Mary’s dogs are members of her family. She enjoys writing about her
“furbabies.”
The cane toad is the largest species of toad.
Bill Waller, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Bufo Marinus Doesn’t Look Like a Killer, Does He?
Well, looks can be deceiving. We have a frog here in South Florida that is a
killer! The Bufo marinus, also known as the cane toad, kills dogs and cats.
This species of frog can be found all over the world except in extremely cold
climates.
The Bufo has glands behind its eyes that secrete a fatty, white substance that
acts as a deterrent to predators. The toxin is also on the frog’s skin. This
substance is toxic to animals that come into contact with it. A dog can lick
the frog and ingest enough toxin to become very sick or die. Small breeds of
dogs are more easily affected because it does not take as much poison to kill
them as it would for a large breed.
Symptoms of Bufo Marinus Frog Poisoning
Unfortunately, there is no antidote for Bufo toxin. Depending on how much
toxin your dog has ingested and the size of your dog, the poison can lead to
cardiac arrest. Foam may be seen coming from the dog’s mouth, similar to that
of rabies’ symptoms. Your pet’s temperature will quickly rise and the dog may
begin to have seizures.
To know whether your dog has been poisoned, check the color of their gums;
they should be pink. If your pet has been exposed to the Bufo’s poison, their
gums will turn very red. If you suspect your dog has come into contact with a
Bufo frog, administer first aid right away!
Administer First Aid Immediately If Your Dog Comes Into Contact With a Bufo
Frog
- Grab a garden hose. **** Wash out the dog’s mouth and eyes immediately because toxin is quickly absorbed into the mucus membrane of the mouth. The frog’s secretion is also very sticky, so you may have to use a cloth to rub the inside of the dog’s mouth. Also remember that when you put your hand inside a dog’s mouth, you could get bitten. But this is necessary to save your pet’s life.
- Get your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Most towns have an emergency clinic that is open at night. Call ahead, if possible.
- If there is a family member who can help you, have that person drive while you take care of your dog in the back seat. You may have to do CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on your pet if it goes into cardiac arrest. If you don’t already know how to perform CPR on your pet, I’d suggest you learn how. Ask your vet to show you how to do it.
How to Identify the Bufo Marinus
As a responsible pet owner, you should be able to identify the Bufo frog so
that you can prevent it from killing your pets.
- They are big and ugly with pudgy bodies and short legs. I have seen frogs as big as a dinner plate. The younger ones may not be as big, but they are just as dangerous.
- They are usually brown and with warts on their skin. Some have a greyish color.
- They live near water, in places such as ponds or canals. Your backyard pool can attract them, too. Kiddy pools with standing water also will attract them.
- They have puffy pockets called paratoid glands that are located behind their eyes. They use these glands to squirt poison.
- They love pet food, so don’t ever leave out containers with dog food in the yard or porch.
- They are usually common after dark. That is why I had never let my dogs outside after sunset, unless I am right there to watch out for them.
Methods to Get Rid of the Bufo Frog
Here a few methods people use to get rid of these poisonous creatures.
- I have a friend who is so terrified of Bufo frogs in her yard that she has come up with a plan to capture the them. She digs a hole in the ground large enough to hold a five-gallon plastic bucket. The bucket is placed in the hole at ground level and filled with water. If the Bufo falls into the bucket, it can’t get out. I don’t know if she has ever captured one, and if she has, I don’t know where she released them. It sounds like a lot of work to me!
- Another friend puts moth balls all around the perimeter of the yard. She says that it keeps out not only Bufos but snakes as well.
- Some people kill the them by pouring bleach or ammonia all over them.
- Some folks shoot them.
- Some people stab them with a sharp knife.
I don’t like the idea of killing or injuring anything except snakes that I
know are poisonous. My method of protecting my dog seems to be working for me.
I don’t try to harm or kill the Bufo. My motto is: You leave my dogs alone,
and I’ll leave you alone!
The Bufo Frog Killed My Friend’s Little Dog
I have a friend who had two miniature Schnauzers. Our dogs often played
together. My dog, Baby, is the same breed, and the three dogs loved each other
very much.
One evening, after dark, my friend let her two dogs out into her fenced-in
yard to go to the bathroom before going to bed for the night. She did not go
with them. When she opened the door to call them to come in, only one dog
came. She went outside to find the other dog and saw her walking as though she
were drunk. My friend then noticed that her dog had frothy, foaming saliva
running from her mouth. She scooped the dog up into her arms and headed for
her car. By the time she got her little dog to the emergency veterinarian
clinic, it was too late.
If my friend had known what to do when she first saw her dog in distress, the
dog’s life might have been saved. I talked to my veterinarian about this, and
he gave me some advice. First, never let your dogs out alone after dark.
Secondly, administer first aid. It wasn’t long after this happened to my
friend, that Baby had her first encounter with a Bufo frog.
