Question about small lizards in Houston (Howe: garden, to eat, yard)

[jek74]

This is the first time I've seen these little creatures since I'm not from around here. I'm noticing my cat loves to catch them and sometimes eat them. Are they poisonous? They are really small and I see them all over the place.

[War Beagle]

Nah, they are fine. They are actually all over the south and are completely harmless. They are pretty good about eating bugs.

[Schumacher713]

They eat insects and some eat mosquitos. They great to have around. None are poisonous in the area. Pretty much what the person said above.

[CrankyG]

What about the frogs? I see some colorful ones but mostly bright green; are they poisonous?

[DanielWayne]

Originally Posted by CrankyG

What about the frogs? I see some colorful ones but mostly bright green; are they poisonous?

The green ones and slimy brown ones aren't. The toads are somewhat poisonous. I think they just make an animal really sick, but don't quote me on that.

Toads are the dry bumpy ones. The toxin comes from glands on their head so unless you try to eat one, they are harmless. Most cats and dogs are not interested in toads. At least the ones we had usually knew better or must have learned on their own.

[War Beagle]

Originally Posted by DanielWayne

The green ones and slimy brown ones aren't. The toads are somewhat poisonous. I think they just make an animal really sick, but don't quote me on that.

Toads are the dry bumpy ones. Most cats and dogs avoid those anyways.

What I have seen with my dogs is that they will lick or sniff the toads once and then never have any interest in them again.

[Svensk08]

Garden toads around here secrete a relatively harmless substance that's irritating to a dog's mucous membranes. Dogs that catch them tend to drool and foam at the mouth for awhile, but they recover quickly. One of my terriers got some "toad juice" in his eyes and couldn't open them wide for an hour or so. The crazy dog never learned -- next evening he was hunting toads again!

[texas7]

My dog used to grab frogs and it made her foam at the mouth. She never got sick, just foamed.

[Crank1]

[quote=jek74;29248099][Mod cut: off topic]....and all the lizards and birds around our place were safe...from at least him. However, my neighbor's cat comes over here from time to time 'hunting' for birds and lizards etc. I guess they don't have any of those in their yard anymore.

[hendersj31]

While we are on the cat topic...my cat used to get bit in the nose by the lizards. They would just hang there a while. Didn't seem to bother the cat much. I think he forgot they were there after a few minutes.


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