Pet emergencies
Toads, centipedes and stinging creatures
Snakes get the attention, but Thailand has other small creatures a curious dog or cat can get badly hurt by.
Last updated 30 May 2026
PattayaPets is not a veterinary practice and this is not veterinary advice. In a genuine emergency, the right move is almost always the same: get your pet to a veterinarian as fast as safely possible. The information here is general orientation only.
Toxic toads
Thailand’s common toads secrete a toxin from their skin as a defence. A dog — or, less often, a cat — that mouths, bites or eats a toad can be poisoned. The first signs are usually sudden drooling or foaming, pawing at the mouth, head shaking and obvious distress; in more serious cases there can be wobbliness, vomiting, an abnormal heartbeat, collapse or seizures.
If you see your pet mouth a toad, act straight away: rinse the mouth out — flush and wipe the gums and tongue with running water, with the head tilted down so water runs out of the mouth, not down the throat — for several minutes, then get to a vet. Any serious sign is an emergency. Toads are most active at night and in the rainy season.
Centipedes
Thailand has large centipedes whose bite is genuinely painful. A bitten pet may yelp, paw at the spot, and develop swelling at the bite. For a healthy pet a single bite is usually not life-threatening, but it is painful and worth a vet call — especially if swelling spreads, or the pet seems unwell, or it is a small, very young or elderly animal.
Bees, wasps and hornets
A single sting causes pain and local swelling. The situations that need a vet urgently are multiple stings, a sting inside the mouth or throat (which can swell and affect breathing), or signs of an allergic reaction — facial swelling, hives, weakness, breathing difficulty or collapse. Move your pet away from the area; for a single sting, watch closely; for any of those warning signs, go straight to a vet.
Scorpions
Thailand has scorpions, and a sting is painful, but it is generally not dangerous to a healthy dog or cat. Still phone a vet if your pet is small, very young or old, or seems genuinely unwell rather than just sore.
Lowering the risk
Supervise pets in gardens, especially at dusk and night and in the rainy season, when toads and centipedes are most active. Discourage your pet from mouthing small creatures, keep the garden tidy — woodpiles and damp corners shelter centipedes — and know your nearest 24-hour vet before you ever need it. For snakes specifically, see snake bites.
Frequently asked
My dog mouthed a toad - what do I do?
Rinse the mouth out at once: flush and wipe the gums and tongue with running water, head tilted down so water runs out of the mouth, for several minutes. Then get to a vet. Drooling, foaming and pawing at the mouth are the early signs; collapse or seizures are a dire emergency.
Is a centipede bite dangerous to a pet?
For a healthy pet a single bite is painful but usually not life-threatening. See a vet if swelling spreads, the pet seems unwell, or it is small, very young or elderly.
My pet was stung by a bee - should I worry?
A single sting usually just causes pain and swelling - watch closely. Seek a vet urgently for multiple stings, a sting in the mouth or throat, or signs of an allergic reaction such as facial swelling, hives, weakness or breathing difficulty.