Scroll to Continue
Read More From Pethelpful
Why Does My Cat Sit on My Stuff?
Tips for Home Care for Your Vomiting Cat When You Cannot Visit the Vet
The Top 10 Fastest Dog Breeds
My miniature Schnauzer, Baby.
Mary Hyatt
I Thought My Dog Was Safe From the Bufo Frog
After the incident with my friend’s dog, I was very careful with my pets.
Initially, I thought they were perfectly safe. We don’t have water near our
home, I have a nice chain-link fence around my yard, and I never leave any pet
food out at night. I also never let them go out alone at night. We should be
OK, right? Wrong!
About two weeks after my friend lost her dog, I took Baby out for her last pee
before bed. She immediately ran up to a Bufo that I couldn’t see. I was sure
she licked it. I immediately did what my vet had instructed me to do. I
grabbed her up and ran for the garden hose. I began hosing her mouth and eyes
out. Baby only weighs 14 pounds, and my friend’s dog that died from the Bufo
weighed 15 pounds.
I tried very hard not to panic. I screamed so loud my next door neighbor came
out to see what was the matter. I told her I needed to get to the pet
emergency clinic immediately! It is about three miles away from our house.
On the way to the clinic, Baby began to have seizures. I thought for sure she
would die. I was crying and praying the whole time. The vet on duty took us
right away. Baby spent the night at the clinic getting the proper treatment.
The next day, Baby seemed fine but sort of “hung over.” The vet praised me for
adminstering first aid so quickly.
Baby after her near-death experience with a Bufo frog.
Mary Hyatt
I Try to Make My Yard Safer
I thought that when I fenced in my front yard with chain-link fencing that I
would be able to keep these horrible frogs away from my dogs, but I was wrong.
The one that my dog licked got into our yard, and I still don’t know how.
Since they are not good hoppers, he must have found a way underneath the
fence.
So to be sure, I went all around the bottom of the fence with weather-treated
six-inch boards that were left over from a garden project. I also bought a
collapsible wire fence enclosure from the pet store. I have it in my backyard
now, and before bedtime, I take Baby out and put her in that small fence
enclosure so that I know she will be 100% safe from the killer Bufo frog.
Helpful References
-
How to Perform CPR on Your Dog
This article teaches you how to perform CPR on a dog that has sustained some
sort of accident. -
How to Determine If a Dog Has Been Poisoned
An article on the causes, symptoms and prevention of poisoning in dogs.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It
is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription,
or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.
Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a
veterinarian immediately.
© 2012 Mary Hyatt
Comments
Chris on June 28, 2020:
My wife found a dead Bufo frog in our yard… not the first time. Once we
found one that looked perfectly alive, ready to hop, but was in fact dead.
Perhaps it was killed by the deadly Florida sunshine. I do know they like to
hide during the daytime, often under the leaves below our Kumquat tree. Our
question though is this… is a dead Bufo still poisonous?
Our Jack Russell has gotten Bufo Toads twice, both times requiring expensive
visits to the emergency vet. Upon finding the dead one my wife is certain it
still contains poison. I’m not so sure.
Carry on November 05, 2019:
Just like many other pet owners, my pet was also affected by the bufo frog.
They are absolutely disgusting and saving them or just leaving them alone, not
only is a risk for your dog, but other dogs as well.
PATRICIA LUDWIG on October 09, 2018:
It just happened to my dog, he went out to the garden and when he got in I
imagine with very much trouble , I heard he was asking for help with his tail
moving and I went to see and he was very ill lying on the floor and couldn’t
walk. I called inmediately the vet , it was last Sunday 11 pm he came running
and took my dog to the clinic, I followed him. He’s still alive and hopefully
he will make it. He los his sight today Tuesday but he might get it back. He
still can eslk but he’s a lot better. He has arritmia, but still I know he’s
fighting, and he might make it. I visit him daily love hell’s then a lot . He
never stop moving his tail even though he has momentary ataxia. Praying god he
will live.
Shasta Salceda on September 18, 2018:
Around 22:00-22:30 this night, one of my dogs named vovo grabbed a frog into
his mouth. It was really raining heavily today that may have caused the frog
to take shelter or trespass in our house. We were panicking and didnt know
what to do or the exact first aid.. we only know that we need to let him take
sugar into his mouth.. and of course we rinsed his mouth and chin with water
and then wiped inside his mouth with wet cloth to remove the foam.. After
that, i noticed he was shaking uncontrollably.. i lost after that.. i searched
up on google about this kind of situation and eventually came in this
website.. thankfully, she’s feeling quite good.. and i hope i could take him
to the vet as soon as possible to check for sure. What do you think guys?
