost killed him.

Dan Moroso: "He was foaming profusely at the mouth. I looked around at the area around him and I saw this huge toad."

If animals come too close - lick or bite a bofu toad it instantly secretes poison from it's body.

Dr. James Dee: "The dog will normally come in rubbing their face...or salivating profusely."

They can die within a half hour especially little dogs. Vets have life-saving medication, but usually there is not nearly enough time to get to it. So you have to take action immediately.

Dan Moroso: 'I immediately started washing his mouth out with water, and get some of that toxin off his skin."

Dr. Steven Paul: "Take your basic rag to wash it down. Cold water is best, because it breaks up the saliva good. Bring it out, and get his tongue and clean it out as much as you can".

Just don't let the water run down the animals throat - the toxin goes with it freezing the lungs. Dan and Maximus lucked out this time.

Dan Moroso: "After about an hour, he calmed down..and came back to to earth."

Moral of the story - don't let your best friend kiss a frog - chaperone them every second they're outside. You'll both live happily ever after.

Dan Moroso: "I couldn't think or dream of what it would be like to lose my little buddy."

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Contact:mmitzel@wsvn.com