It secretes a powerful toxin called bufotoxin, which can cause serious harm if ingested or if it comes into contact with mucous membranes. In conclusion, the Colorado River toad is a unique amphibian with fascinating habitat and behavior. To help protect the Colorado River toad, it is crucial to avoid disturbing its natural habitats. Although the Colorado River toad may seem abundant due to its presence in certain regions, it is essential to understand the importance of conserving their population. This defense mechanism is referred to as “toadflation” and serves as a warning to predators that it is not an easy meal. One interesting behavior of the Colorado River toad is its ability to inflate itself when threatened.

• These glands are responsible for secreting a toxic substance when the toad feels threatened.
• If someone suspects they or someone they know has ingested a cane toad, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention.
• While influenza activity in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region overall increased in October with A(H3N2) viruses predominant, there were variations by zone.
• She said, “It depends on how much toxin they take it and it depends on the size of the patient. It’s hard to say because we don’t know that it’s cane toad toxicity.”
• Contact with the toad’s skin may lead to redness, itchiness, and inflammation.
• However, dogs with severe symptoms may need drugs to control the heart rate, stop seizures, and relax the muscles.
• Are there any visual cues that can help me identify a poisonous toad?

The majority of patients (70.55%) with toad toxin poisoning recovered with a hospital stay ranging from 1 to 15 days, averaging around 5 days. Toad toxin is characterized by a rapid onset of toxic effects, emphasizing the need for immediate medical intervention upon exposure. This sequence underscores the widespread impact of toad toxin across multiple body systems, with vomiting and severe effects on the respiratory and circulatory systems being particularly prominent. The latency period for toad toxin effects ranged from 30 min to 1 h, with the vast majority (95.5%) of cases manifesting symptoms within 5 h.

The toxins present in the Colorado River toad can also affect the cardiovascular system. The toxins found in the toad’s parotid glands, located behind its eyes, contain a compound called 5-MeO-DMT, which is a powerful hallucinogenic substance. One of the most notorious effects of Colorado River toad poisoning is hallucinations. It is advisable to wash your hands thoroughly after handling the toad to prevent any accidental exposure to these toxins. Prompt medical attention should be sought in the event of accidental exposure or poisoning to ensure quick and appropriate treatment.

• Can toad toxins be used for medical purposes?
• The asymptomatic incubation period, or latent phase, typically lasts six to ten hours after ingestion of death cap.
• Conservation efforts are underway to protect these toads and their habitats, and education and awareness are key to ensuring their survival in the wild.
• While common symptoms of long COVID can include fatigue, shortness of breath and cognitive dysfunction over 200 different symptoms have been reported that can have an impact on everyday functioning.
• The increases in influenza have predominantly been driven by the expansion of A(H3N2) subclade K, which represents 89% of sequences submitted to GISAID from the Western Pacific Region (as of 21 November 2025).
• The mortality rate among these patients is higher, likely exacerbated by pre-existing health conditions that can weaken immune responses and compromise physiological stability, particularly in those with cancer or other severe illnesses.

Given the toxin’s propensity to cause severe cardiac conduction disturbances, careful monitoring and adjustment of treatments are crucial. Given the recognized medicinal value of toads and the variety of derived preparations, individuals are exposed to toad toxins through multiple routes. This study compiles cases of toad toxin poisoning from literature over recent decades for a retrospective analysis, summarizing symptomatology, treatment strategies, and prognosis factors, to improve clinical management outcomes. We advocate for further research into the cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects of toad toxin to deepen our understanding of its poisoning mechanisms and pharmacological profile. This paper comprehensively reviews the principal features of toad toxin poisoning, encompassing clinical symptoms, therapeutic approaches, and other relevant factors to aid in the diagnosis and management, as well as the forensic evaluation of lethal cases. While the clinical signs of toad poisoning in cats can be similar to those in dogs, cats may also exhibit other symptoms like increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, or dilated pupils.

Can Colorado River toads kill humans? Some people have been known to “milk” the toads for their secretions and then dry and smoke the resulting substance in order to experience hallucinogenic effects. Despite their toxicity, Colorado River toads have gained popularity in certain circles for their psychoactive properties.

Influenza patients should be managed properly to prevent severe illness and death. These will be distributed to countries based on public health risk and need. Inform your healthcare provider of any exposure to sick or dead animals.

Cane toads, which produce venomous secretions, are also a source of concern. Many native animals, such as snakes and birds, have died from ingesting cane toad venom. Cane toads are an invasive species in many parts of the world, including Australia, where they were introduced to control agricultural pests. When ingested, smoked toad venom can cause a range of symptoms and manifestations. The venom gland of the cane toad contains large quantities of cardiac glycosides, making it potentially dangerous for human consumption.