Tony Bedassie on August 13, 2018:
One of my dogs has been poisoned three times over the last few months. He’s a
natural hunter and usually bites them. I usually wipe out his mouth
immediately and repeatedly, rinsing the rag every time. I then take a hose and
keep soaking his head in order to keep his temperature down. I then take sugar
and put it into his mouth, about half a teaspoon every time. If I can, I fill
a syringe with a heavily sweetened milk and spray it into his mouth a little
at a time. One time his seizure got so bad that his eyes turned white and i
thought I would lose him. Thankfully so far I’ve been around every time it
happens. God forbid he bites one when I am not at home.
Mia Grey on October 18, 2017:
Mary,
Thank you for sharing your story, and I’m so glad Baby survived her Bufo
encounter! I recently found 4 Bufo Toads all about 6-8 inches around my condo,
plus several medium and baby size. I have a question maybe you can help me
with..?
I have 2 dogs, Precious and Eddie. Eddie is very frightened of Bufo toads, he
senses them before I see them.. but the other night a baby Bufo got into my
condo and both of my dogs touched it with their nose before I could kill it. I
absolutely panicked! They are both fine, but I have so many of the toads and
nobody will come extract them. My situation is getting worse.
My question is, I’ve read “rinse their mouths out with a hose”…. and…. “do
not to use a hose but instead a dripping washcloth and wipe out their mouths
so they don’t swallow the poison”….in your opinion, what is the correct
answer?
Mosezella Williams on July 19, 2017:
I lived here in South Florida for many years and never knew how dangerous the
Bufo Frogs really is until my daughter told me about her Siberian husky going
to the emergency Veterinarian after either licking or picking the frog up. It
was the neighbor who found her in their yard foaming at the mouth. Nala Sky
survived the attack thank God. I just want to thank all of you for sharing
your experience and tips on how to protect our dogs
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 10, 2015:
Hi, Besarien Your dog was very smart to be fearful of the Bufo frog. These
critters are everywhere now. When I take my dog, Baby, out at night for her
last trip to the bathroom, I carry a flashlight and a big stick. I am very
afraid of these frogs and the danger of them. I saw one just last night that
was the size of a large dinner plate!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mary
Besarien from South Florida on May 09, 2015:
When I lived in Florida we had some of these living under the back step. Our
dog at the time was terrified of them. She could smell them and wouldn’t go
out the back door. When we found out what they were, we got a guy from animal
control to collect them. We thought there was just a pair of them. It turned
out there were seven huge toads in a little hole about the size of a shoe box.
No idea how they all fit.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on June 22, 2014:
Hi PegCole We are in our rainy season now, and the Bufos seems to come out
more when the ground is wet, so I’m extra careful with Baby. I still make sure
I am right there with her when she has to go out in the evenings.
Yes, it was a very frightening experience when I almost lost my dog to the
Bufo frog.
Thanks for reading, Mary
Peg Cole from North Dallas, Texas on June 21, 2014:
These are really prevalent in the area where my friend lives in South Florida.
She’s killed a horde of them with a shovel and then she bags them in plastic
and puts them in the freezer to be sure they are fully gone. Her dogs are like
family to her (like your Baby) and she doesn’t want the Bufo toads anywhere
near them. Wow, Mary, your quick action really saved your dog. Thanks for this
important warning about the cane toad.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 02, 2014:
Hi Natalie, sounds like you did the proper actions after your dogs encountered
the frog as far as first aid was concerned. You took the dogs to the Vet which
was the correct thing to do. I’m just guessing your dogs got too much venom
from the frogs to be saved.
All I can say is: if you ever have another pet, watch carefull that they do
not encounter a Bufo (Cane)toad. Again, I am so sorry.
Natalie on May 02, 2014:
So is there something more to do or watch for in the weeks after an encounter
with these toads ?
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 01, 2014:
Hi Natalie, I am SO sorry you lost your pets! Yes, the toads could have caused
their deaths.
Natalie on May 01, 2014:
We have cane toads , whenever we see them we capture them & relocate them
miles away at a friends nursery. His plants like them.
Recently we lost 2 puppies , the vet couldn’t figure out what was wrong with
them. They had similar symptoms , at the time , last fall, the vet said that
we just got unlucky with their health ( 2 different breeds ) After weeks of
illness and rounds of antibiotics each of them died. It was awful ! I cried &
cried. It’s been months now since the last 1 died. This morning I woke up &
remembered both of them , at different times , bit (to play with) a toad. We
were with each 1 & rinsed out their mouths really well. But with in 2 month
they each died of a mysterious “genetic” disease. They were not contagious ,
but they stopped absorbing nutrients from their food. I’m wondering if they
died from their toad encounters , that they had appeared to have survived ?
Thanks for any info.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on February 06, 2014:
Hi, Nell Rose Yes, that was a very terrifying experience. You are lucky you
don’t have these bad frogs where you live!
Thanks for reading, the votes and the share. My best, Mary
Nell Rose from England on February 04, 2014:
Hi mary, that must have been horrific knowing that baby had licked the frog,
and that was amazing what you did, and thank goodness for that! we are lucky
really, we don’t tend to have a lot of poisonous creatures over here, only the
Adder snake and now a spider that they have found, great advice, and voted and
shared! nell
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on December 15, 2013:
Hi, grand old lady, I don’t know for sure if you have these frogs in the
Philippines, but I do know they like the warm climate. I am so glad you found
my Hub helpful. Thank you very much.
