Safety and cane toads

For more information and What you can do assistance contact: Cane toads secrete a toxin that is poisonous to humans and animals. This brochure provides information about managing symptoms caused To keep your property toad free: For Kimberley residents and visitors please call the Department of Parks and Wildlife’s Kununurra by cane toad poison but it does not replace the office on (08) 9168 4200 need to consult with your doctor, healthcare 3 Remove as much free standing water as possible. professional or veterinarian.

3 Cover swimming pools where appropriate. For all other areas of WA please call 1800 44 WILD (9453) 3 Turn off as many outside lights as possible. Poisons Information Line 13 11 26 3 Maintain your fence to ensure there are no gaps, using anything from shade cloth to mesh with a Kimberley Vet Centre on (08) 9169 1229 minimum size of 25 millimetres square. www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/canetoads 3 Do regular toad busts in your yard.

Information current at July 2013. For native frog This publication is available in alternative formats on request. identification download the Cane toad app through iTunes. Cane toads are poisonous at all stages of their life cycle, including the egg and tadpole stage. The toxin is secreted and possibly squirted when the animal is roughly handled or feels threatened. The toxin is produced on the toad’s shoulder glands and is present on the skin of its back. le rph po mo d ta Ta e To have an effect the venom needs to be swallowed M or absorbed through mucous membranes such as those of the eye, nose or mouth. 20120460 0713 PDF

For more information about identifying native frogs visit www.museum.wa.gov.au/frogwatch Treatment for people Prevention Management When the toxin is squirted onto To avoid coming into contact with cane toad toxin If your pet mouths a the skin or into the eyes, first aid treat the animal with respect, wear gloves and wash cane toad, it is vital should be performed immediately. your hands thoroughly with an antiseptic wash after that you remove all Poisoning advice is available on touching frogs or toads. traces of the poison 13 11 26 anywhere in Australia, from its teeth and 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Supervise and teach children the correct way to handle gums. Flush your pet’s a cane toad and the potential dangers. mouth and face with Cane toad toxin can cause lots of running water pain and severe irritation Treatment for pets by pointing a hose to the eyes and temporary Cane toad poisoning occurs when dogs and cats pick forward out of your visual disturbances. First aid toads up in their mouths. After coming into contact pet’s mouth, not down treatment includes washing with cane toad toxin, your pet may: its throat. Tilt the the eyes, mouth and nose animal’s head down so • Drool and shake its head. Due to its corrosive with lots of water. Seek you do not cause your and irritant nature, the poison will cause profuse medical attention. pet to choke. Wash salivation soon after your pet bites the toad. its eyes as well. Seek If toxin is squirted into the Following this, vomiting often occurs, especially urgent veterinarian mouth, immediately flush in cats. Cats also show hindquarter weakness and assistance. the mouth with water and adopt a fixed trance-like stare. take the patient to the • Experience severe muscle trembling and shaking, nearest hospital that has Prevention which occurs rapidly. an emergency department. Cane toads are mostly When swallowed, the toxin may • Stagger and appear to lack coordination. active at night. To affect the heart, blood pressure • Have difficulty breathing. prevent your pets from and breathing and can cause being poisoned, place If your dog is poisoned, it will usually suffer from paralysis, salivation, twitching them in an area of your seizures or convulsions. These convulsions are usually and vomiting. Death is possible in yard that you can keep fatal unless you seek urgent veterinary attention. severe cases through cardiac arrest, free of cane toads. sometimes within 15 minutes. The poison can also affect the heart of dogs and cats, Check this area for causing immediate cardiac arrest. The animal will then cane toads regularly, lapse into a coma and rapidly progress to death. especially at night.

venile venile toad toad ju ju ne ne ne o ca a o tw e c l le e e a a g g m a a M t t e F S S

For more information about identifying native frogs visit www.museum.wa.gov.au/frogwatch