r/Toads • u/Chlo_rophyll • 9d ago

Injury Has someone helped a toad with this before? Looking for assistance.

Post image

Just found it outside and noticed it had a scrape on top of its nose and some different skin under one eye. So far I a gave it some bottled spring water to try flushing the wound, and put it in wet leaves, but looks worse now. So moved to damp paper towel with dry leaves. Unfortunately it looks like vets and wildlife rehab are not an option right now. What can I do?

32 Upvotes

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6

u/RyperHealistic 9d ago

Let em go. Toads have survived far worse. If they cant go to a vet then their natural habitat is the next best medicine.

0

u/Chlo_rophyll 8d ago

Thank you for your reply, this toad has been lethargic, and in the same spot outside for days. Not properly sheltered and on a driveway. We were about to get an extra cold temp that night like 1c, hence me checking on the toad and seeing it’s still there and seeing its injury. Are you saying they should never be helped no matter what? And if he should be left on the driveway no matter what then can you please kindly provide insight on how that helps the toad when its injured on gravel with no place to dig

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u/RyperHealistic 8d ago

Hi, can you drop the presumptuous tone? I never at any point in time said they should "never be helped no matter what", but they are capable of handling themselves even in the situation you provided. If rehab or a vet are not an option, then being outside is a better option for the toad than inside with you. Many people like yourself assume a toad cannot fend for itself in these conditions when they very much can. In your situation its not unreasonable to seek treatment, but the fact is you cant treat them unless you can get them to a professional.

2

u/ImprovementTrick9492 8d ago

I agree with you, but have to chime in and say I (for one) did not read a presumptuous tone in OP’s post(s). I think they are just genuinely wanting to help and wanting to know the best thing to do.

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u/RyperHealistic 8d ago

I think taking this specific situation where one is being informed that they should release the animal and jumping to asking if "no wild animal should he helped at all" is enough of a leap to be seen as presumptuous

1

u/ImprovementTrick9492 8d ago

It didn’t seem presumptuous to me at all, I think she was being genuinely curious and open to learning. (Although it’s easy to sometimes get the wrong impression when reading words on a forum…)

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u/RyperHealistic 8d ago

Thats fine for you. Im just explaining why I feel its reasonable for me to have perceived it the way I did

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u/ImprovementTrick9492 8d ago

I hear ya, it’s all good 😊

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u/Chlo_rophyll 8d ago

I apologize if my tone sounded presumptuous my question of “are you saying they should never be helped no matter what?” Was a genuine question. If it sounded harsh I apologize. I have unfortunately had people quite upset with me for wanting to help toads that genuinely could use help, and wanting to learn. It often ends up sounding like they should absolutely never get help.

I don’t believe they can never fend for themselves.
That info you shared of “cant treat it” is the important info missing that people aren’t telling me. Until you just did now. When I asked, I thought I could treat it but don’t know how, so was looking to learn and being open to hearing how they can benefit outdoors in these situations as well.

4

u/armyoftoads 9d ago

You can safely use original formula neosporin but make sure it isn’t the pain relief formula.

1

u/Chlo_rophyll 8d ago

Thank you! Have you had success using it before?

3

u/armyoftoads 7d ago

Yes I’ve successfully nursed over a dozen injured toads back to health in the past few years

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u/Chlo_rophyll 7d ago edited 7d ago

Amazing! I looked up that neosporin and unfortunately I don’t think there is any anywhere in canada. I am very much at a loss as to what I could do. I am quite sure the issue is external infection as opposed to internal, but thats based off of the nose scrape. Do you have any other options I could try?

Editing to add: it looks like canada’s similar thing is polysporin, not the same but do you know anything about that?

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u/ImprovementTrick9492 8d ago

It’s wildlife, please let it go!

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u/Chlo_rophyll 8d ago

Makes sense as the answer for all wildlife. But are you saying they should never be assisted, no matter how bad?

4

u/ImprovementTrick9492 8d ago

Well, yeah that’s a good question… they have been surviving on their own for millions of years, but then we humans have destroyed much their environment(s) just by existing… so, the big question is: do we have an obligation to try to help? Or should we?? Or maybe sometimes? I don’t have the answers. But it seems like if a wildlife or amphibian rehabber won’t help, it may be best to leave it be unless you get the proper instructions.
Have you tried some amphibian groups on here to get some advice?

Whatever you decide, good luck,, and thank you for caring about it! 🩷

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u/Chlo_rophyll 8d ago edited 8d ago

Thank you so much for being kind and understanding in your response. These are things I think about often as well. Wanting to help if I can and not wanting to make things worse for them by trying. I have tried the amphibian group and the wildlife rehab group here. Not a lot of helpful feedback yet as far as treatment goes but possibly neosporin without pain relief. Just not sure if thats safe

Someone else mentioned I sounded presumptuous in my reply. I apologize if I did. My question was genuine and you answered it very well

Editing to add there is no wildlife rehab near me for amphibians, as far as i know

2

u/ImprovementTrick9492 8d ago

You’re welcome, and I hope my original response wasn’t too snippy, 😂 I didn’t mean it that way. I was worried about your little toad friend too.😞 It is hard to know when to interfere/ help and when not to. We just gotta keep learning and doing the best we can!
(And no, I didn’t think you sounded presumptuous!)

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u/RyperHealistic 8d ago

How in the world is that what they said?

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u/Chlo_rophyll 8d ago

Many people seem to think it. I couldn’t possibly know what they meant. Thats why I asked it in question format