DID YOU KNOW? EATING 1/2 A DEATH CAP MUSHROOM CAN KILL A HUMAN. 

The top of the mushroom is the cap which is usually a greenish-yellow. It is a dome-shaped but flattens as it ages. It is tough, shiny, and leathery to the touch but may be slick or sticky if wet. Many poisonous mushrooms have a sour or bitter smell like ammonia. Under the cap are pure white Gills which have a fluted structure and where it produces spores. Not all mushrooms have gills. Under the cap at the top of the stem is a membrane veil or skirt covering part of the large, thick, white stem. The stem sits in a white cup or rounded base called a Volva. It is one of the keys to identifying the Death Cap Mushroom.
 
Story Time: 
Recently Kristin let their 9-month-old puppy, Obie, outside. He was drawn to some mushrooms and began to chew one. They quickly pulled the mushroom and saw many more in the yard. Within 15-20 minutes Obie began to drool and then vomit with diarrhea. Scared, Kristin immediately called the vet. The vet told her to give him some water. After time, the vomiting stopped. Kristin thought that was end of it, but unfortunately 10 hours after ingesting the mushroom, Obie passed away. 

DID YOU KNOW? A DEATH CAP MUSHROOM CAN SHUT DOWN THE LIVER IN 6-12 HOURS.

What to do:

1. Do Not Wait. 
2. Take the mushroom and your pet to the vet immediately. 
3. Bag and take the vomit or stool.

Your pup will be given intravenous fluids, etc., to flush their system. Perhaps activated charcoal will be given to induce vomiting. Other symptoms are seizures, tremors, restlessness or stomach pain, and coma. Any time your pet is listless, sluggish, or lethargic take him to the vet. 

    
This article is dedicated to his memory and to the Bruns who were kind enough to share this warning on FB Oct. 9, 2021.

References:
“Amanita Phalloides - Death Cap.” Amanita Phalloides – Mushrooms Up! Edible and Poisonous Species of Coastal BC and the Pacific Northwest, https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~biodiv/mushroom/A_phalloides.html. 

Fowler’s toad has a lighter gray or brown stripe down its back. Its coloring is gray or brown with dark spots and three or more warts. It has a cream color underside.

The Sonoran toad is the largest toad in North America and considered endangered in California. This toad is found in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. It is also found across the country from Arizona westward to California. The Sonoran toad's head is wide and flat with a squatty body. Its leathery skin changes from a gray-green to a dark brown with light orange warts and up to four white warts.

The Giant toad can get very big but is usually smaller than the Sonoran toad. It has a record of being 15” long from nose to bottom. Its coloring varies from olive-brown to a yellowish or reddish color. The belly may be pale white or yellow. It has a triangular head, short legs, and rough skin. This toad can live 10 – 40 years. It needs a very humid place to live. In Texas, it can be found predominately in the Rio Grande Valley. If the toad is longer than 4” it is probably toxic.
​
Toxin:
A toad’s milky toxin is a steroid compound called Bufotoxin and it is a serious hallucinogen. This can vary some. Its chemical makeup is akin to that of LSD. The toxin comes through the skin when the toad is frightened or when the parotid gland is compressed/squeezed such as when milking a cow. If a dog grabs the toad with his mouth he squeezes the parotid gland. These poisonous toads are referred to as 'psychedelic toads'.

Symptoms:
Symptoms range from mild to severe. A dog will experience disorientation, fever, and rapid or abnormal heart rhythms. Mild reactions include a lot of salivating and mouth or eye irritation. On top of mild symptoms, there is vomiting, breathing difficulty, loss of muscle coordination, loss of bladder control, and listlessness. The most severe reactions go further to include pasty diarrhea, seizures, fixed pupils, abdominal cramping, bluish complexion, and so on. Veterinarian intercession is necessary. A pet can die in as little as 15 minutes.

Take Action:
When a dog gets a toad in its mouth small amounts of toxin are absorbed through the mucous membranes and the poison goes directly into the bloodstream. It can also cause vision issues if gotten in the eyes. The dog may paw at its mouth or eyes or both and whimper or cry. Inducing vomiting will not help because the toxin is not in the stomach. Seek immediate veterinarian treatment.


Preventative Measures:
Suggestions to reduce having toads on your property are keeping your grass cut short and shrubs clipped up. Rake all the debris away. Look for places a toad might like to burrow such as foundational cubbies around a home, fence, shed, or other building. Do not leave any pet food or water outdoors. Commands like ‘Down,' 'Leave it,' or 'Stop,' come in handy for many things, like leaving toads alone.

References:
“Californiaherps.com, Reptiles and Amphibians.” California Herps, http://www.californiaherps.com/noncal/misc/miscfrogs/pages/r.marina.html.