Mona Sabalones Gonzalez from Philippines on December 15, 2013:
Thank you for this information. I never knew that these frogs existed, so it
is really very helpful and informative. Also, the video lesson on CPR and the
advice to hose the dog’s mouth and eyes is very helpful as well.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on November 19, 2013:
Hi Wachiniimatty, Glad you thought this article was interesting.
Wachiniimatty on November 19, 2013:
Hello.This article was extremely interesting, particularly because I was
searching for thoughts on this subject last week.
Nawelaple
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on July 18, 2013:
Hi tillsontitan (Mary). I just saw a Bufo Frog in my yard just last week. He
was the size of a dinner plate! They come out after dark, so I never let Baby
out in the yard after dark.
I agree; all dog owners should know how to administer CPR.
Thanks for reading and voting, Mary
Mary Craig from New York on July 18, 2013:
I never heard of the Bufo Frog and hope I never meet one either. How sad to
lose your dog to a frog! I’m glad you’ve been able to keep them away from
baby.
This hub was full of good information and the video is a must for any dog
owner. Thanks Mary.
Voted up, useful, and interesting.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 29, 2013:
Hi Insightful Tiger. A lot of pet owners (Floridians, too) are completely
unaware of the Cane Toad, so I was glad to share my own experience. If you
ever see one of these ugly creatures, you won’t forget it.
Thanks for reading and for the nice compliment, Mary
Insightful Tiger on May 28, 2013:
Hi sister Mary! I live in Florida too, but I don’t know if I have ever seen
one of these frogs. I will look out for them and thanks to your hub I can be a
more responsible pet owner when I get a dog one day. Thanks for sharing this
hub and the CPR hub.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on December 17, 2012:
Hi, Nathalh. I had no idea, either, about these killer cane toads. We have a
lot of different wildlife here in S. Fl. but I had never heard of these
before. I’m so glad your dog survived eating poisonous mushrooms! Yes, my
little dog is very curious: she just ran up to this frog (probably would have
played with it).
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mary
Natasha from Hawaii on December 17, 2012:
Oh my gosh, I had no idea! Wow. I had a dog eat poisonous mushrooms once. It
really messed him up for a while, but he came through eventually. I know my
dogs would run right over to a frog and try to lick it, eat it, play with it,
etc. Thank you for this information and I’m glad your cute puppy survived!
nanderson500 from Seattle, WA on December 17, 2012:
Very interesting article, especially to me, as the owner of a small dog. I’m
not sure if we have bufo frogs where I live, but I intend to check it out
after reading this article. Voted useful, interesting, and shared.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on December 12, 2012:
Hi, jengacehodges. So nice to “meet you”. Oh, yes be on the lookout for this
killer frog. You don’t want Daisy to get near him. They can spray their
poison, and you know how inquisitive our dogs can be!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mary
Jen Hodges from Southeastern United States on December 12, 2012:
Thank you so much for posting this hub. I had no idea that those frogs were
dangerous to animals. I have seen several over my lifetime. I have a small
fur-child (Daisy) and want to protect her at all costs. Thank you so much!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on December 11, 2012:
Hi, vibesites. Thank you for reading and commenting on my Hub about the cane
toad. I’m so glad you found it interesting. I would like to make people aware
of this dangerous creature.
Thanks so much for the vote, too. I appreciate that.
It is so nice to “meet” you. Would love to know more about you on your profile
page.
vibesites from United States on December 11, 2012:
Interesting hub. I appreciate you for writing this; this could save your
beloved pets’ life. Now that we see how that frog looks like, we think that we
could recognize the animal the moment we see it. Your hub will also serve as a
warning. Voted up and helpful.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on December 06, 2012:
Hi there, midget38. Oh, dear….I’m sorry you have these bad frogs in your
area. I saw one in my yard the other day that was as large as a dinner plate.
I am constantly on the look out for the cane toad.
See you again soon, I hope. Mary
Michelle Liew from Singapore on December 05, 2012:
Came back in to say that I saw some poisonous toads in some grassland near my
place. Glad my dogs didn’t get to them! Thanks for sharing!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on November 10, 2012:
Hi, ajay. I’m happy you found my Hub, and I thank you for your interesting
comment. These frogs are a real problem here in S. Florida. Yes, you are so
right, these Cane Toads can kill dogs rapidly. People should know how to
administer first aid immediately to save their pet. I never let my Baby out
after dusk because of my fear of these frogs.
I thank you for reading and commenting on my Hub about the Cane Toad.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on November 10, 2012:
Hi, ajay. I’m happy you found my Hub, and I thank you for your interesting
comment. These frogs are a real problem here in S. Florida. Yes, you are so
right, these Cane Toads can kill dogs rapidly. People should know how to
administer first aid immediately to save their pet. I never let my Baby out
after dusk because of my fear of these frogs.
