Bloated Amazon Milk Frog - Can anyone help?

[kipling]

Thanks Carlos! I wasn't able to palp the swollen area as the frog was very stressed, I've taken him out the water soak now and noticed that he has pooped but I'm not sure the poop looks normal. Instead of being the usual brown colour it was a bit brown but the rest lighter and cloudy. I can provide a picture if necessary! Is that a sign of anything? I have to say the frog looks like his belly is more squishy when he's moving around rather than hard. I can't quarantine him right now as I have to thoroughly clean another enclosure for him, but I will do soon.

[kipling]

The latest update is that the frog went back into the terrarium yesterday, and then last night when I checked on them he seemed to have completely deflated. Along with that his sides looked like they'd caved in a bit from being stretched so much and then shrinking again. He still seemed ok and was jumping around the glass and leaves as usual. But this morning when I checked on him he seemed to have puffed out again. I'm not sure whether to try and give him another soak for an hour or so in a separate water dish again? Can anyone help further having read this new information?

[flybyferns]

Hi,

I think I would quarantine him.
Separate everything for a few reasons:

1) you have to find his poop
- to make sure his is not or still not impacted.
2) I would save his poop and be ready to have a fecal study done as these symptoms could be from a parasite?
- so separating him will insure you get his fecal to be tested
3) if his fecal is positive you will have to treat both frogs
$) you can monitor his food intake.

Are you de-chlorinating their water?

Be sure the feeders are on the smaller side for him. ( 4-6 mm is ok--- no larger)
Maintain temp parameters

[samw]

Hi, this might be a silly respond so sorry if I'm patronising you at all.


Milk frogs puff up their sides when they feel threatened, is he definitely always inflated? If every time you approach the tank you are sticking your face up against the glass or opening the doors you might find that he’s already spotted you and he’s just freaked out. It might be a good idea to stand on the other side of the room and monitor if you can.


I also find mine turn lighter if they get chilly so it’s also a good idea to check he isn’t cold!!


Hope that helped rather than patronised!

[Mentat]

Based on your last inputs; think we can probably rule out impaction and renal failure. Agree with Lynn in that it should still be in quarantine and a fecal test be conducted in case gas retention is due to pathogens. If frog can puff up and vent out air voluntary; then it's as Samw stated due to stress.

Does frog remains puffed up while asleep? What was situation when you found it deflated? Can you try to repeat situation and see if frog relaxes again?

[flybyferns]

I hope we can - all - get to the bottom of this, and determine what might be going on

Thanks for all the ideas and input

samw, I think that you have mentioned something very possible

Hopefully, kipling will be able come on soon to give us an update

[kipling]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all your responses, and sorry for the slow reply, had a hectic couple of days!

So in response to your comments:

I do dechlorinate their water, I use Reptisafe water conditioner both in their water dish and to spray the inside.

In terms of a pattern of when the frog is puffed up and deflates, he does seem to remain puffed up in his sleep. On the occasion when I noticed he had deflated, I came into the room in the evening and he was climbing on the glass and looked deflated and like his sides had sunken in. The next morning when I checked on him he had puffed up again. I haven't seen him deflate since that occasion. Last night and this morning he has looked puffed up.

Samw, don't worry that wasn't patronising! I am a new frog owner so I welcome any comments. I do sometimes perhaps get too close or open the doors a little too frequently so I am keeping my distance and minimising that to see if it helps. I will keep you updated!

This might seem like a stupid question, but where do you go to get a fecal test done? I'm from the UK and I'm not sure a regular vet would be able to help, so would I have to seek out an exotic pets vet? Or is there another way?

Thank you so much for all your help!