TED'S REMEDIES
12/07/2006: Sarah from Boynton Beach, FL writes: "I don't let my dog out in my fenced backyard at night during the summer without escorting him because I've seen deadly poison bufo toads. I killed one, and it sprayed me with the milky secretions that would have killed my dog. Can you suggest anything that would keep bufos out of my yard? Thank you."

Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Sarah: It takes only 15 minutes for a bufo toad poison to kill the dog, so you need to find a way to prevent that or at least give the dog some common home antidotes when a poisoning does occur that might help this problem.

The method of poisoning that bufo toads employs is the secretion by which it shoots at the victim up to 2 meters of the white liquid secretions called bufotoxin which is used in much smaller amounts to as a medicine to treat hepatitis B and also in the making of poisonous darts. Fortunately, the toad is only found in U.S. in Florida area.

I often believe that bufo toads in general do not attack its victim, but because we are getting in its way or know it is being attacked. Dogs and cats are commonly poisoned, but mostly dogs because they tend to bite or provoke the toads. One way to prevent the dogs to bite is to put a muzzle over the dog's mouth to the prevent dog from biting when it sees a toad. So the worst that can happen is that it will get the liquids sprayed into the eye of the dog, which can be washed immediately. The dog won't be poisoned as much as orally when biting the toads.

The other thing is to control the toad population and set a trap. One trap is to dig a hole in the ground and put a large bucket so that the height of the bucket reaches ground level - so a minimum of 5 gallons up. It should be high enough that the toads cannot jump out of the bucket. You can also use a much larger area to dig, like a baby tub, only that you have to dig a hole large enough so that the toads can fall.

The second thing is you need to get a light bulb well protected from rainwater so that it doesn't blow up the lightbulb where the thin wood stick out to the center of the large bucket or baby's tub. When you do set up the tub, be sure to apply plenty of motor oil so it will be very slippery that there is no way the can climb out.

Also make sure that the baby tub is steep enough that the toad cannot climb up. Whenever it reaches the night, the bugs will be attracted to the lights, and the bufo toads will see the bugs and attempt to jump on to the baby tub or the 5 gallon bucket. Make sure the tub of the baby tub exceeds or equal to about 10 inches. A giant toad can jump to the height of up to 10 inches. If it is not tall enough you may need to either dig a little deeper so that it is below the ground level, making the escape more difficult.

If at all possible, usually not, but clearing water from the ground and making it dry will keep the toads away through improving drainage.

In case of poisoning of toads, by a dog or cats a one possible antidote is plenty of vinegar plus some hydrogen peroxide 1% which can help, but won't neutralize everything as some have some vasoconstrictor elements in the bufotoxin venom poisoning. However, the easiest access of common remedies I can think of in dire emergencies that is everywhere appears to be only vinegar. So bathing plenty of vinegar might help. Raw white eggs, uncooked if eaten, might help and can be poured on the dogs mouth to suck up the toxins. Bentonite clay or activated charcoal in powder form is another possibility to suck up the toxin from the surrounding area. Whatever you do, you still need to send the dog to a vet who can further do treatment.

It is not a perfect antidote, but it is better than not do anything."

FLUSHING MOUTH WITH WATER

[YEA]  07/06/2007: Linda from Pahoa, Hawaii writes: "In Hawaii and at night, the Bufo Toads rule the garden. When the garden contains several koi ponds, you better believe the toads are in residence. My large rotti/lab mix has gotten in the habit of hunting these poisonous critters. By habit, I mean she is addicted to the "high" she gets when she bites into one of these creatures. I've taken to flushing out her mouth with water using the garden hose when she approaches me and is frothing at the mouth. Eyes glazed, rolling on the lawn, and snorting, she appears to be having a grand old time. The only way I can prevent her from indulging in this toad sport is to tie her up or keep her in the house at night. The toads are an asset in the garden as they keep the centipede population in check as both creatures are nocturnal. We are learning to co-exist and I am lucky my dog weighs over 100 lbs and is only mildly affected by this toad venom."

MOTH BALLS

[YEA]  10/07/2007: Kathy (Sugarbad@bellsouth.net) from Homestead, Florida writes: "I live in South Florida where Bufo Toads are abundant. I have several acres and have 8 dogs, Bufos are my worst nightmare!  But as it has happened by accident I think I have found a way to keep BUFOs away or at least reduced in amounts!!  I heard that MOTH BALLS repels snakes and snails which I have plenty of those also since I live just outside the Everglades. In the past 6 months since I have put the moth balls around my fence line....I have found ONLY 1 BUFO toad where I usually find at least 10 a day!!  Im so happy!! but still on guard because you have to keep putting the moth balls down....ALSO...I have had many of my dogs get Bufo poisoned...and the thing that works best for me is simply rinsing the dogs mouth out forcefully with a garden hose and IMMEDIATELY afterwards giving the dog 100mgs of BENADRYL (OTC)....works like a charm.  Havent had any problems at all...but the best is to prevent them from coming to your property...and so far...MOTH BALLS WORK!  no snakes or snails either!"

PUT EXTRA WATER CONTAINER FAR FROM DOGS

SALT

[MAYBE]  07/06/2008: Donna from Sunrise, United States writes: "re: salt and bufu frogs

[YEA]  04/05/2008: Craig Wolf from Coconut Creek, Florida writes: "I was told that salt works on Buffos the same way it works on slugs. Since they are made up of mostly water the salt gets into the poors of the skin and dried up their skin and affects their nervous system."