Toad venom acts on gastrointestinal smooth muscle, enhancing peristalsis and thereby inducing nausea and vomiting. This can elicit echo house sober living a range of acute subjective reactions including distortions in visual, auditory, and temporal perception, intense emotional experiences, and memory impairments37–39. Additionally, more than ten types of indole alkaloids have been identified, including notable substances such as bufotenidine, 5-Methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), and bufotenine30–34. Additionally, hemorrhagic episodes beneath the pericardium, likely due to increased vascular permeability triggered by acute circulatory failure induced by the toxin, were observed. Clinical symptoms such as nausea, emesis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, sweating, and numbness did not directly cause fatalities. The majority of these fatalities (56.75%) occurred in individuals either over 60 or under 15 years of age, with males comprising 66.66% of the deaths.

Toad Poisoning: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes

Complicating matters further, several patients consumed products derived from toad toxins, not the toads themselves, which obscures the exact toxic dosage received. In conclusion, recognizing and diagnosing toad poisoning requires a thorough evaluation of clinical signs, toxin identification, and supportive care. It is crucial for veterinarians to be able to recognize and properly diagnose toad poisoning in order to provide appropriate treatment and care. The clinical signs of toad poisoning can vary depending on the type and amount of toxins involved, as well as the species and size of the animal affected. Toad poisoning, also known as bufotoxin poisoning, occurs when a dog or cat comes into contact with a toad and ingests or absorbs the toxins secreted by the toad’s skin glands.

In large concentrations, inhaling chloramine can lead to death. Household cleaners should also never be mixed, as they can create toxic gases. Serious complications such as brain, lung, and heart damage, and even death can occur. This prevents oxygen from getting to tissues and cells, which can lead to serious tissue damage, even death. If you inhale too much CO into your lungs, a dangerous condition known as carbon monoxide poisoning can occur.

How To Know If A Toad Is Poisonous

Educate children about the potential dangers of cane toads and encourage them to avoid touching or playing with them. Furthermore, it is important to keep children and pets away from areas where cane toads are present. Firstly, it is crucial to avoid touching or handling cane toads without protective gear. Teaching children about the potential dangers of cane toads and how to avoid contact is important. Children and small animals may be curious and try to play or interact with these toads, putting themselves at risk of exposure to their toxic secretions.

Are cane toads harmful to humans, pets? Your questions answered

Psychological treatments can teach new ways of thinking, coping or relating to others. They can be combined with antidepressant drug causing foaming at mouth medications in moderate and severe depression. Psychological treatments are the first treatments for depression. These include psychological treatment and medications. There are effective treatments for depression.

Poisonous Mushrooms

In some countries, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, the onset of the typical seasonal influenza activity period started earlier than in previous years. A majority of influenza detections from sentinel and non-sentinel primary care and hospital surveillance systems were A(H3N2) viruses. As of 21 November 2025, reported rates of influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) in primary care were at baseline levels for most countries and areas of the WHO European Region. WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 highlights the steps required to provide appropriate interventions for people with mental disorders including depression.

The toxin can be absorbed through the skin and cause irritation, rashes, and inflammation. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable as they may mistake the toads for toys or food. This toxin, known as bufotoxin, contains several chemicals, including bufotenine and bufagin. They were introduced to various countries, including Australia, to control pests in sugarcane fields. Cane toads (Rhinella marina), also known as Bufo toads, are invasive species native to Central and South America.

WHO’s Science in 5: Older adults and COVID-19 vaccines – 14 October 2022

However, this practice can be harmful to the toads and is not recommended. However, the ethical implications of using these toads for such purposes are a topic of debate. Colorado River toads have been used in traditional medicine and spiritual practices by some indigenous cultures for their psychoactive does alcohol affect the gallbladder properties. Are Colorado River toads used in traditional medicine?

While cane toad poisoning is rare, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention if ingestion occurs. If ingested by humans, the toxin can cause a range of symptoms, from nausea and vomiting to more severe effects such as seizures and death. In conclusion, cane toads are highly poisonous amphibians that secrete a potent toxin called bufotoxin. Additionally, pet owners should be cautious and prevent their pets from coming into contact with cane toads, as they too are susceptible to poisoning. The toxins secreted by these invasive species can cause severe symptoms when ingested, come into direct contact with the skin, or inhaled. Certain populations, such as children, pets, and individuals with underlying health conditions, may be more susceptible to the effects of cane toad toxins.

In severe cases of CO poisoning, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be used. Depending on the type of poisoning you have, treatments will vary. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

Introduction to Toad Poisoning and its Clinical Signs

Contact with the toad’s skin may lead to redness, itchiness, and inflammation. Therefore, it is vital to exercise extreme caution and avoid any direct or indirect contact with these toads. If you suspect that your pet has encountered a Colorado River toad or any other poisonous toad, it is crucial to seek veterinary care immediately. Dogs, in particular, are curious creatures that may try to investigate or play with a toad, leading to potential exposure to its toxic secretions. Furthermore, it is essential to keep pets away from these toads as well.

It is important not to attempt to catch or “dispose” of the toad oneself, as this can lead to accidental exposure to the toxic secretions. These experts can safely remove the toad without putting anyone at risk. If one encounters a cane toad in their home, it is advisable to contact local wildlife authorities or pest control professionals. This can be achieved by removing potential hiding spots, such as piles of debris or logs, which can provide shelter for toads.