Not eating + eye infection

[Hoppy Hopsalot]

Hello! My frog Hoppy hasn't eaten in days. I can't him to eat at all. I tried giving him a honey bath.

His eye is infected and red, and I think this may be why he's not eating. Is there anything I can do for him before I can get him to our vet?

[Hoppy Hopsalot]

This is him when he's happy

[Hoppy Hopsalot]

This is him right now

[DVirginiana]

First of all, I think something may be off with his other eye as well. It looks more bugged-out than it should be. This frog needs a vet ASAP; if I were you I'd call in an emergency appointment.

Melafix can be used on eye infections. It's a fish medication. BUT it has to be extremely diluted (we're talking like drops/gallons) and I'm not 100% sure what the correct ratio is as I have never had to do that before. Someone else more familiar with that should be able to tell you how much to use.

If you haven't already, put him in a hospital setup. That's just a tank with no bedding, only wet paper towels (which need to be changed daily or whenever they are soiled) and his water dish.

Also, can you post the answers to the questions in this sticky so we can help figure out if anything in particular caused the infection?
http://www.frogforum.net/pacman-frog...enclosure.html

[COOCOpUcHoo]

Although i am sort of a newb, I still have knowledge about some problems. I have been reading around and Melafix should be diluted 4 ounces of dechlorinated water per drop or so. I may be off but that's the best i got. And sadly, you might have to force feed that little guy, he is really skinny compared to his healthy state. Do this by using something very thin like a butter knife or credit cards and insert it into his mouth. Gently push the lower jaw downwards and quickly insert the food in his mouth. I have done this to some American Toads and it is very effective. Make sure you don't use any type of super worms or somethiing like that. The best food products would be DUSTED crickets, night crawlers, or pacman frog food.

[DVirginiana]

I believe the ratio is about 1 teaspoon per ten gallons (that's what was written on another recent thread). You then soak the frog in the solution for a few minutes. You can do this up to twice a day.

The melafix soaks won't hurt, but at this point they're really not going to do much for that infection. They're more for minor stuff like a slightly cloudy eye... Kind of like putting neosporin on a gangrenous limb at this point. I just can't emphasize enough that an immediate vet visit and stronger meds is the only way this frog is getting better and the longer the delay the worse his chances of keeping that eye (or even surviving since he's so young) get.

[Hoppy Hopsalot]

Thank you! The reason I haven't been able to take him in yet is I'm out of town and have been very sick myself. Do you think he will be okay if I take him to the vet tomorrow?

[Hoppy Hopsalot]

I have him in the hospital set-up right now. He finally pooped when I gave him a bath today. Going to try to force feed him this afternoon. He's very feisty considering all of this. Please continue sending me advice and sending him your prayers.

[GrifTheGreat]

I believe the ratio is about 1 teaspoon per ten gallons (that's what was written on another recent thread). You then soak the frog in the solution for a few minutes. You can do this up to twice a day.

The melafix soaks won't hurt, but at this point they're really not going to do much for that infection. They're more for minor stuff like a slightly cloudy eye... Kind of like putting neosporin on a gangrenous limb at this point. I just can't emphasize enough that an immediate vet visit and stronger meds is the only way this frog is getting better and the longer the delay the worse his chances of keeping that eye (or even surviving since he's so young) get.

As DV said, it is very critical that the frog receive the proper antibiotics asap. The infection does look like it is already spreading the other eye. If the infection goes septic (gets in his bloodstream) then his chances of survival will greatly decrease. Try the Melafix soak in the meantime. The correct ratio is 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons or approximately 12 drops per 1 gallon. Add to lukewarm de-chlorinated water and soak for 20 minutes. Follow that with another soak in plain de-chlorinated water. You may also add some UNFLAVORED Pedialyte to the first bath. The ratio for that is 1 ounce of Pedialyte per 10 ounces of water.

I have him in the hospital set-up right now. He finally pooped when I gave him a bath today. Going to try to force feed him this afternoon. He's very feisty considering all of this. Please continue sending me advice and sending him your prayers.

