Toad poisoning in dogs: what to do if your dog licked or bit one
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
If your dog has just licked, bitten or picked up a toad, gently wipe its gums with a damp cloth and rinse the mouth with clean water, head tilted down so it does not swallow the water, then call your vet or an animal poison helpline — in the US the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply), in the UK Animal PoisonLine, 01202 509 000, in France the CNITV in Lyon, 04 78 87 10 40. Do not make your dog vomit. With the common toads of Europe, most cases are limited to dramatic drooling and an irritated mouth, but toad venom contains substances that can act on the heart: see a vet if your dog is dull, vomiting, trembling or weak. With a cane toad (in Florida, Hawaii, Australia, the Caribbean or South America), treat it as an immediate emergency.
Contents · 6 sections
Which toads, and why they are toxic
In Europe, dogs mostly meet the common toad (Bufo bufo), large, brown and warty, and the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita), smaller, with a thin yellow line down its back. Neither bites nor “spits”: the poison is a passive defence, secreted by two large glands behind the eyes (the parotoid glands) and by the skin. When a dog grips a toad in its teeth, the venom spreads over the lining of the mouth and is quickly absorbed.
The venom contains bufadienolides, molecules related to digitalis, a heart drug: at high doses they disturb the heart rhythm. It also contains irritant substances, which cause the instant drooling. The amount of venom depends on the species and the size of the toad, which explains the huge gap between European toads and the cane toad.
Poison centres in Europe see these exposures. A study by Bertero and colleagues, published in 2021 in Toxicon, analysed the calls received by the Milan poison control centre in Italy between 2015 and 2019 (see the study): among calls about plants and animal toxins, dogs were the species most often involved (67.8%), and the common toad was among the animals implicated, alongside the asp viper and the pine processionary caterpillar.
Common toad or cane toad: two levels of severity
| Common toad, natterjack toad | Cane toad (Rhinella marina) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Across Europe: gardens, pond edges, roads on damp evenings | Native to Central and South America; introduced to many tropical islands, Australia, Florida and Hawaii |
| Size | Medium to large for the common toad, small for the natterjack | Very large, clearly bigger than European toads |
| Usual picture | Heavy drooling, head shaking, pawing at the mouth, sometimes vomiting | Instant drooling, very red gums, gut, breathing and neurological signs, sometimes heart rhythm problems |
| What to do | Rinse the mouth, call the vet, go in if your dog is not quickly back to normal | Rinse the mouth and head straight to the vet |
For the cane toad, the data are solid. A study by Reeves published in 2004 in the Australian Veterinary Journal reviewed 90 dogs seen at an emergency clinic in Brisbane (see the study): 76% were small-breed dogs, the most common signs were increased salivation (78%) and red mouth membranes (63%), seizures occurred in 31% of cases, and survival reached 96% with treatment. A review by Johnnides and colleagues, published in 2016 in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, points out that signs appear almost immediately and that the poisoning can be fatal without early treatment (see the study).
Signs to watch for
- Within minutes: heavy, sometimes foamy drooling, head shaking, pawing at the mouth, reddened gums.
- Signs that mean a vet visit: repeated vomiting, dullness, unsteady walking, trembling, fast breathing.
- Absolute emergency: weakness, collapse, irregular pulse, seizures.
- A dog that quickly returns to normal after rinsing has most often had a simple irritation, but only your vet can judge that over the phone.
What to do in the first 30 minutes
- Move your dog away from the toad without putting yourself at risk (leave the toad alone: it is a protected species in many countries).
- Wipe the gums and tongue with a wet cloth, switching to a clean side several times.
- Rinse the mouth with a gentle stream of water pointed forwards, head low — never a strong jet towards the throat.
- Call your vet, describe the signs and, if possible, the toad (size, colour).
- Keep your dog calm and watch it closely over the following hours.
Prevention without harming toads
- In spring, toads migrate to ponds, especially on mild, rainy evenings: keep your dog on a lead near water at those times.
- In the garden at night, switch on a light before letting your dog out and check damp spots (watering cans, pots, patio edges).
- Do not leave water or food bowls outside overnight: they attract insects and toads.
- Work on a reliable recall and “leave it”, which also help against grass awns and foxtails. More advice is gathered in our dog care and grooming section and on the dog hub.
Frequently asked questions
My dog is drooling after licking a toad: is it serious?
Drooling is the usual reaction to an irritated mouth and, with European toads, it is often the only sign. Rinse the mouth and call your vet, who will tell you whether a visit is needed based on how your dog is doing.
Can a common toad kill a dog?
It is rare with the common or natterjack toad, but the venom acts on the heart and a small dog that has bitten a large toad can be more affected. The risk of death is far higher with the cane toad.
Are frogs dangerous too?
Common garden frogs do not have the venom glands of toads. The black-and-yellow fire salamander, however, also secretes toxins: handle it the same way.
How long do the symptoms last?
With European toads, drooling and irritation usually ease after rinsing. If general signs appear (vomiting, weakness, trembling), your vet will monitor the heart and decide on treatment.
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