Cane Toad (Rhinella Marina) - Species Profile, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=48#:~:text=Cane%20Toad%20(Rhinella%20marina)%20%2D%20Species%20Profile&text=Synonyms%20and%20Other%20Names%3A%20Bufo,)%2C%20Poloka%20(Hawaiian).

“Clinical and Electrocardiographic Evaluation during Experimental Toad Poisoning in Dogs.” Facebook, https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scielo.br%2Fscielo.php%3Fscript%3Dsci_arttext%26pid%3DS1678-91992010000200014%26fbclid%3DIwAR0CUR6XkXxcaqhNz8-ZxJcpOUeMceEL_UhpzLfRs-Uib9XR6l3t6fERgzg&h=AT1cGIoIVEn1qJugNM4JKHCWl7I1EwVs8-AWZq6ceZ7qS3nFF9MyL5fVTzcaq2Up3llnNj-bXZgr7t_fNay3YUFAs38RjGI96c9dXdlwUWa1FeW7AkOyhUtcUUtH_dJTB1XqhViUZCs-mbWpqGMq7X5llkG6t2XGAYyGgYiGqLWzyC6kcBK1Pgc4gfvXBVTQc-pJ2vlsKbb3ils2JfViYYEO58oHuHnSXny7smDG4N6XnjcptqyvI39ZqSMXA8o0rZ-41kNqhbffUHJjY4p7nHcKsS07RqzKPI2Im3Dq9iBCvkuaC6Kh5HgP457V9kI4QYA2RBZA3tSqmtNGcWZV_Iu-5ZqcQ28NET7ax-4tFjKCXBWbmMWTiEktRQsBhLdr5vxr9bSJi_RfrcHarP_in6g5seDKP5n-cTeYUOSxxCmxcKTUvwiOxQWhzda2ApJ1-eaR5yXAnTDT0Sup-jZjul8-QkIw1S5nRJkwQJr6t6Vix4taMK7NQlrTROd_LcKs04i_i_GQRdxZmcq1_N0T8swAfIRl25kKWx0sH46w_-k6EOWFHMgeX1L7WvLCA9Vj4ZgZ53co_8_Z1XqNeVqi6lpYYRM8OFtkwiXeJa7EMJeuXclBEqY8v19VRkbPXJ3vyQ.

Editorial, PetMD. “Toad Venom Toxicosis in Dogs.” PetMD, PetMD, 21 Sept. 2016, https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/toxicity/c_dg_toad_venom_toxicosis.

“External Structures of Toad: Zoology.” Zoology Notes, 20 Oct. 2016, https://www.notesonzoology.com/toad/external-structures-of-toad-zoology/3664.

“Fowler's Toad (Bufo [Anaxyrus] Fowleri).” Species Profile: Fowler's Toad (Bufo [Anaxyrus] Fowleri) | SREL Herpetology, https://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/buffow.htm.

Fratt, Kayla. “How to Treat Toad Poisoning in Dogs.” The Spruce Pets, The Spruce Pets, 4 June 2021, https://www.thesprucepets.com/are-toads-poisonous-to-dogs-4589043.

“Frogs and Toads.” Frogs and Toads - Enchantedlearning.com, https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/amphibians/frogs.shtml.

Holland, Mary. “American Toad Parotoid Glands.” Naturally Curious with Mary Holland, 5 July 2017, https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/american-toad-parotoid-glands/.

Pacific, Aquarium of the. “Sonoran Desert Toad.” Sonoran Desert Toad | Online Learning Center | Aquarium of the Pacific, https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/sonoran_desert_toad.

Plumlee DVM, MS, Dipl ABVT, ACVIM, Konnie H., et al. “Bufotoxin.” Bufotoxin - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/bufotoxin.

Spielman, Dr. Bari. “Poisonous Toads and Your Dog.” RSS, PetPlace, 22 Sept. 2015, https://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/pet-health/poisonous-toads-and-your-dog/.

Tatum, Jimmy. “Bufo Toad Florida Infestation Toxic to Pets.” K9partnersforpatriots.Com, 4 Apr. 2019, https://k9partnersforpatriots.com/bufo-toad-florida-infestation-toxic-to-pets/.

Tucsonherpsociety.org, https://tucsonherpsociety.org/2020/09/28/online-presentation-september-28-2020-7pm-pst-robert-a-villa-toad-smoke-unnatural-history-of-the-sonoran-desert-toad/.

WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff. “Toxic Toads Can Kill Your Pet in Minutes - Here's How to Stop Them.” WFLA, WFLA, 10 Feb. 2020, https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/toxic-toads-can-kill-your-pet-in-minutes-heres-how-to-stop-them/.