Cane Toad poison?

[Rat The Unloved]

Protip from the peanut gallery: If you think you know something about a topic, and opt to post about it anywhere on the internet, or speak about it with friends, try looking it up first! I'm extremely educated on some topics and I still do a quick "refresher" just to make sure something new hasn't come up since the last time I researched.

Animal Planet is NOT a reliable source of information, I've heard them say pitcher plants can dissolve a human hand. Sure, if you cut it off, cut it up into small bits, and put a small bit in each pitcher. For that matter, most TV is a poor idea for obtaining one's "facts".

From a few minutes of web searching I found out that Bufotoxin (a cocktail of various chemicals), the "milk" secreted by toad glands is primarily a cardiotoxin, with effects similar to digitalis/foxglove toxins.

The LD50 (LD50 is the measurement at which half of the test subjects died. I.e. "Lethal Dose in 50%") of these chemicals are not clearly listed in most places - I found an LD50 list concerning test felines. Others are norepinephrine and seratonin. ETA: The LD50 article may or may not mention recreational drug use. I didn't read it very closely. I DO NOT support such activities, but it was the only source I could find for the LD50 of the toxin.

One of the constituents of -some- toad milk is Bufotenin, Aka 5-OH-DMT - being a schedule 1 psychoactive compound with a LD50 around 200mg/kg.

NONE of these constituent chemicals will kill in seconds, or even particularly quickly in the doses found in even a single large frog. You'd die of cardiac arrest, which takes some time... er... as morbid as that is.

Now, from someone experienced with dealing with toxic, vicious, kill-you-if-you-eat-them-or-even-offend-their-sensibilities-too-hard plants (including digitalis) - the best safe handling is as follows:

Wear gloves. Unpowdered "latex alternative" gloves preferable. Wear eye protection. I suggest some stylish shop glasses. Keep your mouth closed, or averted when handling the animal. Scrub down thoroughly post-handling. If you get toxin in your mouth or eye, get the hell to an ER. If your pet eats it - well... that's up to you. I strongly suggest trying an animal emergency clinic.

But, in answer to the OP's question: Wash your hands after handling and there should be no issue of transfer, or better yet - gloves. It would have to bite or menace the toad, one-on-one to be in danger.

[SethD]

The LD50 (LD50 is the measurement at which half of the test subjects died. I.e. "Lethal Dose in 50%") of these chemicals are not clearly listed in most places - I found an LD50 list concerning test felines. Others are norepinephrine and seratonin. ETA: The LD50 article may or may not mention recreational drug use. I didn't read it very closely. I DO NOT support such activities, but it was the only source I could find for the LD50 of the toxin.

Thanks for the link, an interesting read. I found it interesting that the percentages of fatal poisoning in pets reportedly varied so much depending on the area the cane toad was from. High death rates in pets mouthing florida canes, low death rates from south texas canes, and about 5% death rate from canes in Hawaii. Makes me wonder if the difference is due to limited data, dietary differences or slightly different types of poisons due to genetic differences in populations.

Now, from someone experienced with dealing with toxic, vicious, kill-you-if-you-eat-them-or-even-offend-their-sensibilities-too-hard plants (including digitalis) - the best safe handling is as follows:

Wear gloves. Unpowdered "latex alternative" gloves preferable. Wear eye protection. I suggest some stylish shop glasses. Keep your mouth closed, or averted when handling the animal. Scrub down thoroughly post-handling. If you get toxin in your mouth or eye, get the hell to an ER. If your pet eats it - well... that's up to you. I strongly suggest trying an animal emergency clinic.

Fortunately toads aren't as dangerous as "kill-you-if-you-eat-them-or-even-offend-their-sensibilities-too-hard plants" if your just handling them. Most keepers don't use gloves and I haven't heard of anyone dying or even getting sick from it yet. At various times I have had toad venom on my bare skin(taking wild toads away from dogs and cats as well as dealing with stressed captive specimens) and it didn't even burn. Of course if you got it in you mouth or eyes it wouldn't do you any good but I don't think it tends to be readily absorbed through the skin.

[Rat The Unloved]

I found it interesting that the percentages of fatal poisoning in pets reportedly varied so much depending on the area the cane toad was from.

It may be something as simple as threat-level. Florida would be an area with higher numbers of natural, and introduced, predators capable of the brassy nature of a committed attack. It's a theory.

Fortunately toads aren't as dangerous as "kill-you-if-you-eat-them-or-even-offend-their-sensibilities-too-hard plants" if your just handling them.

I always try to err on the side of caution. I've handled plants and animals that should not have caused me trouble, but did. So unless I'm really, really, familiar with the individual specimen - it's gloves.

[SethD]

I always try to err on the side of caution. I've handled plants and animals that should not have caused me trouble, but did. So unless I'm really, really, familiar with the individual specimen - it's gloves.

Well nothing wrong with that, I tend to take precautions based on perceived threat level most of the time but there is nothing wrong with being extra careful if one is not certain.