Sammy and the toad
Disclaimer
The suggestion given at the end of this blog is offered as an option if no veterinary surgeon is available. This particular advice from veterinary surgeons can already be found on the internet. The author accepts no responsibility for any adverse consequences.
Not sure if it is used commonly today, but older readers will recognise the words of their parents. “Your sins will catch you out.”
In the case of Sammy, this mantra was so true.
The Jack Russell is a small terrier, tough, resilient and occasionally a bit naughty, and Sammy was fairly typical of the breed. According to Lin and Keith, his misdemeanours were confined to the odd lapse with little consequence until he reached the age of 10 when……
We have all seen it. The desperate attempt to conceal contraband. You know the signs, the posture, the sideways glance, the failure to look you in the eye, the nonchalant walk; the whole scenario reeks of I’M GUILTY whilst of course, your canine companion tries desperately to hide their illegally obtained booty. But as we all know these nefarious activities usually end in deep trouble for the participants and so was the case with Sammy the Jack Russell terrier.
Toad in the hole
Unfortunately, in the case of Sammy, he had failed miserably regarding one small issue. In a vain attempt to disguise his illicit swag, he hadn’t noticed that his plunder was not totally hidden. A very small leg was dangling!! It was a good effort, worthy of a prize no less, and if red rosettes were awarded for effort Sammy would have surely achieved one that day, but his owner Keith spotted the dangling leg. Sammy, realising that his sins were about to catch him out attempted a swift get-away, a smart exit before retribution fell. Too late! As my friends in the constabulary would say. You’re nicked!!
Keith gently prised Sammy’s mouth open, and what jumped out but a toad. Totally unharmed and ready to be reintroduced to his natural habitat. For the toad, the adventure was over, however, I have sometimes thought that if animals communicate, what the conversation would be. As they settled down for the evening and do whatever toads do for fun after a hard days croaking, can you imagine the conversation? Mr Toad saying to Mrs Toad that evening…..
“Well, I was hopping through the long grass searching for a tasty insect or two when suddenly everything went dark…. “
Unfortunate consequences
Whilst the adventure was over for the toad, for Sammy it was just starting, one that he was going to regret. For the benefit of those who don’t know, toads are poisonous. Around their eyes are large glands, and on their back are smaller glands capable of expressing a milky white substance that is highly toxic. Like so many of nature’s creatures, the toad has a defence mechanism against predators, and unfortunately for Sammy, this was it.
Sammy spent the next few days exhibiting the classic symptoms of a dog that has had a very close encounter with a toad.
Excessive drooling, head shaking, and that distressed look in his eyes as Sammy kept looking at Keith and Lin for reassurance. That panicky look that says.
“What is happening to me?” “What have I done wrong?”
His heart rate rose, Sammy’s distress was evident, and regular doses of diarrhoea were to follow as the toxins passed through his system. The whole episode lasted several days, during which time Sammy was a very, very unhappy Jack Russell.
Sadly, of course, it is not always possible for a dog to associate their distress with the cause, unlike children who can be taught that certain aspects of life should be avoided, which is why our pets don’t necessarily learn from their mistakes.
Fortunately, Sammy survived the experience with the toad, and life returned to normal. He was to spend many more happy years with Keith and Lin until he passed when he was 19 years old.
Information
What follows is for information. Symptoms can be extreme.
Foaming at the mouth, vomiting, drooling, pawing at the face, strange eye movement, disorientation, muscle spasms, total collapse.
To the best of my knowledge at the time of writing this, there is no antidote to toad venom (bufotoxin), and a rapid visit to the veterinary surgeon is essential.
For anyone who faces this problem where a vet is not available, this is what I would do, please read the following to its CONCLUSION.
Washing the dog’s mouth out with copious amounts of water will remove some of the poison. Please be aware if using a hosepipe, check that the water is cold. In hot counties, even in cooler climbs, water in a hosepipe can be hot if the hose is in direct sunlight. Make sure the water is not under any pressure, and remove any sort of gadget to vary the water flow if fitted. Direct the flow of the water forward or sideways, never to the back of the mouth. You are not trying to dilute the toxin but to flush it away. If the dog has collapsed or is disoriented, DON’T TRY to flush its mouth as this can lead to Aspiration Pneumonia (Inhaling food and liquid into the lungs). Instead, use a cloth to wipe the lips, tongue, gums and cheeks, remembering to rinse the cloth between each application. DON’T INDUCE VOMITING unless instructed to do so by a veterinary surgeon.
I am indebted to Keith and Lin Wilton for supplying the story of Sammy and the toad.
“I’m in a really good place right now. Not emotionally or spirituality. Just on the sofa with my dog.”
Anon