Emergency guide
Cane Toad Poisoning in Dogs: What to Do in the First Five Minutes
Wet season is coming to northern Australia. Symptoms can start within minutes, so know the signs, the safe first aid and the one thing never to do before you need it
If this is happening now
Call your vet or nearest emergency clinic first, then follow the steps below.
The First Five Minutes
- 1
Stop the dog getting to the toad again
Move your dog away and, if you can do so safely, secure or cover the toad so that neither of you touches it again.
- 2
Wipe the mouth with a damp cloth
Use a damp cloth to thoroughly wipe the gums, tongue and roof of the mouth, and the outer surfaces of the mouth. Wipe firmly to remove the residue, not just lightly.
- 3
Rinse the cloth between wipes
Each wipe picks up venom, and a dirty cloth just spreads it around. Keep rinsing the cloth and keep going. Vet clinics commonly suggest around 10 to 15 minutes, but never let first aid delay getting to the vet. If someone else can drive, wipe on the way.
- 4
Ring the vet as you go
Ask someone else to call ahead, or put the phone on speaker, and tell the clinic you are on your way with a suspected cane toad poisoning.
- 5
Go to the vet, every time
First aid reduces the dose, but it does not treat the poisoning. Even if your dog seems to be recovering, get them checked.
Background and detail
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- Signs can start within 5 minutes
- Toads are most active at night
- Risk peaks in warm, wet weather
- Wipe the mouth with a damp cloth
- Never hose inside the mouth
- Always see a vet, even if your dog improves
It usually happens at night, in the backyard, in about ten seconds. Your dog nosed something on the lawn, grabbed it, dropped it and then started pawing at their mouth. By the time you reach them they are drooling heavily, their gums are bright red and they are staggering. It is a cane toad, and you have a very short window to act.
Cane toads are found across Queensland, the Northern Territory, northern New South Wales and parts of the Kimberley in Western Australia, and they are drawn to warm weather, water and the darkness. As the wet season builds, they become more active, and so does the risk to curious dogs. If you live in or are travelling through these areas, this is worth reading before it happens, not after.
Why It Is Dangerous
Cane toads secrete a toxin from glands on their shoulders, and a dog that bites, licks or mouths one gets the toxin on its gums and tongue. It is absorbed through the mucous membranes almost immediately and affects the heart and nervous system. The longer it stays in contact with the mouth, the more is absorbed, which is why the first few minutes matter so much.
Signs of Cane Toad Poisoning
First minutes
- What you may see
- Drooling or frothing, pawing at the mouth, shaking the head
Early
- What you may see
- Vomiting, bright red or irritated gums, disorientation, staggering
Serious
- What you may see
- Seizures, collapse, blindness, abnormal heart rhythm
Worst case
- What you may see
- Death, particularly if treatment is delayed
| Stage | What you may see |
|---|---|
| First minutes | Drooling or frothing, pawing at the mouth, shaking the head |
| Early | Vomiting, bright red or irritated gums, disorientation, staggering |
| Serious | Seizures, collapse, blindness, abnormal heart rhythm |
| Worst case | Death, particularly if treatment is delayed |
First Aid: What to Do Right Now
What the Vet Will Do
Treatment is supportive and depends on how severe the signs are. Vets flush the mouth, monitor heart rate and rhythm, and control seizures and body temperature. Severe cases can need 12 or more hours in hospital, with airway management and seizure medications. Dogs treated early generally have a much better outlook than those treated late.
Preventing It in the First Place
Toads are drawn to water, to insects gathered around outdoor lights and to pet food and water left out overnight. Most cases happen at dusk, at night or after rain, when toads are on the move.
Bring food and water bowls inside at night
- How it helps
- Removes a reason for toads to visit the backyard
Walk and toilet your dog on a lead after dark
- How it helps
- You keep control and can steer them away
Check the yard with a torch before letting them out
- How it helps
- Toads are easy to spot in torchlight
Turn off or reduce outdoor lights where possible
- How it helps
- Lights attract the insects toads feed on
Fence off ponds and wet areas
- How it helps
- Standing water is where toads gather
Teach a reliable recall and leave-it
- How it helps
- The best defence against anything on the lawn
| Prevention | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Bring food and water bowls inside at night | Removes a reason for toads to visit the backyard |
| Walk and toilet your dog on a lead after dark | You keep control and can steer them away |
| Check the yard with a torch before letting them out | Toads are easy to spot in torchlight |
| Turn off or reduce outdoor lights where possible | Lights attract the insects toads feed on |
| Fence off ponds and wet areas | Standing water is where toads gather |
| Teach a reliable recall and leave-it | The best defence against anything on the lawn |
Spot Toads Before Your Dog Does
Petzl TIKKINA Headlamp
Toads are easy to see in torchlight but nearly invisible in the dark, and a headlamp leaves both hands free to hold a lead. This one is 300 lumens with a wide beam that lights the ground at your feet, three lighting levels and only 92 g. It takes three AAA batteries.
- 300 lumens, wide even beam
- Three lighting levels
- 92 g, washable headband
- Runs on 3 AAA batteries
Wet Season Cane Toad Checklist
- Know where the nearest emergency vet is and how long the drive takes
- Save the after-hours vet's number in my phone
- Keep a clean cloth near the back door
- Bring food and water bowls in at night
- Check the yard with a torch before letting my dog out
- Keep my dog on a lead after dark
- Practise recall and leave-it
- Tell visitors and house sitters what to do
Knowing the plan removes the panic. Wipe, keep wiping, do not hose, and drive. Keep that sequence somewhere the whole household, including anyone minding your dog, can see it.
Common questions
How quickly do dogs show signs of cane toad poisoning?
Very quickly. The toxin is absorbed through the gums and mouth within seconds, and signs such as drooling or frothing, pawing at the mouth, vomiting and red gums can appear within minutes, in some cases in as little as five. Do not wait to see how bad it gets.
What is the first aid for cane toad poisoning in dogs?
Wipe the gums, tongue and roof of the mouth thoroughly with a damp cloth, rinsing the cloth between wipes, and keep going. Vet clinics commonly advise around 10 to 15 minutes, but first aid should never delay getting to a vet, so have someone else wipe while you drive if you can. Do not hose inside the mouth, and go to a vet even if your dog seems better.
Should I hose out my dog's mouth after a cane toad?
No. Vets specifically warn against hosing or forcing water into the mouth because it can be inhaled and cause pneumonia or water toxicity. Use a damp cloth instead, and rinse the cloth rather than the mouth.
Can a dog die from licking a cane toad?
Yes. Severe poisoning can cause seizures, collapse, blindness, heart rhythm problems and death, and survival falls the longer treatment is delayed. Many dogs recover with prompt first aid and veterinary treatment, which is why every suspected case needs a vet.
Where in Australia are cane toads a problem?
Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern New South Wales, and they have spread into parts of the Kimberley in Western Australia. They are most active in warm, wet weather and at night, so risk is highest during the wet season.