I thank you for reading and commenting on my Hub about the Cane Toad.
ajay on November 10, 2012:
southern spain, we get toads in our garden every single night, more if it is
raining, they are around all year round after dusk, and sometimes during the
day I have had to remove the odd one from my swimming pool, I have to search
them our every single night, each time before I let my dogs out, they all
deadly, and know people who have lost their dogs in just 20 to 40 mins these
toads are quite small, I thought they were frogs as quite small, but NO they
are toads.. terrible and worry me sick, can never relax now knowing so many
are around every night, even during hot summer they are there, the toads sit
under the droplets from our AC unit .. be careful everyone, check them out and
protect your dog before you let them out, we have a little net a childs
fishing net, and scoop the toads up and move them on somewhere else away from
garden, they are easy to scoop with a net.. ajay
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on October 29, 2012:
Hi, eHealer. I’m glad you read my Hub on the Cane Toad and how it can kill
dogs. I think every pet owner should know how to administer CPR; it could make
a difference between life and death for a pet.
Thanks so much for the endorsement on your wonderful Hub about CPR on dogs.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mary
Deborah from Las Vegas on October 29, 2012:
Great Hub Mary and I am endorsing it on my CPR for dogs! this is a real life
situation and will help people further understand how CPR saves lives! Thanks!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on October 16, 2012:
Hi, Blond Logic. I’m glad you have almost eradicated the Cane Toad from your
area. I wish we could. I saw one just last night in my yard that was as big as
a dinner plate! That’s why I never let my dog out in the yard after dark. Your
Hubby must be pretty fast to get a good whack at this frog!
Thanks for the visit and for the comment, too. Mary
Mary Wickison from Brazil on October 16, 2012:
Hi,
We live in Brazil and have lakes on our property. We have frogs and toads.
Although we encourage frogs and other toads, we have eradicated most of the
cane toads from the our area. My husband hits them with a piece of hardwood.
They can move fast, and it takes a heck of a whack to kill them.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi, again, Jaye. Yes, you can’t be too careful with your little Puppy Girl!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi Suzy HQ. Gee, I don’t know whether the Bufo marinus is found in the part of
Italy where you will be. Maybe you should research that. I know they like the
warm climate. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find snakes, etc. there….
Thanks for reading, for the votes , and for the share, Mary
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi, Audrey. Thanks for reading and commenting on my Hub about this Bufo
marinus. Yes, they are indeed scary.
I’m glad you found my Hub to be useful. Mary
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi Jaye, You are very wise never to let your beloved mini schnauzer out alone
at night. These creatures are very hard to see in the dark, so even if you are
right there with her, always be on the look out for them. This Bufo marinus is
indeed a killer for small dogs.
Thanks for reading, commenting, the votes and the share. Mary
Jaye Denman from Deep South, USA on September 15, 2012:
It’s funny, Mary….I took Puppy Girl outside on leash after reading your
story, and my eyes were scanning the yard the entire time we were out there!
You’ve got me watching for the Bufo, now (which is a good thing). JAYE
Suzanne Ridgeway from Dublin, Ireland on September 15, 2012:
Hi Mary,
What a great article and something I have not heard of before. This is going
to be so useful for us as we will be moving with our dog to southern Italy so
I will have to check out if it is a problem there, being a hot climate. I know
we will have snakes (my big phobia!!) scorpions and gekos so thanks so much
for this informative piece. The C.P.R video was excellent too! Voted up and
sharing 🙂
Audrey Howitt from California on September 15, 2012:
Such a useful hub! Scary!!!
Jaye Denman from Deep South, USA on September 15, 2012:
Since I only live a few states away from you (central Mississippi), I’m sure
the Bufo frog is here, too. I never let my mini schnauzer run free outside
since she got into something that made her extremely sick as an adolescent. I
take her out on leash for potty breaks and walks. Now that I’ve read your
excellent article and seen photos of the Bufo, I’ll be extra vigilant when we
go outdoors together because I love my Puppy Girl so much–just as you do your
Baby! Thanks for this important information, and I’ll be sharing it.
Voted Up+++
JAYE
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Good Morning, Angelo52. I went back to Wikipedia to clarify my Hub. as I said
in the Hub, not all frogs are toxic. I also replaced the photo I had so as not
to be confusing.
There is another very good Hub written (I included the link) about how
beneficial toads are to gardens.
I do appreciate your reading and commenting.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi, dwachira. Thanks for reading and commenting on the dangerous Cane Toad.
I’m not sure if you have these where you live, but they are a constant danger
to those who live in warm climates.
Thanks for the votes, Mary
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi LetitiaFT. Thanks so much for reading and for you informative comment. I
went back on Wikipedia after I read your comment, and hopefully made a clear
distinction between the frogs. The one we have here in S. Florida is indeed a
Bufo marinus, commonly called the Cane Toad.
