A very common danger to South Florida dogs is poisoning from Bufo Marinus, the giant or cane toad. This toad produces a yellow toxin in the parotid glands, it is then released through pinhole openings in the skin. When a dog bites down on a Bufo Toad the toxin is released and absorbed very quickly through the mucus membranes in the dog's mouth. Dr. Kate Marmesh of Coconut Grove Animal Clinic firmly states, "Knowing what to do when your dog is first exposed to a Bufo Toad could mean the difference between your dog living and dying."

Symptoms: Salivation, vocalizing and pawing at the mouth, dark red gums, stiff walk, and difficulty breathing.  This can progress to seizures or death.  The severity of the poisoning depends on the size of the dog. The smaller the dog, the more poison per pound they take in.

Bufo Toads are more active in spring and summer when it is warm and humid in Florida.  They also come out at night.

If your dog is poisoned, Dr. Maria Oliveira of South Miami Animal Clinic states, "You must STAY CALM. Rinse your dog's mouth out with a hose immediately for at least five minutes."  Place the hose through the side of the mouth so the water goes from one side to the other and then repeat on the other side. To prevent drowning, never put the hose directly inside the mouth or with the water going into the throat.

Transport your dog to the veterinarian quickly.  Remember most poisoning happens at night so make sure you know where the closest emergency vet clinic is in relation to your home.

It is very important when letting your dog outside at night to ALWAYS have direct contact with him or her.  You can try to avoid Bufo Toads from being attracted to your yard by picking up dog and cat food bowls off the ground.  Bufo Toads also like to lounge in water bowls so keep those on the inside as well.

Learning to recognize and minimizing the risk is the best way to prevent your dog from being poisoned. But knowing what to do in case of an emergency is the most important factor in helping your pet to survive.

Drivers distracted by dogs, many don't realize it

Thirty-one percent of respondents admit to being distracted by their dog while driving, however 59 percent have participated in at least one distracting behavior while driving with their dog. More than half (55 percent) have pet their dog while driving, and one in five allowed their dog to sit in their lap (21 percent). Other distracting behaviors drivers admitted to include giving food and water to their dog (seven percent) and playing with their dog (five percent). These behaviors can distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that looking away from the road for only two seconds doubles your risk of being in a crash.

Unrestrained dogs dangerous to driver, passenger and man's best friend

An overwhelming 80 percent of respondents stated that they have driven with their pets on a variety of car trips including day trips, local errands and leisure trips, the pet store, dog parks and to work. However only 17 percent use any form of pet restraint system when driving with their dog. Use of a pet restraint system, such as those available from Kurgo, can aid in limiting distractions and help protect your pet.

"Restraining your pet when driving can not only help protect your pet, but you and other passengers in your vehicle as well," cautioned Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, AAA National, Traffic Safety Programs manager "An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in the vehicle in its path."

There are a variety of reasonably priced products available to help dog owners reduce distractions their pets might cause while driving while keeping them safe. There have been many recent innovations in this market to make these products more comfortable for the dog and convenient to use for the owner. AAA recommends owners utilize a restraint system anytime they are driving with their pet - even close to home.

Pet restraint products are available at local pet stores nationwide. 

With hurricane season already here, it's never too late to start planning for a natural disaster. Having a disaster plan is a must have for not only rescues and shelters, but for pet owners too.  

"Pet owners should remember that they have to think about a situation where they may have to leave their house," says Dr. Sara Pizano, director of Animal Services in Miami-Dade County. In South Florida, natural disasters like hurricanes have been known to arrive with only a few days' notice, so even if the weather report is forecasting sunny days, start preparing ahead of time.

Here at Paws 4 You Rescue, we developed Plan Hurri-K9. Not all of our dogs are lucky enough to be in foster care during their stay with our rescue. Those without foster homes are placed in kennels where they are boarded in between being rescued and finding their forever home. Most of the kennels used for our dogs are large outdoor runs. Although these runs provide a lot of space and comfort for our dogs day to day, our dogs are at risk during hurricane season. Plan Hurri-K9 is designed to place our dogs in foster homes during hurricanes that are not life threatening to humans. For those storms that we are able to ride out in the safety of our homes, volunteers are able to pre-register to foster one of our dogs in case of a storm.  

We organize our disaster plan all year round and encourage you to do the same. Whether you stay home during a storm or are forced to evacuate, you'll need a disaster kit that contains a week's worth of your pet's food in an airtight, waterproof container, one to two gallons of water, plastic bowls, a two-week supply of your pet's medications, a first-aid kit and clean-up supplies such as paper towels. Also set aside important documents like vaccine records, vet records, proof of ownership and photographs of your pet to have on hand in case he or she gets lost during the storm. To keep your pet calm, make sure to include a blanket and some toys, along with an extra leash and collar or harness. Designate a special area for your pet to stay in the house during the storm. "Just like humans, you need to have a secure place for them that's away from windows and anything that may be flying in because of the winds," says Dr. Bob Pane of South Kendall Animal Hospital.

Should evacuation become necessary during a natural disaster, know that there are many options to make sure your pet stays with you. "If [pet owners] have any relatives they can drive to within a reasonable distance and be safe, that's the best option," says Pizano. "There are also many pet-friendly hotels and motels and they can always rely on those."

Miami-Dade County also has two pet-friendly shelters that open to residents in mandatory evacuation zones during hurricanes, but pre-registration is mandatory and can be done by downloading an application here. The shelter allows up to four pets per family. Keep in mind that all pets' vaccine records and dog licenses will have to be up to date in order to stay at the shelter, and all pets at the shelter are required to remain in a crate. If you don't currently use a crate for your pet, consider buying one ahead of time so your pet can familiarize himself with it without the added anxiety he may feel from being in a new environment as the storm passes.  

Once the winds are calm, your pet may have a little bit of cabin fever and want to go outdoors. Watch out for any hazardous material that may have been released during the storm. "Dogs can cut themselves or get exposed to debris that may hurt them, especially electrical lines, so you should use leashes after the storm and be careful where you walk them," says Pane.

Remember, it's never too late to develop an emergency plan for your pets. You may have to make a little extra room in the closet for your pet supply kit, but it's well worth the effort. Should you have enough space in your heart and home to include one of our dogs in your disaster plan, please e-mail foster@paws4you.org with the subject line "Hurri-K9." Best wishes in keeping yourself and your four legged friends safe this hurricane season!