Watch Out for This Toxic Toad This Monsoon Season

Now that monsoon season has rolled into the Phoenix metro area, there's something I remind every dog owner I know about this time of year: the Sonoran Desert toad.

Most of the year, you'd never know this thing existed. It spends the hot, dry months burrowed underground, waiting. But the second we get that first good monsoon storm and the ground starts to soak up moisture, they come out in numbers, usually right around dusk and into the evening when it's cooled off a bit and our dogs are out for that last walk or backyard run of the night.

I've lived in the East Valley my whole career, and I've heard this story from more clients and neighbors than I can count. It's always the same: a dog finds a toad in the yard, does what dogs do, and within minutes something is very wrong.

What Makes This Toad Dangerous

The Sonoran Desert toad, also called the Colorado River toad, is one of the largest toads in North America, and it's also one of the most toxic. It has glands behind its eyes and on its legs that secrete a milky toxin. If a dog mouths it, licks it, or bites down on it, that toxin gets absorbed almost immediately through the gums.

This isn't a "keep an eye on it" situation. It can become a genuine emergency within minutes.

Signs Your Dog May Have Encountered One

If you see any of these after your dog has been outside during monsoon season, don't wait it out:

Heavy drooling or foaming at the mouth, pawing at the face or mouth, red or irritated gums, disorientation or stumbling, crying or vocalizing, seizures in more severe cases.

Small dogs are especially at risk simply because of their size, but I've heard of larger dogs having serious reactions too.

What to Do Immediately

If you catch it happening, the first thing to do is rinse your dog's mouth out with a hose, but the direction matters. Point the hose so water flows from the side of the mouth outward, and keep your dog's head tilted down and forward. You want the toxin flushing out, not flowing back toward the throat where it could be swallowed or cause choking.

Do this for several minutes, then get your dog to a vet or emergency animal hospital right away, even if they seem to be doing better. It's always worth the call.

How to Keep Your Yard Safer This Season

A few things that have helped clients and friends of mine over the years:

Do a quick walk of the yard at dusk before letting dogs out, especially right after rain. Keep outdoor lights off or dimmed near doggy exits since bugs (and toads) are drawn to light. Check under patio furniture, near pool equipment, and along block walls where they like to hide. Keep an eye on your dog rather than sending them out solo during peak monsoon evenings.

This is one of those things that's easy to forget about until it happens to someone you know, and then you never forget it again. If you're new to Arizona, especially if you moved here from somewhere that doesn't have anything quite like this, it's just part of the desert learning curve. I still tell my own family to keep an eye out every summer, even after all these years.

If you're settling into a new home in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, or Queen Creek this monsoon season and have questions about desert living, pool safety, or anything else that comes with an Arizona backyard, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help however I can.