08/08/2026
🐸 TOADS IN YOUR POOL? Here’s What Arizona Pool Owners Should Know!
Monsoon season and warm summer nights can bring some unexpected visitors to your backyard—including toads in your swimming pool!
While finding a toad doing the backstroke might be funny, there’s something important pet owners should know: some Arizona toads can be toxic to dogs and other pets. 🐶
The Sonoran Desert toad (also called the Colorado River toad) produces toxins from glands in its skin. If a dog mouths, bites, or licks one, it can cause drooling or foaming, vomiting, disorientation, seizures, and potentially life-threatening symptoms.
So what should you do if you find a toad in your pool?
🐸 Remove it carefully—avoid handling it with bare hands and keep pets away.
💦 Check your skimmer and pool area regularly, especially in the morning during monsoon season.
🚪 Reduce easy access to your yard by checking for gaps underneath gates and fencing.
🌙 Be extra cautious when letting dogs outside at night. Toads are more active after dark and following rain.
🏊 Consider adding a small wildlife escape ramp to your pool so frogs and other small animals that fall in have a way back out.
Most importantly: If you think your dog has licked or bitten a toxic toad, rinse your pet’s mouth with water and milk while keeping the water flowing OUT of the mouth rather than down the throat, and contact a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately.
A little awareness can help keep your pool AND your four-legged family members safe this monsoon season! 🐾
— Tropical Escapes Pools & Spas
Creating beautiful Arizona backyards—unexpected pool guests not included!