Dog vs Toad

No contest, dog loses. It's turned into Toadland round here, probably because of the wet summer, and on our night walk we normally see several of them sat on the road or beside the path.

Bo thinks they're brilliant but last night he made the mistake of picking one up in his mouth. Immediately he spat it out and started pawing at his muzzle, shaking his head and gagging. The look on his face said he couldn't believe how bad it tasted. With ribbons of drool hanging down from his mouth and nose he eyed the toad with horror and coughed at it. I couldn't help laughing, he looked so shocked.

Kudos to that toad, it must have been some foul tasting creature to make Bo act like that, considering the kind of stuff he normally hoovers up without complaint. Trouble is he never learned his lesson. Two minutes later, his face still covered in snot, he was hunting in the hedgerows for more toads.

... Wonder if he'll eventually get the hint.

I think I saw somewhere that they secrete some foul tasting goo to stop predators and Staffies from eating them

I should't laugh but gezz Bo a toad of all things!!!

Oh bo

Harry has eaten frogs and toads. As a form of defence they squirt
a horrible toxic liquid in the dogs mouth to encourage the dog to drop it
and its this that causes the drooling and foaming at the mouth. It
can also make the dog vomit.  

Think you should be aware though that frogs and toads can carry
lungworm as they live on slugs and snails, and lungworm can be
fatal to your dog.  My Vet told me this when I rang him the first
time Harry got hold of one and ate it  

Fortunately Harry has learned his lesson, I hope Bo does too  

Thanks for info

Yeah, it's some kind of toxic horror the toad gives off when it feels threatened. Odd because you can pick them up and they don't even move, it must be when they feel dog teeth around them that they think enough is enough.

I don't think Bo would eat one, he tends to want to pick them up and put them in different places but I try to discourage this. Last night he was having a pee and a young toad crawled right under his nose, so close Bo was cross-eyed trying to follow it. By the time he'd finished the toad had crawled off into the undergrowth.

Re the lungworm, yes this could be a problem. Bo's on Drontal alternated with Milbemax which I'm told kills both stages of lungworm, so hopefully this is enough to stop any infection.

eww i can imagine they taste pretty vile Bo please learn your lesson fast