It is not recommended for pet owners to handle toads, as they may inadvertently come into contact with toxic secretions. If you need to remove a toad from your yard, consider contacting a wildlife expert for assistance. There are over 6,000 species of toads, do you know the dangers of toads and dogs? You and your dog may think that toads seem small and harmless, but they can be dangerous. At this time, the patient was admitted to our intensive care unit for observation and life support if necessary. A total of 120 mg (an initial dose of 80 mg and a dose of 40 mg at 1 h after administration) of Fab fragment was administered to this young woman 4 h subsequent to her admission.
Cane toad toxin in alternative medicines
No ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation were detected in any of the patients. For the initial laboratory results, the mean of the initial potassium recorded in 27 patients was 4.2 mEq/L. From the data of 32 patients, four and five had hyperkalemia (range 5.5–7.7 mEq/L) and hypokalemia (range 2.8–3.48 mEq/L), respectively. Results for the initial serum calcium and magnesium concentrations were only noted for some patients. Two of five patients whose serum calcium concentration was recorded had hypercalcemia. Three of seven patients whose serum magnesium concentration was recorded had abnormal results.
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Employing multiple therapeutic strategies simultaneously, like combining gastric lavage with hemoperfusion or CRRT, can significantly improve the success rates in treating toad toxin poisoning. Toad poisoning in pets occurs when they come into contact with or ingest a toad that produces toxic secretions. Symptoms in pets can vary depending on the symptoms of toad poisoning in humans type of toad and the amount of toxin ingested, but common signs include drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. It’s important for pet owners to be aware of the symptoms of toad poisoning and to seek immediate veterinary care if they suspect their pet has been exposed to a toxic toad.
Epidemiological patterns and therapeutic approaches of toad toxin poisoning in a retrospective case study
- She was successfully treated with atropine, lidocaine, and cardioversion, and had a transvenous temporary pacemaker implanted for 1 day.
- Toad poisoning can occur year-round, depending on the climate and the presence of toads in the area.
- Toad venom, a constituent of an aphrodisiac, was considered responsible for the development of clinical manifestations and death in this patient.
- If you need to remove a toad from your yard, consider contacting a wildlife expert for assistance.
- Additionally, hemorrhagic episodes beneath the pericardium, likely due to increased vascular permeability triggered by acute circulatory failure induced by the toxin, were observed.
- Certain products may claim to repel toads, but their effectiveness is not guaranteed.
- On arrival, the patient’s heartbeat was irregular, and an electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response (Fig. 1A).
When a larger animal, such as a dog, bites down on a bufo toad the toxin that is on the surface of the toad gets into the mouth of the predator animal (in this case a dog). This toxin is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream via the mucous membranes (gums and tongue) and causes illness or toxicosis. Note that frogs found in Florida are non-toxic and there is an important distinction between frog and toad. Frogs tend to be smooth and slimy while toads are more rough and bumpy in appearance and don’t tend to look as slimy. First, the study was retrospective and based on data obtained from telephone consultations; therefore, some data might be incomplete.
Life-threatening episode after ingestion of toad eggs: a case report with literature review
- A total of 36 patients from 24 RPC telephone consultations were included; patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1.
- Licking or swallowing can lead to numbness of the mouth and throat as well as severe and life-threatening effects on the heart as a result of the digoxin-like compounds and catecholamines described above.
- The gender distribution showed 108 males (65.06%) and 58 females (34.94%), highlighting a higher incidence in males.
- This finding was consistent with other reports.8,13,15 Therefore, GI symptoms could represent the early manifestation of this poisoning and alert physicians to admit and observe these patients.
- There are no guidelines when it comes to catching or securing the toads.
- The toads are more common in developed areas, especially near canals and freshwater retention ponds, and in agriculture communities.
All patients received supportive with/without symptomatic care. Every year, patients with toad poisoning are referred and consulted to the Ramathibodi Poison Center (RPC). The present study was performed to describe and clarify the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with toad poisoning in Thailand. This study was performed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with toad poisoning in Thailand. Amphibians—frogs, newts, toads, and salamanders—are equipped with defense mechanisms deserving of much caution.
Many patients will spend some time on oxygen and may also get IV fluids. Oftentimes, anti-vomiting medications are needed due to nausea or vomiting from the toxin. Some patients may require medications to help control cardiac arrhythmias and require ECG monitoring as well. Toad toxins are highly poisonous to cats and dogs, and many have been killed after grabbing the toads with their mouths. Symptoms of toad poisoning in pets include drooling, loss of coordination, head-shaking and convulsions. A total of 36 patients from 24 RPC telephone consultations were included; patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1.
We identified 1542 relevant publications initially across multiple databases. After eliminating duplicates, 447 unique publications remained. Upon full-text review based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria, 126 publications were excluded, leaving 72 that met all criteria for detailed analysis. From these, we identified 180 cases of toad toxin poisoning (Supplementary Fig. 1). Dogs who chase bufo toads are often repeat offenders and will usually repeat the process despite if they get sick the first, second, or third time.
A 29-year-old man swallowed a 20-cm (about 8 in) newt on a dare. Within minutes, he complained of tingling of his lips, which progressed to numbness and weakness of his entire body over the next 2 hours. Although he stated that he thought he was going to die, he refused to be transported to a hospital. He then collapsed and went into cardiac and respiratory arrest. He was resuscitated and given respiratory support, but his pupils were dilated and fixed. A brain study confirmed that he had no brain function, and he was pronounced dead later the same day (from Bradley & Klika, 1981).
The innocent and curious nature of children and pets make them high risk, and we should always protect pregnant women, people over 65 years of age, and those who are immunocompromised. Anyone who handles an amphibian without proper training or precautions, eats them, or mishandles them in any way, is at high risk. Exposures resulting from dares or bets have caused deaths (see This Really Happened).