Help! New (two weeks of ownership) Frog seems crippled

[Gage]

OK, Gnag. Thank you for helping out and for promoting this thread to others who can also help.

I have limited access to exotic vets where I live, but will do what I can ASAP.

[Terrarium Supplies]

Hi Phil and sorry to see that your little one is unwell. Without proper diagnostics from a qualified exotic vet (ideally that practises in herpetology) it would be hard to say exactly what is wrong. With that said, there are visual signs of what looks like bacterial growth and legions on the outer skin. This is normally but not limited to poor hygiene. Of course there are a few steps that you can take (home meds) to give your little one a fighting chance. As said above, first you need to move the animal into a medi tank. This is what we call quarantine as a general rule of thumb. This temporary enclosure is made up of a plastic critter keep with a base medium of white, sterile polly roll, a small plastic water basin dish (not ceramic) and a small plastic jungle vine.
There are a few well know meds out there however and due to the complex toxicology that all Anura inhibit, one must make sure that each method is well documented. I can personally account having used the following methods for bacterial infections, both internally and externally. These consist of the following treatment programs.

Bactyfec
Bactyfec is effective against bacterial infections such as skin rot, mouth fungus, dropsy and skin ulcers as well as internal infections. To counteract such infections Bactyfec contains the antibiotic enrofloxacine which is known to be a very effective broad spectrum antibiotic.

Melafix
Melafix is effective against bacterial infections as above but is far less potent as it is mainly used to treat aquatics. The active ingredient in Melafix is 1% 'Melaleuca' and is an all natural Aboriginal fern.

**There are many other treatment plans but I would rather not make assumptions as I can only recommend what has worked for me in the past.

As an added note Phil, your frog must be bathed every evening at the very same time. Once bathing, you must completely strip out the medi tank, making sure that each part (tank, basin and vine) is thoroughly cleaned with a mild disinfectant like beaphar. After 30 minutes bathe, remove your frog from the solution and place back into the medi tank. Continue this process for a period of 10 day. Only after the first 10 days have ended must you introduce 'one' dusted cricket. If the frog fails to eat the cricket simply take it out and replace with a fresh one. Continue for another 10 day making sure after each bathe, there is a fresh live feeder in there.

This is a tried and tested method Phil. Others may come onto the thread with more ideas however and I cannot stress this enough... once you have started on a program, you must stick to it and let it run its course. Do not swap half way into a treatment program or 'mix and match' methods.

Very best of luck and I wish you well.

[Gage]

Thank you very much. I will use this and do what I can to educate myself. I have him in a plastic quarantine now with a moistened paper towel beneath him. I replaced that already, and found there was blood from his feet and underside on it.

I appreciate the description of the treatment plan. I will look into it.

[flybyferns]

Thank you very much. I will use this and do what I can to educate myself. I have him in a plastic quarantine now with a moistened paper towel beneath him. I replaced that already, and found there was blood from his feet and underside on it.

I appreciate the description of the treatment plan. I will look into it.

Hi Phil,
You have gotten very good advice! However you may not be able to , easily get, those two medication in the US ( maybe on line) .Then you would need to know exactly how to does it. He needs a herp vet as soon as you can! If you do not have one that specializes and treats frogs(a very important question to ask them )see option at the very end of this message.

When you get a chance let me know if the frog been given calcium and vitamins supplements - if so -how often?
(maybe PM me so I don't lose track of this thread?) AND, what is in his tank , please send me a list, ie any electrical equipment, how close to a heat source is he?

purchase the following items:
1-a gallon of distilled water
2-plain pedialyte ( you will find it in the supermarket in the baby isle)
- make a 1:10 diluted solution with distilled water ( 1 part pedi and 10 parts distilled water)
-you can put a drop or 2 of honey in this water( but you will then have to rinse him off)( I really don't think-it's worth the trouble)
-soak the frog everyday for about 15-20 minutes -in the hospital tank- in the soaking container--every day !

note : this solution might be replaced w/ something similar/better -- from the vet. but at least you can keep him hydrated for now

3-in the same baby isle - purchase what looks like a needles syringe-

4-same isle - very small -coated baby spoon ( keep this on hand to open his mouth for force feeding)

5- if possible , expedite the shipping on a product such as Flukers 'Repta+Boost', Repashy make a product like this also
( this is a nutritional supplement - simply follow the directions)
note: if you have a food scale ( weigh him !)

please understand - the food is not as important as the medications he needs!

-do a FF search- you will find LOTS of photos showing how to "force feed" a frog---if you have to you can feed red wriggler? ( ask GrifTheGreat which worms ?) or remove the legs from a cricket - dust it ( or/with the worms) with vitamins and calcium/ squish it into the syringe - and feed it to him if he is not eating

6- get a tube of neosporin ( cream if possible) WITHOUT PAIN KILLER - the pain killer ingredient will kill your frog.

7- q-tips to appy the neosporin to every single little brown spot - every single day until they are gone.
Note - there are much better topical medications for this- a vet will likely replace it --but at least you can get started !

All of these these are standard supplies that should be kept in the "froggy medicine cabinet'


LAST BY NOT LEAST:
do this immediately if you do not have a vet.
http://www.frogforum.net/tree-frogs/...-prepared.html
email Dr Frye:
Send photos and the best description as possible as to what is going on
Try to get a weight on your frog- include that information as well
Include... like....... a little " medical history" including details on his day-to day care
Include information on the use and frequency of calcium and vitamin supplements

He needs an oral and topical antiviral/antibiotic as soon as possible! Dr Frye make this transaction very easy. You do not pay to email. Youe pay for the prescriptions via credit card (or ? pay pal)

Phil, hang in there ---- this can take weeks but he is worth it !

[Gage]

Hi, thank you so much for your response. I will really look all of this over and get the supplies. Unfortunately, the little guy didn't make it through the night.

He has a LOT of decay and damage on his hands and feet... I have no idea when it started, but it was less than a few days in the making. His tank-mate is totally healthy (even escaped again last night...fixed that problem up once and for all with some tape), so I don't know, but I shade away from the belief that it is the tank. I really have no idea.

They are pretty new, so it's possible it wasn't healthy to begin with. I wasn't able to get a vet exam before I relocated after buying them.

Ugh... so many unanswered questions. R.I.P. Trust. May your next life be less stressful buddy.

[Terrarium Supplies]

Phil, very sorry to hear about your loss, it saddens me that you did not get the help or advise till only 24 hours ago!! More often than not, symptoms can be well established before a proper diagnosis or treatment plan is underway. I have however got some friendly words of advice for you and others that may find themselves in the same situation. It would be wise to completely strip down the enclosure your frog was in. Take it back to the bone, removing all interior decor, furnishings and substrate. Thoroughly soak, clean and discard any unsightful medium as a matter of course. Only then would you be safe in the knowledge that your other and apparently 'healthy' (and I say that lightly) frog can lead a long and prosperous life in your care.

**Although your other frog may seem bright and healthy now, be sure to keep a close eye on him. Making sure that none of the symptoms start to show. If they do Phil, then both myself and Lynn have provided you treatment plans based on our experience and knowledge - remember, prevention is better than the cure. Your frog relies on you so don't let him down. If in doubt just ask!! Best of luck Phil and I wish you well.

[flybyferns]

So very, very sorry Phil,
I only wish we could have helped sooner
Lynn