Dog Licked a Cane Toad? What to Do in Australia
Emergency
If your pet has been exposed, contact your local vet now. After hours, call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738.
Mainly affects: 🐶 Dogs · 🐱 Cats
Why it's dangerous
Cane toads release a sticky toxin from glands at the back of the head when threatened. If a pet licks or mouths a toad, the toxin can stick inside the mouth and be absorbed through its surface, causing effects elsewhere in the body.
Where Australian pets run into it
Cane toads breed in ponds, creeks and dams after rain in the warmer months, and thousands of cane toad poisonings in cats and dogs occur in Australia each year. The Animal Poisons Helpline also reports toads moving south and west, sometimes hitching a ride in banana boxes, so pets outside the tropics can be exposed too.
Signs to watch for
- Bright-red gums or mouth irritation
- Pawing at the mouth
- Foaming or drooling
- Vomiting
- Wobbliness when walking
- Dilated pupils
- Panting
- Shaking or seizures in serious cases
What to do
If your pet has licked or mouthed a cane toad, the Animal Poisons Helpline advises: thoroughly wet a cloth or towel with cold tap water and wipe the gums, inside cheeks and lips, tongue and roof of the mouth. Keep going for 10–20 minutes until the sticky toxin is gone, rinsing the cloth between wipes, and take care not to be bitten. Do not use a hose to rinse the mouth: water can enter the airways and cause breathing trouble or drowning. Then call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 or your local vet to ask whether your pet needs to be seen. If your pet is shaking, having seizures or seems very unwell, go to a vet straight away.
What to say when you call
My (dog/cat) weighs about __ kg. About __ hours ago they ate __ (how much). Symptoms so far: __.
How to prevent it
Supervise pets outdoors, especially on warm evenings after rain. Bring pet food in once your pet has finished eating, because cane toads are drawn to it. Fencing ponds and water features with fine mesh reduces breeding spots.
Common questions
My dog licked a cane toad. What should I do first?
Contact your local vet and the Animal Poisons Helpline immediately. The Helpline describes wiping the inside of the mouth with a wet cloth and warns not to use a hose.
What are signs of cane toad poisoning in pets?
Signs listed by the Animal Poisons Helpline include mouth irritation, drooling or foaming, vomiting, wobbliness, dilated pupils, panting, shaking and seizures in serious cases.
Sources
- Cane Toads — City of Moreton Bay
- Cane Toad Invasions — Animal Poisons Helpline
Content checked against these sources on 2026-10-10.
General information only, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your pet, contact your local vet.