Dog eating toads

[Hooli]

Well at least trying too.

Lucky, our Staff, keeps catching, licking & generally trying to eat the toads in the garden. Now as funny as it is to see her going 'yuck' afterwards with a huge shake of her head etc I seem to recall toads are posionious?
It seems about the same time as she discovered toads that she's got lumps about 1/4" diameter come p in various places that look white & full of hard pus inside (we've not popped one, it's just how they look). We're wondering if they are connected?

Any ideas? Currently we're only letting her out at dusk with a 'minder' to keep getting her away from the poor toads.

[bexVN]

Lumps where? Around her mouth? They are poisonous but to dogs they cause more of an irritant than being life threatening, dogs usually learn after a couple times not to do it. Did you rinse her mouth put after tp dilute the irritant as it is possible it's irritated the mucosa and may need so attention.

[Turn7]

Thread title conjures up images of huge Toads swallowing Collies whole.....

[Hooli]

bexVN said:

Lumps where? Around her mouth? They are poisonous but to dogs they cause more of an irritant than being life threatening, dogs usually learn after a couple times not to do it. Did you rinse her mouth put after tp dilute the irritant as it is possible it's irritated the mucosa and may need so attention.

Near her ears and in her 'armpit' by a front leg.
I can't see how they are related, just seems possible from the timings. We've not rinsed her mouth, she does a good job herself by drinking, shaking her head and throwing the water everywhere.
The lumps could equally be infected wounds from pushing through hawthorns to try and get behind the shed.

[bexVN]

Ahh ok. Does seem a bit odd but yes quite possibly due to plant material. Think a ck would Still be a good idea. Yes she will have sorted her mouth by drinking, adding some milk the water can be an added soothing agent.

If she does it again I would be tempted to rinse her mouth eg with a gentle hose pipe rather than her swallowing the toad poison, we are lucky in the UK that the poison is quite mild but in America it could be life threatening. However whilst I have never witnessed a dog die of this myself I really would deter her from repeatedly doing it, just in case she could have a more negative reaction.

Edited by bexVN on Sunday 15th June 07:45

[Martin4x4]

Hooli said:

Near her ears and in her 'armpit' by a front leg.

That sounds like lymph glands which when swollen point towards infection of some sort (but being fought by immune system). If those persist more than a couple of days take her to vet.

[jfbrin]

For a second there, I thought they must be huge toads if they could eat a dog!

[Hooli]

Martin4x4 said:

Hooli said:

Near her ears and in her 'armpit' by a front leg.

That sounds like lymph glands which when swollen point towards infection of some sort (but being fought by immune system). If those persist more than a couple of days take her to vet.

My poor description then. the lumps look like spots but bigger on the surface of her skin not underneath like glands would be.

Cheers Bex, we're doing our best to deter her from this 'game' but she seems intent on it & won't give up.

[bexVN]

Didn't think it was lymph glands you were describing but bit odd all the same. As for stopping her, yes definitely easier for me to suggest than you to stop Chicken wire in front of the hedge?

[ajprice]

Turn7 said:

Thread title conjures up images of huge Toads swallowing Collies whole.....

Not just me then

[Hooli]

That won't work bex, they are everywhere in the garden. Dog pen is being built though as she keeps visiting our neighbours.

I'm glad you all enjoyed the title