FIRST AID

FLUSH

Immediately flush your dogs mouth out

Use a water hose, and flush from the side so as to get the poison out of the mouth

Avoid washing the water down the throat

If they have recently eaten or swallowed a toad, induce vomiting

Use caution when working with a dog in distress or pain

GET YOUR DOG TO THE VET

Try and identify the cause of the poisoning, but not if this causes a delay in treatment.

Know the symptoms of poisoning

Remember other household chemicals cause similar symptoms

MEDICAL INFORMATION ON THE COLORADO RIVER TOAD

(This information is provided for your interest. Please do not self-medicate, see your veterinarian)

• Dogs sometimes mouth Bufo alvarius toads receiving a greater dose of the bufo's toxins, secreted from the skin and paratid glands.
• If untreated fatality rates are close to 100%
• Treatment involves dealing with three poisoning mechanisms: cardiac glycoside effects, pressor (tending to increase blood pressure) effects and hallucinogenic effects.
• Induce emesis (vomiting) if there was recent ingestion
• Oral charcoal doses every 2-6 hours may help
• A saline cathartic or Sorbitolâ may be given with the first charcoal dose
• Intravenous insulin, glucose and sodium bicarbonate may be given
• Atropine, phenytoin and lidocane may be useful
• Cholestryamine may enhance elimination of bufagin, one of the several bufo venon toxins