How to Care for a Sick Frog with Red Leg Disease?

[Crazy Frog]

Hope this will help ...as i have loss some of my frog to red leg before.

[nat31]

this is off subject but what is the scientific name of the frogs in your icon

[Kurt]

Gastrotheca cornuta, the horned marsupial frog.

[Herpvet]

Hi CrazyFrog,

I hope you don't mind a few comments on this sheet? Just some suggestions that spring to mind?

1. A minor quibble first; "Red leg" isn't necessarily bacterial, by some definitions (it seems variable) - it's septicaemia, which may also be caused by (amongst other things) ranavirus.

3. Even in a hospital cage, I would say the frog should have hiding places and as reasonably a wide a range of microhabitats as feasible.

4. Perhaps it would be better to clarify this statement on "warm place"? Very dependant on species of frog, and even within a species I would suggest that you need to give an actual temperature range rather than rely on someone's idea of a warm temp (no doubt people from Scandinavia or similar would have a different idea of a "warm place" to people from warm Asian countries!).
Temperature manipulation in ill amphibians depends on the specific disease and the condition of the animal.

7. Obviously as a vet, I would tend to say that you should take it to the vet; red-leg is often a poor outlook, but the frog usually has a better chance with appropriate specific treatment than without. Costs will obviously vary, but medication itself shouldn't be very expensive for a frog. Also a vet experienced with amphibians will be in a better position to advise on specific care, including force-feeding.

If writing these notes for inexperienced owners, as I assume they are, I would suggest that taking to the vet should always be recommended; more experienced keepers may be a different case, but inexperienced owners should always seek expert advice.

I would be interested in other thoughts on this, just my opinion. Hope this helps,

Bruce.