Emergency Protocol: Cane Toad Poisoning

1. 1 REMOVE & CALL — Drag the dog away from the toad, and get a vet on the phone immediately
2. 2 WIPE — Damp cloth on gums for 10–20 minutes (no hose!) — only if your dog is conscious and safe to handle
3. 3 RUSH — Drive to the vet. If a second person is free, have them keep wiping while you drive.

1. 1

   Remove the dog from the toad and call a vet immediately. Lift or drag them onto a hard, lit surface (tiles, deck, garage floor) so you can see clearly. Call your vet or nearest emergency animal hospital straight away for advice — don't wait until after you've finished the steps below.

2. 2

   Check your dog can be handled safely first. If they're conscious, alert and able to swallow normally, move to the wipe below. If they're seizuring, unconscious, severely disoriented, or can't swallow normally, skip the mouth-wiping and go straight to the vet — attempting to clean the mouth of a dog in that state risks injury to you or choking/aspiration for them.

3. 3

   Wipe the gums, tongue and roof of the mouth with a damp cloth. Use a rough towel or face washer dampened with cool tap water, and thoroughly wipe every accessible surface where the toxin may sit — gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, and inside the cheeks. Rinse the cloth out between wipes and continue for approximately 10–20 minutes, or until you reach the vet, whichever comes first.

4. 4

   Do NOT direct a hose, tap, syringe or forceful stream of water into the mouth. Water aimed into the mouth can be inhaled into the airway and lungs — especially in a dog who is disoriented, weak or seizuring — and can cause fatal aspiration pneumonia. Wiping only, not flushing.

5. 5

   Wash any contaminated fur — especially beards and paws. Bufotoxin is sticky and milky. Schnauzers, Terriers and Poodles will re-ingest it later by licking. Use dish soap on the muzzle and paws.

6. 6

   Cool the dog if overheated. Toad toxicity spikes body temperature. Place a wet towel on the belly and groin. Do not use ice.

7. 7

   Get to the vet — even if your dog looks fine. Say the words "cane toad" or "bufo toad toxicity" on the phone so triage can prepare. Toxin can act fast, and a dog that looks stable at the 5-minute mark can still deteriorate later.

🎒 Your Toad Kit Checklist

Keep this kit by your back door — ready to grab in seconds.

Cane Toads are no longer just a Queensland problem. They are currently expanding across Northern NSW (the Northern Rivers and Clarence Valley), the Northern Territory (Darwin and surrounds), and the Kimberley region in Western Australia. If you live in a frontier zone, night-time vigilance is critical during the wet season.

You can help track the invasion and protect other dog owners by reporting sightings to Australia's official feral animal mapping platform.

💬 Duncan's Tip:

"If you have a large yard, create a smaller 'Toad-Free Zone' (like a fenced patio) specifically for late-night bathroom breaks. It's much easier to secure a small area than an entire acre."

Toads aren't the only backyard risk — see our guide to foods toxic to dogs in Australia for the human foods that send dogs to the emergency vet just as often.