I did make the statement that not all frogs are killers, but a pet owner
should be aware. I included a good Hub that tells how beneficial toads are to
gardeners, and not to kill the innocent ones.
Thanks again, Mary
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi jellygator. Sounds like you had a close call with your Lab who may have
encountered a Bufo marinus.
Keep a sharp eye out for your other dogs if they do out after dark.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mary
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi BlissfulWriter. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment on my Hub
about the Bufo marinus.
I just saw one in my yard last night, but Baby was in the house!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi Daisy, I wonder if you folks in S. Ca. have these frogs. They do like warm
climates, and are a constant danger here where I live in S. Florida.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Yes, I do want to warn pet owners about the Bufo marinus, or Cane Toad.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on September 15, 2012:
Hi midget38. I hope you don’t have these dangerous frogs where you live. They
like warm climates.
I am very cautious about Baby going out after sundown cause that’s when these
frogs come out.
Thanks so much for reading, voting and sharing, Mary
Angelo52 on September 15, 2012:
Bufo seems to be a common name for toads, in my brief look across the internet
images. Although the cane toad (non-native by the way) is bad for dogs and
cats not all toads are. I believe the first photo you are showing is not a
cane toad but a Southern Toad – an American native. The cane toad grows very
big and is largely brown colored.
Danson Wachira from Nairobi, Kenya on September 15, 2012:
Sometimes we may not have control of our our pets and it is a relief to know
there is a first aid for toxin from Bufo frog. Great article and voted up.
LetitiaFT from Paris via California on September 15, 2012:
Hi Mary, I’m so sorry for your friend’s loss and your close call. It is a
terrible thing to lose a pet, especially before their time. I lost a Pekinese
puppy that nibbled on grass with pesticides. It was terrible.
The Cane Toad is a perfect example of why introducing non-native species is a
very, very bad idea. However it’s important to make a distinction. Bufo is a
generic name for a group of toads. The invasive, toxic Cane Toad of which you
speak is Bufo marinus, a Central/South American toad (not a frog), not the
innocent Bufo boreas, a western toad which is already in severe decline due to
pesticides and climate change, like amphibians as a whole worldwide. Perhaps
you can help not only dogs but friendly toads and avoid an indiscriminate
killing spree of nature’s helper toads and frogs by pointing people to the
real culprit.
Again condolences for your neighbor.
jellygator from USA on September 14, 2012:
I have seen frogs that might’ve been bufos, but I’m not sure. I did know that
some frogs could make a dog sick, and I think that happened to my black lab
once. I wouldn’t have thought to rinse his mouth and eyes with a garden hose,
though. Now I have FOUR dogs that go outside each night and am glad to have
this information. Thank you!
BlissfulWriter on September 14, 2012:
That is something that I never knew that frogs can kill pets. Thanks for
informing us.
Daisy Mariposa from Orange County (Southern California) on September 14,
2012:
Mary,
Thanks for publishing this life-saving article. Pet owners everywhere are very
fortunate to have you warn them of this frightening creature.
Michelle Liew from Singapore on September 14, 2012:
Oh dear, my blessings to your friend. I hope digging that hole can help to
catch the frog, though, because it sounds like they can be dangerous to all
dogs in the yard! Thanks for sharing!! Votes up, and shared too.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on August 19, 2012:
Hi, Green Bard, Yes, this Bufo frog is a creature that I am very afraid of. I
make sure my dog is safely in the house at dusk. My neighbor told me this
morning there was a Bufo as big as a dinner plate on her patio just last
night. She has an indoor cat, so it was safe.
Thanks for reading and for your thoughtful comment, and for the vote, too.
Mary
Steve Andrews from Tenerife on August 18, 2012:
I love toads and dogs too so this is a situation I am not sure I would know
how to handle it if I lived where you are. I suppose really the problem has
been caused by humans who brought the toads there in the first place, and to
Australia and elsewhere. As usual it is humans to blame for unbalancing
nature. Anyway, I am very glad to hear that you saved Baby. Voted up and
Interesting!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on June 27, 2012:
Hi, mollymeadows, In my research on this bad, bad frog, I did not see any
indication that they pose a danger to humans; however, I’d scrub my hands very
good if I came in contact with one! If there was sticky stuff on the bag you
used to capture the frog, that may very well have been a Bufo frog! You don’t
want one in your house, just be very careful how you capture him.
Thanks for reading, and for taking the time to comment.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on June 27, 2012:
Hi, Peggy W. Thanks for reading about the horrible Bufo frog! My neighbor told
me just this morning there was one on her back patio the size of a dinner
plate! She doesn’t have a dog or cat, thank goodness. If the weather is warm
where you are, you probably have these frogs and just don’t know it. Yes, I
would definitely go out with that precious Skippy at night.
