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Toads (Asian toad, cane toad and others) and dogs: what to do

Toxic. Licking or biting a toad causes drooling and can be deadly. The cane toad, Colorado River toad and Asian common toad have killed dogs.

If your dog ate or touched this, call your vet or a pet poison line now

United States

Poison lines in other countries: United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, JM, PR, Singapore, Switzerland, TT, VI

United Kingdom

Canada

Australia

New Zealand

Belgium

France

JM

PR

Singapore

Switzerland

TT

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Toads (Asian toad, cane toad and others) and dogs: key facts

Verdict
Toxic · Emergency: get help now
What it can do
Heavy drooling or foaming at the mouth, very red gums, pawing at the mouth or crying, vomiting or diarrhea and stumbling or tremors. All 8
How fast
Within minutes
What to do now
If your dog is awake, rinse its mouth with running water for 5 to 10 minutes, nose pointed down so the water runs out. All steps
Sources
VCA Animal Hospitals, Lodhi, Adv Anim Vet Sci (2018), Ecology Asia, ASPCA. Reviewed 9 October 2026.

What to do now

  1. If your dog is awake, rinse its mouth with running water for 5 to 10 minutes, nose pointed down so the water runs out.
  2. Rinse the face and eyes too.
  3. Then call your vet or a pet poison line and go in, whatever the toad, especially with a small dog or if you're not sure which toad it was.
  4. Go straight to an emergency vet if your dog has a seizure, trouble breathing or collapses.

Don't

  • Don't let your dog swallow the rinse water.
  • Don't make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.

Symptoms to watch for

  • Heavy drooling or foaming at the mouth
  • Very red gums
  • Pawing at the mouth or crying
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Stumbling or tremors
  • Seizures
  • Trouble breathing
  • Abnormal heartbeat

When signs appear: Within minutes

Why

Toads release toxins (bufotoxins) from glands on the skin, including the raised ridges behind the eyes. The Asian common toad lives in gardens, lawns and drains across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, and has caused a fatal poisoning in a dog. The cane toad and Colorado River (Sonoran Desert) toad are also very dangerous.

Sources

Guide reviewed 9 October 2026. Page updated 7 November 2026.

General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.

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