Garden and pest control
Is toads toxic to cats and dogs?
Also sold as cane toad, common toad, Colorado River toad, Bufo, dog licked a toad
Cats
ToxicDogs
Highly toxicToads secrete toxins from glands in their skin. In the UK and much of Europe, licking a common toad usually causes dramatic drooling and foaming. Cane toads (Australia, Florida, Hawaii) and the Colorado River toad can kill a dog within an hour.
By Maya HartIf your pet got into it
- Wipe the gums and inside of the mouth with a damp cloth, wiping outwards, and rinse the cloth between wipes.
- Don’t hose water down the throat.
- Then call your vet straight away — go immediately if you live in an area with cane toads or your dog shows wobbliness, seizures or collapse.
Signs to watch for
- Sudden heavy drooling and foaming
- Pawing at the mouth, red gums
- Vomiting
- Wobbliness
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Seizures and collapse (cane toads)
How much is dangerous
Mouthing a single cane toad can be fatal to a small dog. Common toads rarely cause serious poisoning.
Keeping it safe
- Supervise dogs in the garden at dusk and after rain
- Bring water and food bowls in at night — toads sit in them
- Learn which toads live in your area
The details
Toad encounters peak on warm, damp evenings. Dogs, especially terriers and young dogs, mouth toads out of curiosity and are quickly rewarded with an extremely bitter, irritating taste. In regions with common toads, most dogs recover within an hour of rinsing.
Cane toads are a different animal: large, highly toxic and abundant in parts of Australia and the southern US. Their toxin affects the heart, and dogs need emergency treatment. Cats are poisoned less often because they are less likely to bite toads.
Questions owners ask
Is toads toxic to cats?
Yes — toxic.
Is toads toxic to dogs?
Yes — highly toxic.
How much is dangerous?
Mouthing a single cane toad can be fatal to a small dog. Common toads rarely cause serious poisoning.
What should I do if my pet got into it?
Wipe the gums and inside of the mouth with a damp cloth, wiping outwards, and rinse the cloth between wipes. Don’t hose water down the throat. Then call your vet straight away — go immediately if you live in an area with cane toads or your dog shows wobbliness, seizures or collapse.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts