Owner worries dogs will bite poisonous toads

Dear Heloise: I have two precious doggies, which are my babies. My concern is that toads like to visit my yard, and this really worries me. I hate the idea of killing the toads, but the idea of my dogs dying from biting a toad is even worse. Marta Oliva in Florida

Marta, Bufo toads are a big problem in Southern states, and they are hazardous to dogs and can be fatal to small breeds.

Their skin is poisonous, and when a dog bites a toad, toxins in the toad’s skin are released into the dog’s mouth. Symptoms include drooling, foaming at the mouth, shaking the muzzle, trembling and seizure.

Since there is no cure or antidote for the Bufo toxin, seek immediate veterinary help!

Bufo toads live near standing bodies of water (including canals and swampland). They are nocturnal and can be drawn to your yard by dog and cat food left on the ground. They are brown or gray-brown and have yucky warts, and they are most active in the spring and summer months. Heloise

P.S.: Try rinsing a dog’s mouth with water as soon as possible.

Dear Readers: Avalon Ingram of Grapeland, Texas, sent a photo of her calico kitty, Fluffer, who Avalon thinks has the marking of an upside-down state of Texas map on her face. Take a look and see what you think by visiting www.Heloise.com. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I always had trouble changing my dog’s tags each year. So, here is what I did: I used a spare metal key ring, put the new tag on the key ring and attached that to the collar — much easier than opening and closing those darn “s” hooks. T.H., Schertz, Texas

This does make it easier for you to put the tag on. However, a note of caution: If the tag gets hooked or caught on something, the “s” hook will break away, but a key ring will not, and the dog may choke. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Our 14-year-old cat, Sara, requires a capsule twice a day. She does not eat wet food, so I have nothing to mix the capsule into. I freeze a can of low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth in an ice-cube tray. Each can makes 14 cubes, enough for 14 days. Every day we place one cube into a small container (warmed for six seconds in the microwave) and mix her capsule with it. She loves her special chicken soup. P.D., via e-mail

Just be sure to check with your vet before feeding anything “special” to your pet. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I was looking for an inexpensive pet bed. I went to a bargain discount store and bought a beanbag chair. It made a great bed for my dog, and the outer fabric can by removed for easy washing. Valerie H. in Pennsylvania

SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate