SS: Bufo Toads

[Markel]

My wife and I are spending a week in a house near Tampa that is owned by my company (employees can sign up for 1 week per year and pay $150 for the week -- it's a nice benefit). We've got a number of relatives down here and several have been able to visit. On Wednesday my sister and her husband (and their Welsh terrier) came down for a visit until Thursday. Wednesday evening we all took a walk in the neighborhood (taking the dog for a walk). When we got back from the walk the dog started pouncing on a large toad in the front bushes (Welsh terriers are natural hunters). The toad did not fare well. A while later the dog started having convulsions, stiffness, and such, so I looked up the nearest animal hospital. My sister called and told the doctor what happened and he immediately said it was a Bufo toad. They had to take the dog in (ended up being given a sedative to prevent seizures, which are the biggest threat) to spend the night at the animal hospital. When they picked the dog up the next morning she was perfectly fine, but my brother-in-law was out about $450 for the care.

These toads really suck. I think they are the same as a cane toad. Link

[Napoleon54]

Dude, you could try licking one. Smaller doses on a human, might see some pretty colors!

Btw, sounds like a sweet deal you got with the house. Nice! What's the place like?

[Markel]

Dude, you could try licking one. Smaller doses on a human, might see some pretty colors!

Btw, sounds like a sweet deal you got with the house. Nice! What's the place like?

The vet said that the dog would be hallucinating.

The house is pretty nice. Vaulted ceilings, 5 bedrooms, screened in-ground pool and heated spa, backs up to a golf course (but we don't golf). It also has FIOS service. (30mbps down, 20mpbs up ) It's near Brandon.

[Markel]

I sent an email to the person in my company responsible for distributing the information packet about our house in Tampa. I mentioned that not only are dogs in danger from these toads, but children as well. I think that got their attention, as I received a reply that they are working on getting the word out to everyone that will be using the house.

[renovation]

good info as were in the tampa area all the time . (daughter lives down there ) also looking at buying a 2 home there.
thats also a very sweet deal on the home .companys paying at a min double - 4 times what there renting it to employees for or more. very nice benny.

[ufcrusher]

Welcome to sunny florida...home of killer cane toads (bufo marinus). If the dog survived you are very lucky...a neighbor lost their great dane to a toad 3 months ago. My brother nearly lost his dog (a mastiff) around the same time. The dog ended up at the vet for a week.

The worst part about the toads is the fact thye were intentionally released here to combat cane beetles in sugar cane.