Beyond the Tucson Desert Bloom: The Hidden Dangers Desert Rains Pose to Pets
It’s raining (finally!) and the forecast is calling for even more precipitation tomorrow. Monsoon season here in Tucson, AZ brings with it an abundance of wildlife, flowers, and so many beautiful, vivid colors. It also poses risks that are unique to pet owners here in the desert.
Monsoon season = Mosquito Season
Here at Orange Grove Animal Hospital, we’re always seeing a concerning increase in heartworm cases right about now that comes with increasing mosquito bites and it’s a stark reminder of why year-round prevention is not just recommended, but essential. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transmit heartworm larvae to your beloved pet. Once established, these worms can cause severe damage to your pet’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
Beyond the serious health implications, the treatment for heartworm disease is not something any pet owner wants their furry friend to go through. It’s often a painful, difficult, and lengthy process, requiring multiple injections and strict activity restrictions. It’s far easier, and significantly less stressful for your pet, to prevent the disease in the first place.
Bufo Toad Toxicity: A Dangerous Lick
Finally, we need to discuss the Bufo toad (also known as the Cane toad or Marine toad). These large toads secrete a potent toxin from glands on their skin.
The Risk: If a dog (or cat) licks, chews on, or even just mouths a Bufo toad, they can rapidly absorb this toxin.
Signs: Symptoms can appear very quickly and can be severe, including excessive drooling, vomiting, bright red gums, disorientation, tremors, seizures, and even death.
Treatment: If you suspect your pet has come into contact with a Bufo toad, immediately rinse their mouth out thoroughly with running water for 5-10 minutes, being careful not to let them swallow the water. Then, seek IMMEDIATE veterinary care. There is no antidote, and treatment focuses on supportive care to manage the toxic effects.
Monsoon Mushrooms: A Deadly Gamble
The arrival of our much-needed monsoon season brings with it a flush of fungal growth. While some mushrooms are indeed edible for humans, any wild mushroom your pet ingests in the Sonoran Desert should be treated as potentially toxic. We see a variety of mushroom species pop up, and without expert identification (which is often impossible in the field), it's simply not worth the risk.
Our approach to any pet who has ingested a wild mushroom is immediate and aggressive. We treat every case as a potential poisoning, with inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal to help absorb any toxins. A particular concern in our region are Amanita species, which are highly toxic and can cause severe liver damage and even death. If you see your pet eating a mushroom, contact us immediately – do not wait for symptoms to appear.
Call or email us (that information directly below 👇) if you have reason to believe your pet came across a monsoon mushroom or Bufo toad, or if you need a prescription refill for your heartworm medication!
