TOUGH GUY, Boof!

Hi, my name is Sparky. I am an indoor miniature fox terrier, the perfect breed of dog to have. Who needs size when you have brains and natural courage. Boof on the other hand, has neither of these, but since he has had a few training sessions, I have to admit he has impressed even me.

Boof , Barney (the Burmese) and I all belong to Sue. Boof is nine years old and lives outside while the rest of the family lives inside. Boof thinks he´s really tough and has to make sure everyone he meets knows it. We all know that deep down though he is scaredy-cat. Sue has become too embarrassed to take Boof on walks because he was uncontrollable and aggressive towards other dogs. He barks at other dogs to show how tough he is. He was not allowed inside because he used to wee on the furniture, but he really hates being alone. He acts tough but he is terrified of loud noises, especially of thunder.

Sue was at her wit´s end so she decided to ask Jane for some advice. Jane, of course, is the dog trainer at the vet surgery. Jane said that Boof was really not so tough after all (I could have told her that), but quite insecure. He really wanted to behave better but didn´t know what was expected of him. He thinks he´s doing what tough dogs are supposed to do but he is confused..

Jane said "that Sue needs to make it clear that she is the pack leader" (I could have told her that). I must say Sue has learnt a lot about the way Boof thinks and she is now able to control him a lot better. Jane fitted a Gentle Leader which controls his head when out walking, so he now knows not to lunge at other dogs so much and Sue is feeling heaps better about taking him on walks. Sue is giving him rewards whenever he is quiet and does the right thing and he´s even allowed to sleep in the kitchen!

Well done Sue! Good work Boof! You have turned your life around. Thanks Jane.

Cane Toads Back Yard Killers

The giant tropical cane toad, Bufo marinus, was introduced into Australia in an attempt to control the cane beetle. Unfortunately the toad has itself become a pest, reproducing rapidly and spreading far south of the cane fields of North Queensland.

The toad produces a potent toxin from it parotid glands on its back when it is threatened. The toad is obviously a threat to unsuspecting animals mouthing them. Although cat poisonings occur rarely, toad poisoning in dogs is very common, especially in the small terrier breeds. Dogs grab the toad in their mouths, squeezing toxin from the toad, the toxin is rapidly absorbed through the dog´s gums and toxin which is swallowed, is absorbed via the stomach.

The dog will exhibit variable symptoms depending on its size and amount of the toxin absorbed. Firstly, the dog starts drooling saliva excessively, maybe shaking their head and pawing at their mouth, as the toxin is very irritating to the dog´s gums. If the dog has absorbed enough toxin, they may vomit, shake, collapse and start convulsions.

Cane toads produce a potent, rapidly acting toxin which may cause serious disease and be fatal.

Immediate action is needed if you suspect a toad poisoning. Washing the mouth with running water or wet cloth should be done for several minutes to remove any toxin. If the dog’s condition is worsening such as vomiting or collapse, immediate veterinary attention is required. Prompt attention will prevent fatality.

The toad is mostly out at night hunting for insects. So any outside light will attract the toads into the yard. The toads also are attracted to any dog food left in food bowls.

Toads hide during the day under logs, rocks and any other debris on the ground. So large gardens will provide a good environment for toads to hide. The most effective way to humanely kill toads is by placing them in the freezer overnight in a sealed container. It seems that for every toad you catch and remove, two return, so close supervision is needed if your dog likes chasing toads.