sick green tree frog:(

[Indigo sky]

Hi, just put all this in a blog then found out I'm supposed to put my question here whoops! Anyway I have a 2 year old green tree frog named Emerald, his eye ball has suddenly swollen up and popped out of it's socket, it is bright red, Like a blood clot. He is still eating and his tank mate is fine ( Jade ). I live in the sticks so the vets around here are all experts in horses, cattle, sheep and dogs. I have emailed so many sights in Australia and The States I've lost count. The most clued up info I could find was from Steve Irwins animal hospital at Australia Zoo, not possible to go there as we need import and export licences to travel interstate with wildlife and it would cost me over $1000.00. The closest vet I have heard of that knows anything about amphibians is hundreds of kilometers away and five hours round trip. I was hoping someone out there may know what this problem is, like an infection or something that I can treat myself, not sure if he is in pain or not, would appreciate hearing from anyone who may have had this problem before. Thanks P.S Cool site. !

[Heatheranne]

Okay,

First, lets set up a hospital tank. Move him out of his current home to prevent infection to his tankmate. A 10 gallon will do fine, even better if you can turn it vertically tall. Use paper towel as substrate and change it daily. Add water dish, thermometer, hygrometer. Cover the back and 2 sides of the tank with a green or other background covering to reduce stress.

Can you add a good photo for us? Do you know if he got hurt on anything? Was it sudden or did it slowly get worse?

We will try and help.

[Indigo sky]

Hi Heather, Thanks for taking the time to reply, I did all of those things immediately when I noticed his eye, The amphibian Research Centre in Australia has replied today after I sent them a photo, that the eye is either infected or injured, and will need to see a vet, given my location this is not easy, the vets around here generally "destroy" animals that are not earning their keep, past experience with my shetland pony who they wanted to destroy 5 years ago, (he just galloped past the window)
I intend to contact the Melbourne Zoo to see if they can help me, separating him from his tank mate is the difficult part, I have limited equipment, I am doing repairs to the usual enclosure, and today will seek other heating options as a temporary set up, avoiding injury to the healthy frog , Winter here minus 4 degrees celsius. the good sign is that he has resumed his usual color and is eating, It was sudden, so I am assuming injury, the swelling seems to have reduced slightly today, so we are up to about day 3, but there is now puss on the eyeball, that he is also trying to wipe off himself, ( so possibly infection as a result of injury) either way he is going to need a vet and some treatment, One thing I hadn't done that you pointed out was to cover the tank, the hospital tank is sitting right next to the diamond python enclosure, also glass, now that has got to be scary.I will post a photo when the kids get home from school, I'm just not that tech savvy

[Heatheranne]

You're welcome. Yes, it sounds as though he definitely needs medication. You could email Dr. Frye and ask if he could recommend the type of drops needed? Or systemic antibiotic, or both. Perhaps your vet would then be able to correlate a treatment plan? I think I'd call first thing Monday to find a vet who treats amphibians. If there is pus he could get worse quickly. Try not to delay, if possible.

Please keep us posted.

[Indigo sky]

Hi, Thanks again for your interest, I have taken him to the vet he has a topical eye ointment, she is a young vet who did some research last night and has taken a photo to send to her university lecturer who was one of the vets at the melbourne zoo and is now in private practice specialising in exotic animals, his practice is over 200 klm (one way) from my home, I have 4 kids between 6 and 16, 2 horses, 2 cats, a dog, a diamond python, an axolotl, a pleco(sail fin catfish), a blue yabbie, gold fish and a lot of guppies and our frogs,our bearded dragon 'Yoda' recently died of old age , so hopefully' Emerald's' eye will recover without any more treatment, I will get a photo happening as soon as one of my kids appears (It's Saturday)

[Heatheranne]

How is your frog doing? Any improvement?

[Indigo sky]

Hi Heather, Thanks for asking, Emerald's eye has not changed, the vet he saw spoke to her uni lecturer and sent a photo, who said he would have to have the eye removed at his surgery 400 klm's away(round trip) at a cost of about $6oo. Or I can euthinaise him He seems to think it is neither injury or infection but old age !!!!( at 3 and a half). I cannot afford the operation, and whilst he still eats, poops, and continues to be more active than his tank mate I cannot call it yet, he does not even flinch when I put on the ointment, has good color and as always went on a little adventure around the kitchen table whilst I cleaned the hospital tank today, they hate the paper towel, and I find it screwed up in the corner every morning, temp is on 22 celsius (oposite side to heat pad) and hygrometre broke, waiting on a new one in the mail. Still misting sides of tank and frogs themselves, I don't think he is in excruciating pain. The two vets told me that they only live for 3years, my log book tells me I have actually had him since May 2010, making him 3 and a half, my frog book tells me their lifespan is about 25 years, as does the herpetologist at the Amphibian Research Centre, The Herp at the ARC also mentioned something about draining the eye ????, Whilst his behavoir does not indicate that he is in pain I am exploring other options, I am going to insist that my kids help me with a photo for you asap, I am really keen to see what you think, although I don't think the eye ointment is doing anything, other than keeping it moist and perhaps preventing infection. Have seen no more puss. I have aquired an upright fish tank about 40cm high, 30 cm wide and 25cm depth complete with uv, air vents (naughty frog proof) in the lid, so we'll move them into there today, I'm just debating what to furnish it with so he doesn't scratch his eye, I'm thinking a nice smooth tree branch for height, a small water dish, Hmmmm substrate, they hate paper towel, the cocnut husks I use for the python are a little harsh, have had dilemma's with my pleco and gravel, I have big smooth riverstone, super high maintenance to clean, I wonder about moss???? How are all of your animals going ?, I read your blog, B4 all my kids I was a scuba diver/surfer, LOVE marine biology. sadly live hundreds of k's from the ocean now, so doing the mountain, bush horse thing for a while.....

[Indigo sky]

[Indigo sky]

Hey look I found a young person who can actually work this stuff. here is better days