First off, please answer these questions http://www.frogforum.net/pacman-frog...enclosure.html and post the answers back here.
The hospital set up is the best option right now. You need to do whatever you can to stop the infection from spreading. Make sure to sanitize EVERYTHING thoroughly. Get him to a vet ASAP. What are you planning on force feeding him? Nightcrawlers or Repta-aid would be best. He needs something that he can digest easily. If need more details on force feeding, just ask. Please keep us posted.

[Hoppy Hopsalot]

1. Size of enclosure - 10 gallons

2. # - 1 frog

3. Humidity- need a new hygrometer. Old one is broken.

4. Temperature - 80

5. Water - bottled

6. Materials used for substrate - coconut

7. Enclosure set up - artificial plant, waterbowl, wooden "hidey hut"

- How were things prepared prior to being put into the hospital setting

8. Main food source - crickets

9. Vitamins and calcium? Calcium once a week. Also keep small calcium dish in house

10. Lighting - had him on a low watt bulb. I think it was too cool. So i moved him to higher watt bulbs. The battery in the thermometer died. So I have to get a new one

11. What is being used to maintain the temperature of the enclosure - heating lamp

12. When is the last time he/she ate - Wednesday

13. Have you found poop lately - today. Very small compared to normal

14. A pic

15. How old is the frog - approx 3 months or 4 months (based on size)

16. How long have you owned him/her
Almost a month

17. Is the frog wild caught or captive bred - captive bred

18. Frog food- he would eat one large cricket every day

19. How often the frog is handled - daily for a few minutes

20. low traffic area

21. Describe enclosure maintenance - water changed daily, spot cleaned



by Lynn(Flybyferns) and GrifTheGreat.

[Hoppy Hopsalot]

I followed the bathing instructions with the melafix (diluted correctly). And then gave him a plain bath in lukewarm water. Do I need to be using a water softener as well? He seems to be feeling a bit better. His eye is draining a bit. I have an appointment with the vet and called him for advice, too. How do I need to force feed him without hurting him? I tried to force feed him the other day and couldn't get him to eat because I was worried I'd hurt his mouth.

[danfrog]

Temps need to be a tad bit warmer. All water need to be treated with dechlorinator. Needs more vitamins and calcium d3. Lights are very important. We need to know what you have exactly. Don't handle you frog, you can poison it and stress it out. Oh and a ten gallon might be too big.

[GRABibus]

That's really not nice to see
Except a vet, I don't see any other possibilities.

[GrifTheGreat]

Force feeding is best performed by two people. One to gently, but firmly hold the frog so that it cannot back away or escape and another to open the mouth and insert the food.

Use a plastic spoon upside down and insert it between the upper and lower jaws on the side of the frog's mouth between the hinge of the jaws and the snout. Once the spoon is inserted apply gentle downward pressure and slide the spoon down towards the snout. This will stimulate the frog to open its mouth or bite. This is when you insert the food item so you will want to have it in the other hand that is not using the spoon. Once the food os in the frog's mouth they typically will do the rest.

Switch to smaller crickets. Medium would be preferrable. Buy some Night Crawlers and cut off appropriately sized pieces starting from the tail of the worm and force feed those to him. Pieces should he about 1.5" long. They are far more nutritious than crickets.

I hope you can get help for you frog fast because a Vet is the only thing that may save his life as of now.

Good luck!

[COOCOpUcHoo]

If you do not have another person to force feed with, back him into the corner of the hospital tank and gently do the same procedure that Grif instructed.

[Lija]

oh gosh, so sorry, that is really bad, very very bad and i don't want to be the one to say this, but.... at the stage as he is right now the chances of survival are minimal even if you do all you can, force feeding will help to sustain him for a little. melafix won't help here too. you need to run ( i mean it - RUN asap) to vet who is treating frogs and get meds - NaCL eye solution to reduce swelling and special eye antibiotics drops + systemic antibiotics, but honesty i don't think they will help (((( too advanced stage and too bad shape of the frog itself.

I'm so so sorry.