White's tree frog prolapse

[Krittergal]

I was at a reptile this morning and got a new White's Tree frog. When I went to check on him this evening I noticed that he has a prolapse. I currently have him soaking in some warm water with honey but I'm wondering if I should return him to the person I got him from. I've never had a frog with a prolapse before so any advice would be appreciated.

[tgampper]

Hi, sorry to hear about your frog. Thanks for the picture. This sounds a bit crazy, but try this out:

Move the affected frog to a hospital tank. Now make him a sugar-water bath, using 1/2 teaspoon sugar to 1/2 cup room temperature spring water. Mix it well. Place the frog in the bath. Leave him undisturbed for a couple of hours. Then look to see whether this has worked.
If you suspect it is protozoans, try Pedialite instead. This is the human child's version of electrolytes, or salts. Make a bath in the same way. Follow the same procedure as above. If this does not cause his anal walls to contract and suck in the intestines, the frog will need to see a vet asap.

I found this on a frog first aid site. Let me know how it works

[Krittergal]

It worked, thank you so much! He is back in his tank now and looking good. Should I wait a few days before feeding him?

[tgampper]

No need to wait, he's probably hungry!

It worked, thank you so much! He is back in his tank now and looking good. Should I wait a few days before feeding him?

[teslas intern]

Actually I would wait a few days before feeding him... And when you do feed him, give him something soft. What do you typically feed your frogs? Definitely avoid meal worms, and lean towards lateralis roaches, or crickets as your staple, in this case you might try wax worms, because they are soft. In any event don't shock his system too badly, such could cause diarrhea, which could trigger additional prolapses I'd imagine. Hopefully others with experience will comment, as I'm going off of posts I've seen recently, and logic, not experience...

[Krittergal]

Thanks, I think I will wait a couple of days to feed him just to make sure he's had time to heal. I feed my other frogs crickets mostly. I Haven't had much luck with them eating mealworms. Since I just got him Saturday afternoon I haven't had a chance to feed him yet but if I'm able to find them I'll pick up some wax worms. Thanks for the advice!

[elly]

Wow that looked pretty nasty, I'm glad it went back in. Definitely seconding the recommendation to hold off feeding in case it triggers another prolapse.

[tgampper]

Glad the treatment worked and your frog is doing well. After I made my last comment, I thought about it and I am glad that Scott told you to wait. Sounds logical to me

[irThumper]

Sorry you had to go through that with him, glad it's resolved itself. I lost my fav Whites Tree Frog boy to a recurring prolapse Was told by more than one person to NOT feed ANYTHING at ALL for 10 to 15 days, then to start slow with small amounts of soft food, like wax worms and earthworms. Unfortunately I was treating my frog using wax worms injected with Flagyl (oral Metronidazole) once a week so thought it was ok to feed him his medicated worms since it was 7 days out. Apparently not because he prolapsed a 2nd time (1st and 2nd resolved with sugar water soak) and the 3rd time it did not resolve and we had to put him down. It was also recommended that we get him to a herp vet experienced with frogs and they could put a stitch in him to help prevent further prolapse, but we don't have a good herp vet close by. Your guy's prolapse looked bad, I'd definitely fast him and keep your fingers crossed. If he prolapses again there's a good chance, O'm sorry to say, that without vet intervention he might not make it... and even then it could happen again and you'd face putting him down. If it does the kindest thing for him would be to put him out of his suffering as humanely as possible I really hope it doesn't come down to that for you and he lives a long happy and healthy life.

Would you mind telling me where you got your frog?

[Krittergal]

How scary, I'm really sorry to hear that! Fortunately we have a wonderful reptile vet just a few miles away although I really hope I won't need him. I got him from a reptile expo in Pomona, California. Thanks so much for your advice!