Toad, also known as hama (pronounced ma), is an amphibian with many warts on its body and toxic glands. It is commonly known as a toad or monkey toad. In China, there are two types of toads: the Chinese toad and the black-eyed toad. The toad paste and toad coat extracted from them are scarce medicinal materials in China. Toads are amphibious, with skin covered in small pores that have permeability. Plus, they lack protective structures such as the amnion and shell since birth, which makes them more sensitive to their environment compared to other groups. Amphibians are considered as indicators of environmental changes.
Toad is a general term for tailless amphibians in the order Anura and the family Bufonidae. The most common toad is the Bufo bufo, commonly known as the common toad. Its skin is rough and covered with big and small warts, which are sebaceous glands. The largest pair of glands is the parotid gland located above the tympanic membrane on the side of the head. The white venom secreted by these glands is the raw material for making toad paste. Toad generally refers to more than 300 species of toads in the family Bufonidae, belonging to 26 genera. During the day, common toads are often hidden in dark places such as under stones, inside soil caves, or in thickets. In the evening, they are active in places such as ponds, ditches, river banks, fields, vegetable gardens, roadsides, or around houses, especially gathering in dry places to prey on various pests after rain. Common toads hibernate in the muddy bottom of the water or in rotten grass in winter, and some also hibernate in the soil on land. It is not only an agricultural guardian that preys on pests, but also has medicinal, health-care, and culinary value. Therefore, it is known as "toad treasure" and is a highly valuable medicinal animal.
1. Toad Skin Disease
The skin disease, also known as rotten skin disease, can occur in tadpoles, young toads, and adult toads. It is mainly caused by a lack of vitamin A, which leads to bacterial infection.
Symptoms: The skin on the back of the body loses its luster and shows cracking, decay, and falling apart.
Treatment: Soak and disinfect the diseased toads, then feed them fish liver oil, one pill per day, continuously for 3-5 days, or increase the content of vitamin A in their feed.
2. Toad Gastroenteritis
Toad gastroenteritis is mainly caused by the deterioration of the feed, which often occurs in the transition from spring to summer and from summer to autumn. Both young toads and adult toads can suffer from this disease.
Symptoms: In the early stage of the disease, the affected toads become restless, crawling in all directions, and prefer to dig in the mud. In the later stage, they often lie at the edge of the pool, stretch out their legs, close their eyes, and become inactive. They show dulled reaction, no fear of disturbance, and rarely struggle when captured. They often retract their heads and curve their backs.
Treatment: Mix yeast tablets into the feed, half a tablet per kilogram of feed, feed twice a day, continuously for 3-5 days. Use a solution of bleach powder to sprinkle and disinfect the pool for the diseased toads.
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