Thanks so much for the votes and the share….I appreciate that.
Mary Strain from The Shire on June 27, 2012:
Mary, I’m sorry about your friend’s dog, but glad you were able to save Baby.
What a close call!
Are humans at any risk from the Bufo frog? I had a frog get into my house the
other day and I grabbed him through a plastic bag and threw him out, but there
was sticky stuff all over the bag. After reading your hub, I don’t think I’ll
do that again!
Thanks for warning us about this awful creature!
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on June 27, 2012:
Hi Mary,
We have chirping toads in our yard and I always thought that it was great.
They were probably killing insects and the like. I never heard of a Bufo frog.
Scary thought to think how poisonous they are! Thank heavens you knew what to
do with your Baby. Thanks for passing the word regarding what we can do to
protect our pets. The CPR video was great. I’ll be keeping an extra eye out
for Skippy when he is doing his final nightly “duty” before going to bed.
Voted up, useful and definitely sharing!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on June 02, 2012:
Good Morning, snowdrops. I’m glad you find Baby a cutie! She really is a joy
to have, and to think, I almost lost her to this horrible killer frog! I’ll
never let her go out after dark again. Thanks for taking the time to read and
comment on this Hub.
snowdrops from The Second Star to the Right on June 02, 2012:
i love baby..so cute with the pink shirt. i didn’t know that some species of
frogs can kill. thanks for the info Mary!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 22, 2012:
Hi picklesandrufus. Sure is nice to see you! I’m glad your dog wasn’t killed
by this monster of a frog, the Bufo. They are really scary. If it every
happens again, do the first aid right away.
You know, I don’t think I’m getting notices from all of my followers when they
publish new Hubs, either. I thought maybe folks just weren’t writing much any
more. I’m glad you “found” me. Goodnight.
picklesandrufus from Virginia Beach, Va on May 22, 2012:
Very informative hub!! This happened to my dog when I lived in south Florida.
She almost died and stayed at the vet for 3 days. I had never heard of this
frog, being from N.C.
For some reason, I don’t get notices of your hubs any more. Just came around
to see you and found this one. Vote up!!
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 22, 2012:
Good morning alocsin. Thanks for taking the time to read my Hub about the Bufo
frog. I’ll bet you do have these in S. Ca. They like warm climate and are
attracted to water (pools, etc.) I haven’t read about any children coming into
contact with these frogs, but if it were a small child it would probably
affect them, too. Thanks so much for the votes. Have a wonderful day.
Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on May 22, 2012:
That is bizarre and scary. I’ve never heard of those frogs nor seen them here
in Southern California. I’m also concerned that little kids might want to play
with these dangerous things. Thanks for the warning. Voting this Up and
Interesting.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 20, 2012:
Hi Sueswan, well I just wrote a comment and it went poof! Good to see you this
evening. I doubt that the Bufo frog would be found in Canada, probably too
cold for them. They like warm climates like S. Fl. Baby is fine: no health
problems lately (knock on wood). She is still the Queen of the house!
Goodnight, friend.
Sueswan on May 20, 2012:
Hi Mary,
I am so sorry to hear that your friend’s dog was killed by this poisonous
frog.
So glad that with your quick action and that Baby didn’t meet with the same
fate.
I was curious to see if they have these frogs in Canada but I couldn’t find
any information.
Hope you and Baby are doing well.
Take care 🙂
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 16, 2012:
Oh, no , Ellen52. It wouldn’t take much poinson from thee Bufo frogs to kill a
little Westie. If it happens again, grab the garden hose and wash out the
dog’s mouth and eyes. They scare me to death! Thanks for reading and
commenting.
Ellen52 on May 16, 2012:
My Westie just came in contact with the bufo frog last month, for the second
time in 5 years down in South Florida. Thankfully my quick actions saved her
and she’s fine. I’m now a nervous wreck taking her out at night. You must act
fast and get them to a vet. I wish we can kill all the bufos as they kill
thousands of dogs a year.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 12, 2012:
Hi Pamela99, thanks for reading and commenting on the Bufo frog. Yes, it might
be too cold in N. Fl. for this killer frog. As soon as the sun goes down,
everyone here gets their pets inside, cause that’s when they come out. I hope
you never see one!
Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on May 12, 2012:
I have never heard of this frog and I live in northern FL. I hope we are too
far north for his liking. I am sorry to hear about your neighbors dog. It is
so hard to lose a loved pet. Thanks for the useful information.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 10, 2012:
Hi Gloshei, thanks for reading my hub about the Bufo frog. I’m glad you are
not bothered by these bad frogs. They were introduced to Florida and not
native. Hope nobody ever gets the bright idea to bring them to the UK or
France (or anywhere). Have a great day!
