We’ve all heard the old wives’ tale about how kissing toads can give you warts, but these desert-dwelling amphibians harbor something much more sinister. The Sonoran Desert Toad, which comes out of the woodwork during monsoon season, secrets a potent hallucinogen that proves more fatal to dogs than rattlesnakes. Learn more about the creature and how to protect your pets this summer:
The Colorado River Toad, also known as the Sonoran Desert Toad, is the largest non-native toad in the United States.
Flickr/kuhnmi It has smooth, leathery skin with an olive green or dull brown hue.
You’ll notice a large, white bump on the corner of its mouth, in addition to similarly-colored glands all over both legs.
Flickr/Josh More These organs secrete a potent neurotoxin comprised of 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenin.
Colorado River toads can only be found in the Southwestern U.S. and a very small area of Northwestern Mexico.
Wikipedia This exclusivity is because the amphibian cannot survive outside of an arid desert climate.
While the toads typically stay burrowed underground, monsoon season brings them out from hiding.
Flickr/michaelpwilson Heavy rainfall means it’s time for the creatures to breed, with ponds and other reservoirs being full enough to accommodate eggs.
Females can lay up to 8,000 eggs over the course of their lives, meaning they seek out very large bodies of water.
Flickr/kloppe Streams, springs, canals, drainage ditches, and flood control impoundments are the toad’s most common habitats.
Unfortunately, the toad’s defense mechanism is extremely toxic to dogs.
Flickr/Paolo Rosa If your pooch picks one up in its mouth, the reaction is almost immediate: foaming at the mouth, seizures, a high fever, dilated pupils, and a rapid heartbeat are all possible side effects. Sonoran Desert Toads kill more dogs in Arizona than rattlesnakes do.
To minimize the chance of a catastrophe, try and feed your pups inside during the rainy season and keep a close eye on them during early morning and late evening walks.
Flickr/yourbestdigs If they do happen to snatch a toad up anyway, thoroughly rinse their mouth out with water and get to an emergency vet ASAP.
Did you know about the Sonoran Desert Toad? Are there any other critters in Arizona with deadly defense mechanisms? Be sure to tell us if you’re aware of any, and check out our previous article to learn more about what we can expect from this year’s monsoon season: You’ll Be Happy To Hear These Predictions For Arizona‘s 2019 Monsoon Season.
Flickr/kuhnmi
It has smooth, leathery skin with an olive green or dull brown hue.
Flickr/Josh More
These organs secrete a potent neurotoxin comprised of 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenin.
Wikipedia
This exclusivity is because the amphibian cannot survive outside of an arid desert climate.
Flickr/michaelpwilson
Heavy rainfall means it’s time for the creatures to breed, with ponds and other reservoirs being full enough to accommodate eggs.
Flickr/kloppe
Streams, springs, canals, drainage ditches, and flood control impoundments are the toad’s most common habitats.
Flickr/Paolo Rosa
If your pooch picks one up in its mouth, the reaction is almost immediate: foaming at the mouth, seizures, a high fever, dilated pupils, and a rapid heartbeat are all possible side effects. Sonoran Desert Toads kill more dogs in Arizona than rattlesnakes do.
Flickr/yourbestdigs
If they do happen to snatch a toad up anyway, thoroughly rinse their mouth out with water and get to an emergency vet ASAP.
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