dtb1999 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Hopefully someone can answer this soon! I tried googling but it mostly comes up regarding toads and pets. Ds caught a toad this evening in the yard. He held it for a few minutes, then we put it in a jar. I put hand sanitizer on his hands, then made him wash with soap and water. Tell me he's not going to get sick from the toad? :confused: Almost everything I googled said they are toxic to pets, and that they *can* make people sick if the poison from their skin is ingested. :001_huh: Wouldn't it penetrate the skin as well? Help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 While there are poisonous toads in certain places of the world, I think you are probably safe. I held a lot of toads in my youth (kissed a few of the human kind:D). You did the right thing in washing his hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I played with frogs and toads when I was little. I never got sick. I let my dd's pick them up if we find them. Do you live in some exotic place with poisionous animals? I can't imagine a typical U.S. common frog or toad would make anyone sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuovonne Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 My daughter has held many toads and never gotten sick from them. She likes to catch them when going for an evening walk with Daddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I never have gotten sick. My golden retriever drools a lot after mouthing a toad, but that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtb1999 Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 Do you live in some exotic place with poisionous animals? Well, I am in FL. :lol: Whew! You gals are fast! Glad to know it's not going to make him sick. I grew up hearing that frogs would make me sick if I touched them. Maybe my grandma just didn't want to be near frogs and stretched the truth a bit. ;) Thanks, ladies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 You can get salmonella from pretty much any amphibian, reptile etc, but since you washed his hands and sanitized them I would think the likelyhood he is sick from the toad is slim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 No problem if you washed his hands. I happen to think toads are very cute, and still hold them when the boys bring them to me. Now frogs on the other hand................gross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnetteW Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 We attend lots of events at the Natural Science Museum in our area. My son handles all kinds of things including repiles and amphibians. They usually have a hand sanitizer there and tell you to go wash your hands good afterwards. After almost 12 years, we haven't had a problem. God created creatures for us to enjoy. He expects us to use our common sense as well. Annette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2GirlsTX Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Oh I love toads, my kids catch them during the summer and always hold them gently. I hold them if they bring one over to me. I like toads, never gotten sick from holding one, but we always wash our hands after holding them or any snakes the kids pick up and find and play with. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Kids should get the chance to play with toads, imo, as well as frogs, snakes, worms, bugs, and anything else they can find. It's sad when what was once a normal part of childhood becomes a concern. If you get a chance, read Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 (edited) If you live in FL, particularly So. FL...I would tell him to be careful about which toads he picks up. They were introduced about 50 years ago. Well, those toads are "Bufo Marinus" or more commonly known as Giant Toads, Marine Toads or Cane Toads. They are poisonous, not so much to humans but very much so to pets. We nearly lost a couple of dogs and did lose one cat to them. They excrete a white creamy substance from glands on their..er..neck area, behind the eyes. Actually all over, but the neck area is really bad. If one of your pets starts frothing at the mouth, flush the mouth with a garden hose until all foaming ceases...and then rinse a little more to be sure. These toads can get HUGE. They are absolutely revolting IMO! Your son may have just caught a common toad, which is harmless, but until you both know the difference I'd say no toad handling. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Bufo_marinus.html marine toad photo and info http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/wildlife_info/frogstoads/index.php different types of Florida toads...scroll down Geo Edited March 29, 2009 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 (edited) Kids should get the chance to play with toads, imo, as well as frogs, snakes, worms, bugs, and anything else they can find. It's sad when what was once a normal part of childhood becomes a concern. If you get a chance, read Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Ria Ria, I absolutely agree with you, I am actually reading LCW for a second time... but I draw the line at marine toads. They can cause skin irritations and make a person quite "unwell" to say the least. We've seen some GIANT ones that looked like they weighed around 2-3 pounds :eek:, you can hear them thud, thud, thud as they jump. Blagggghhhhh! (shudder, spasm, shudder).:ack2: They even eat dogfood. Big...kibbled ...dog food!...they're that big. Look at this one, even though I'd swear I've seen them considerably larger: (may be the Purina?) http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptileblog/2008/08/07/the-marine-toad-bufo-marinus-recently-re-classified-as-rhinella-marina-in-nature-and-captivity-part-i-natural-history/ scroll down for picture There is no convincing me otherwise, Geo Edited March 29, 2009 by Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Nah, he's gonna be okay. You should always wash well after handling critters, but unless he had an extreme allergic reaction, most of the toads around in the US that he could grab easily won't hurt him..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Yep....unfortunately....we have those around here! I have seen many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Ria, I absolutely agree with you, I am actually reading LCW for a second time... but I draw the line at marine toads. They can cause skin irritations and make a person quite "unwell" to say the least. We've seen some GIANT ones that looked like they weighed around 2-3 pounds :eek:, you can hear them thud, thud, thud as they jump. Blagggghhhhh! (shudder, spasm, shudder).:ack2: They even eat dogfood. Big...kibbled ...dog food!...they're that big. Look at this one, even though I'd swear I've seen them considerably larger: (may be the Purina?) http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatreptileblog/2008/08/07/the-marine-toad-bufo-marinus-recently-re-classified-as-rhinella-marina-in-nature-and-captivity-part-i-natural-history/ scroll down for picture There is no convincing me otherwise, Geo WOW!!! That's amazing! I've never seen anything like that critter. Needless to say, we don't have those here in PA. LOL. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 If you live in FL, particularly So. FL...I would tell him to be careful about which toads he picks up. They were introduced about 50 years ago. Well, those toads are "Bufo Marinus" or more commonly known as Giant Toads, Marine Toads or Cane Toads. They are poisonous, not so much to humans but very much so to pets. We nearly lost a couple of dogs and did lose one cat to them. They excrete a white creamy substance from glands on their..er..neck area, behind the eyes. Actually all over, but the neck area is really bad. If one of your pets starts frothing at the mouth, flush the mouth with a garden hose until all foaming ceases...and then rinse a little more to be sure. These toads can get HUGE. They are absolutely revolting IMO! Your son may have just caught a common toad, which is harmless, but until you both know the difference I'd say no toad handling. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Bufo_marinus.html marine toad photo and info http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/wildlife_info/frogstoads/index.php different types of Florida toads...scroll down Geo Wow, I have heard of those, but I have never seen one or a picture of one! Those are big! We don't have those in Tx. lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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