Gloria from France on May 10, 2012:
Hi mary like Rosemay50 I just looked in too see what others are saying about
this Bufo, I am glad we don’t have in UK or France.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 09, 2012:
Hi Rosemay50. You had commented on my Hub before, but you are most welcome to
come back anytime! Goodnight.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 09, 2012:
Hi K9keystrokes. I’m so glad you learned something from my Hub on the Bufo
frog. You may not have them where you live in Calif. If it’s a warm climate,
you probably do. They don’t like cold climate. Thanks for the compliment on my
Hub (and on Baby’s outfit). See you again, soon…
Rosemary Sadler from Hawkes Bay – NewZealand on May 09, 2012:
I thought I had commented on here but couldn’t remember so just popped in to
see, still worth reading again
India Arnold from Northern, California on May 09, 2012:
What a great hub! I had never heard of the Bufo Frog before, but will
certainly keep an eye out for them now! Like you, my pets are my family and
having information like this can aid in keeping them save from disasters!
Great article Mary! Thank you for sharing your personal experience with us.
The picture of Baby in that pink that pink outfit is too adorable for words!
HubHugs to you and Baby~
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 09, 2012:
Good Morning, mckbirdbks. Good to see you! Thanks for reading about the Bufo
frog. You might not have these killers in the part of Texas where you live. If
it’s a warm part of Texas, I’ll bet you do. I wish we didn’t have them! I
think they are here to stay. They don’t seem to have any natural preditor.
Hope you are having a good day.
mckbirdbks from Emerald Wells, Just off the crossroads,Texas on May 09,
2012:
Very informative hub. I had never heard of this frog. Well put together and
useful.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 09, 2012:
Good Morning, GardenExpert999. Thanks for coming back with your added comment.
I did a ittle more investigating about this frog, and another name for him is
the Cane Toad which I added to my Hub. He was brought into the state of
Florida for the same reason he was brought into Australia as you mentioned. As
far as I can determine, he has no predators. I think he is here to stay. Pet
owners here have no idea the danger he poses to their pets. If you read some
of the comments to this Hub, there are folks who say they have seen their dogs
frothing at the mouth. I think they came into contact with the Bufo and they
are just lucky dogs! See you again, soon, I hope.
GardenExpert999 from Scotland on May 09, 2012:
There is a huge problem in Australia with the cane toad which was introduced
there in 1935 to control the cane beetle. I think that is the same species as
the bufo frog. It has no natural enemies in Australia and is breeding out of
control, and killing dogs and cats all over the place. The solution would
obviously be to find out what its natural predator is over in Florida and
encourage it into your garden, so long as it is not a bigger pest again
towards dogs.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 08, 2012:
Hi, GardenExpert999, Thanks for reading. I feel the same way about killing
this Bufo. I just keep my dog away and out of harm’s way. We just had a nice
rain shower and all the little “rain frogs” are out. They are so cute. Small,
but loud! These frogs are called the Bufo Frog, but they are actually a toad,
I believe.
GardenExpert999 from Scotland on May 08, 2012:
Sorry to hear about your friend’s wee dog. Such a sad end, but at the same
time I feel for the frogs getting bleach put on them, for only defending
themselves against attack or a perceived attack. Are they frogs or toads? It
looks like a toad you linked.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 08, 2012:
Good Morning, MM. Thanks for reading about the Bufo frog and for the nice
compliment on my Hub about them. Most people are not aware of these frogs and
the danger of them. Thanks for the vote, I appreciate that. Have a great day.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 08, 2012:
Hi moonlake, nice to see you today. Since this happened to Baby, I just warn
people to be on the lookout for the Bufo after dark. That’s when they come
out. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Movie Master from United Kingdom on May 08, 2012:
Thank goodness we don’t have the bufo frog in the UK what a terrifying
creature! How awful for your friend to lose her dog this way.
Good advice and information Mary, thank you for sharing.
Voted up
moonlake from America on May 07, 2012:
I have never seen Bufo Frog here. They may be here. I meant to say, I have
never heard of any deaths up here.
Very likely our dogs picked up toads. From what I have read all toads have
toxins. It’s cold here so I’m not sure the Bufo Frog would be here. If I ever
see them I will make sure our dog stays away from them. I don’t want him to
end up dead.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 07, 2012:
Hi Angela Blair, thanks for reading and the the comment on the Bufo Frog. We
have diamondback rattlers here too (don’t let writer 20 know that, she’ll
never come to Florida). I think you’ll find Bufos in Texas at least the warm
part of the state. That’s scary when you say your dogs froth at the mouth. I
can’t help but wonder if they are coming in contact with a Bufo. Thanks for
reading and commenting. Goodnight.
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 07, 2012:
Hey writer20, oh please don’t let a little thing like the Bufo frog keep you
from coming to Florida! It’s really a great place to live. We just have to be
a little careful of our pets. Thanks for reading…
Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on May 07, 2012:
Hi xstatic. Nice to see you! I’m glad you don’t have to worry about this
killer Bufo frog where you are. He is a constant threat to us pet owners here.
Thanks for the vote! Goodnight.