Brought home a free sick retf... Hope I can save him

[Heatheranne]

Went to Petco for supplies, as I always do...

This little guy was barely holding his head up, laying on the ground, and looking very ill.

I spoke with the girl there about his health and expressed my concerns that he needs a vet and treatment quickly and offered a few suggestions to help in the meantime.

She offered him out free for adoption to me. Like the big softy I am... I brought him home.

First thing...good pedialyte soak. He is dehydrated and emaciated. Followed by a gentle calcium dusted force feeding of two very small crickets. Easier to swallow than one averaged sized. Next, sit on paper towel to slightly air dry. A very very thin layer of original neosporin over the discolored skin areas. He needs an antibiotic prescription, in which I will email Dr.Frye today. Next, a gentle re-wetting as the fine dechlorinated water mist falls over him. Finally, a good clean quarantine home.

After the treatments, he was able to sit up on my hand and opened his big bright eyes. He's a cutie . He is still very weak, but it gives me a smidge of hope.

I peeked on him last night and he was relaxed and sleeping on the glass. I was relieved he was no longer laying on the ground. He turned to his nice light lime yellow.

I'm praying he'll pull through.

Here is my sick little guy...

[StickyFrogfeet]

Hope he pulls through ! Such a cute ReTF poor lil guy

[Heatheranne]

I just got off the phone with Dr.Frye's office. I emailed him the photos. He is going to help me treat him . The meds are being sent out today.

Thank you, Dr.Frye!

I hope he makes it! I know I have to be realistic, but I'll give him all I can.

[Heatheranne]

Thanks stickyfrogfeet!

[mrzoggs]

awe i feel so bad you did a great thing by taking him. i wish i could save all the little red eyes he looks horrible. i cant believe they keep frogs like that. he has great potential with a mother like you. and that goes double since dr frye is helping.

[BlueisallIneed]

Poor thing! I would send the pics to Petcos Corporate office! That is horrible they have pets like that!!!!

[DonLisk]

Poor thing! I would send the pics to Petcos Corporate office! That is horrible they have pets like that!!!!

I agree.
They need to take responsibility for the critter they keep and not ignore such obvious illness which gets passed on to customers.

I hope Dr Frye gave to immediate instructions to at least get the frog going in the right direction before the meds arrive.
He really has helped so many here.

[Heatheranne]

Thank you!

The problem is, they didn't start off looking this bad. They are all thin. I saw them the day they came into the store. The problem is their housing is wrong. They had all 5 in a 12x12x12" tank with no hides and the humidity at 50%. I told them that day they needed to bring the humidity up to 70 to 80% and that they need a bigger tank. They did move them to a slightly larger tank and added a fogger, but it did not raise the humidity level. That was on a Friday. I took one home on Saturday who was dehydrated and too thin, but knew he'd be easy to rehabilitate. He's doing okay. Monday when I stopped to get crickets and substrate to change out my other frogs' tanks, I saw this little guy. It just broke my heart. I again told them they needed to make changes or they'd all end up like this. They did let me take him for free and I took another one that looked like the first, just dehydrated and skinny.

Poor babies!

Even though the other 2 look okay, I will treat them too.

It does however mean that once all are healed and better I will now have 6 retf's. I did want 2 albinos, but six is the maximum I can put in a 55 gallon tank, and I feel it will be crowded. So I am now looking for a 100gallon or more sized. Or I may create a 40 gallon just for the new 3. We'll see. Depends on how they do. I'll hold off on the albinos. Sick pets require lots of care, so I'm going to be busy for the next few weeks to months. The max I wanted was 4 green retf's and 2 albinos. I'll be happy with 6 happy & healthy green retf's.

So...

[Heatheranne]

That's a great idea Blue! Especially since I gave them guidance before it happened .

[Heatheranne]

And, too....there are still 2 in that tank there . I will call them today and advise them, once again.

Yes, I am to continue his soaks and feedings and keep his home meticulously clean. I may continue the topical neosporin, but it will likely only prevent it from worsening. He is too weak to heal without systemic treatment now.

[Heatheranne]

So, when I got home from work she was sitting up . She looks a little stronger...able to sit proper and is holding up her head with no effort. A glimmer of hope . She is currently soaking in a small dish with a lid so she can't sneak out. She had 2 regular poops. Did not eat any of the crickets I left in her bowl for her. I will feed her again tonight.

Oh...I think she may be a female, not entirely sure yet. Anyhow, I named her Angel.

[mrzoggs]

your doing great im glad "shes" doing better. are you going to force feed if she doesnt eat? after a housing change mine didnt eat for a week. im thinking longer because i dont even think she was eating before i put her in the tank shes in now. i ended up force feeding her 1 cricket and she perked right up. started eating on her own. now shes fat as ever. might not be the best thing for the frogs stressful situation. was just curious on what your next plans are.

[Heatheranne]

Yeah, I have been force feeding her. She was too weak to even sit up when I first brought her home. She has a glass bowl I've been putting 2 small crickets a night in, but I figured she wouldn't. Hopefully she'll start eating on her own soon. She's too emaciated to not feed. She takes the food pretty easily.

Here is a picture I took of her last night...

I hope her medicine comes today.

[mrzoggs]

wow she is tore up... she definitely looks better than before but jesus christ... if i walked into a pet store and they had frogs looking like that, someone would get an ear full........are the scratches on her nose from being in such a small tank and trying to get out? i hope the medicine comes in today also.

[BlueisallIneed]

Wow she does look a little better, your such a good mama for taking her on. I would kick the **** out of someone if they had frogs like that at the store. Poor thing! Hope she gets well soon. She might do better now because she knows she is in a loving home. Good luck!

[Bolisnide]

Ahhh, good job mama!

[Heatheranne]

Thanks guys!

It was very saddening. I went there today to check on the other 2 in the tank and talked to the one girl that actually knows how to take care of them. The 2 there look okay. She is going to make changes in the tank. I showed her a picture of my baby and she was disgusted.

The medications from Dr. Frye just came in the mail today! Yay! It brings me a little more hope.

She will start with metronidazole, then baytril, then ssd. I am emailing him today for the specifics.

What a great vet! He is very understanding and helpful. And to do so via email and phone is very considerate. And there is no "doctor's fee" for his assistance. Very much appreciated. I will certainly send him a nice thank you, which hopefully will include some pictures of 3 healed and healthy retf's .

Well, time for the frog nursing care of the evening....

Thanks everyone for the supporting words . If only everyone understood what our frogs mean to us. I'll do my best to recover these little guys.

Have a good evening!

[Heatheranne]

I am sad to share that Angel did not pull through. Dear little sweetie started to improve a little but became worse last week . She became weaker again and on Tuesday night and she could barely lift her head. The little sweetie looked exhausted and worn out. I soaked her that night and held her in her moist paper towel. She just laid there and looked up at me . It was heart-breaking. I still fed her and then applied her medicines with hope. That night I placed her on a moist paper towel on a slight incline so she wouldn't have to hold up her head, and tucked her arms and legs in at her sides how they like to sleep. She relaxed and laid her head right down. Such a beautiful baby. And I let her rest and prayed for Him to do what is best for her, knowing in my heart... She passed over night :'(. I buried little Angel that morning . She is now at peace and pain free. Though, I am glad she passed in a caring home instead of there in the store. Bless you, sweet frog! :'( Breaks my heart that this happened over improper care.

[Jimbok3]

sorry she didn't make it, but at least you gave angel comfort an love before she passed...

[FrogLoving17]

I am so sorry Heather! You gave Angel a good loving home