What Happens If a Frog Pees on You? Everything You Need to Know

There are many myths about frogs. They range from getting warts after touching a frog to frogs bringing good luck if they enter your home. Some of the stories you might hear may sound crazy, so it is important to understand the facts. 

So, what happens if a frog pees on you? If the pee gets into your body system through open wounds or orifices, you may get an infection. Frog pee is not toxic, but it has bacteria that can be harmful. If it only gets on your skin, then a thorough hand wash should be enough to avoid infection. 

Though frog urine is generally not considered dangerous, you should be able to separate truth from myth. So join me as I explain all you need to know about the risk factors involved when interacting with frogs’ urine. 

What Happens If a Frog Pees on You?

A frog’s pee contains viral diseases and bacteria like salmonella. If it gets into your mouth, nose, ears, or open wounds, it can cause infections.

But in general, if the pee contacts your skin, anything severe shouldn’t happen. 

You may forget to clean your hands immediately and touch parts of your body subconsciously. If the pee gets into your eyes, you might feel itchy, or your eyes could turn red. 

However, let’s see how frogs’ pee affects our outer body skin and inner body parts. 

What happens if the frogs’ pee only contacts your skin?

If you do not have any open wounds on your hands, the pee will probably only come in contact with your skin. Frog urine contains bacteria and viruses that can cause itching wherever it touches your skin. 

The occurrence of this side effect depends on the frog species, your skin sensitivities, and the urine’s composition. Frog urine can cause irritation of varying intensities, with more sensitive skin types experiencing worse reactions.

A frog also has bacteria on its skin that can lead to infection if it gets into your body. You have to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap to ensure you kill all the bacteria (from pee and skin). 

It is a common belief that you can get warts if frog urine comes in contact with your skin. This claim is a misconception, as frog urine does not cause warts where it touches human skin. 

What will happen if you accidentally ingest the frogs’ pee?

In the confusion after a frog pees on you, you may touch parts of your face and accidentally ingest the urine. The pee could also splash into your mouth when the frog is urinating. In such a situation, you should wash your hands and rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Ingesting frog pee can cause infections as the urine contains bacteria and viral diseases. Most people who swallow frog pee develop salmonellosis, an infection caused by exposure to salmonella. 

It mostly affects the intestines and can manifest in the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Abdominal pains/ cramps
• Fever 
• Diarrhea

Salmonellosis is treatable, but most people recover without specific medication. People who have vulnerable immune systems, like young children and the elderly, can develop severe (or even fatal) reactions to the illness. In such situations, doctors prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria.

If salmonellosis goes untreated, the diarrhea can cause severe dehydration. You should visit a medical professional immediately if you notice blood in your stool. The infection can easily become life-threatening once it spreads beyond your intestines.

What to do When a Frog Pees on You?

If it is your first time having a frog pee on you, you might be in a panic. What should you do now? Is there any way to reduce the chances of infection? Well, you are in luck. There are simple steps you can take to ensure that you are safe and healthy after the interaction. 

The steps are as follows.

1. Wash your hands with soap

Put the frog down, and you wash your hands immediately. Washing your hands as soon as possible reduces your chances of getting the pee into your eyes, nose, or mouth. It also helps you get all the pee off, as it may be more difficult when the urine dries.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap for about 20 seconds. Soap is effective because it kills the bacteria present in the frog pee, reducing your chances of infection. Ensure you rinse your hands properly to get rid of any traces of the urine.

2. Check if the frog is poisonous

While most frogs are harmless to humans, a few frog species are poisonous and produce toxins. Luckily, these frogs are often easy to identify because of their physical characteristics. 

Most of them tend to be brightly colored and patterned. Their appearance is intended to deter predators because it serves as a warning.

If the frog that peed on you matches the description, seek medical attention after thoroughly washing your hands and other body parts where it peed. You should also note how the frog looks so you can describe it to a health professional.

Poisonous frogs secrete toxins from their skin or glands. However, their urine is not poisonous and does not have the same effects as toxins from their skin. If a poisonous frog pees on you, you are likely to experience the same side effects as those of a non-poisonous frog. 

Touching the skin of a poisonous frog is, therefore, more dangerous than touching its pee. If you do, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Muscular paralysis
• Swelling

3. Monitor your condition

If you followed the previous two steps, you should be in the clear. However, you should monitor your health over the days following the incident to ensure that you are really okay. In case you experience any symptoms like fever or irritation, you should visit a healthcare specialist to get tested.

Why do Frogs Pee When You Pick Them Up?

Unlike humans, urination serves more than one purpose for a frog. When you pick up a frog, it launches into defense mode because it sees you as a potential predator. 

Frogs urinate when under threat because it gives them a chance to escape. Think about it. If you pick up a frog and it pees on you, your initial reaction is likely to be dropping it. This is exactly what it wants.

It works the same way when frogs encounter actual predators. Frog urine has a foul taste and smell, which convinces predators that they are unfit to consume. They then let the frogs go, giving them a chance to escape.

Can You Touch Frogs with Bare Hands?

Though most frogs are harmless to humans, it is not the best idea to touch a frog with your bare hands. If you are not sure whether the frog is poisonous, you should avoid it entirely. 

Frogs, even the non-poisonous ones, have bacteria on their skin. If these microorganisms get into your body, they can cause infections.

Something important to consider is the sensitivity of a frog’s skin. Because they are amphibians, they use their skin as a respiratory organ. You may have noticed that frog skin looks wet or oily. 

This adaptation, together with their skin’s semi-permeability, allows frogs to breathe in water and air. It also makes them vulnerable to chemicals that may be on your bare hands.

Here are some precautions you can take when handling a frog:

• Wash your hands before touching the frog with bare hands, and ensure you rinse off all the soap.
• Wet your hands or apply mud to make the frog more comfortable.
• Wear dampened, clean, unused gloves if you have them.
• Avoid pinching its skin or applying too much pressure as they are delicate creatures.
• Use a net instead if you have one.

While the subject of frog urine may seem peculiar, it’s essential to understand various aspects of amphibian biology. If you’re ever curious about the effects of salt on these creatures and whether salt kills frogs, our article provides valuable insights into this matter. Furthermore, as you explore the behaviors and interactions of frogs, you may wonder if these amphibians have the propensity to bite. Delve into this topic to learn more about their defense mechanisms and interactions with their environment.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions most people ask about frog urine:

Conclusion

So, what happens if a frog pees on you? If you have open wounds or the pee gets into your orifices, you can get an infection. However, if the pee only comes in contact with your skin, then washing your hands will kill the bacteria. Checking if the frog is poisonous and monitoring your health will help ensure that you remain healthy after the incident. 

It is best to avoid touching frogs with your bare hands. If you have to, ensure you wash your hands with soap before handling the frog. You should also avoid squeezing the frog as you might damage its internal organs.