American Toad weird symptoms. New owner, need help

[apr0705]

They said they don't get a lot of reptiles in their office. But we did see a certified Exotic vet, I found her on https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661
Very interesting, I will definitely take a look at your work!!

[KP]

Oh good that's the directory site I recommend to people to find a Vet for their Rep's and Amp's.
So back to what I said, I'd say just follow their prescription and be patient. I think you said they told you it could take a while.
Also my experience with domesticated Frogs, Toads, Turtles, Tortoises, Newts, and an Alligator made me realize that they're more responsive to the vibe and care you give them than most people would even imagine. Terry senses your compassion and that'll mitigate the necessarily firm handling it takes to feed him. These little critters do have feelings and they do sense human intent and love. I know my frogs, all of which came into their lives with disabilities that would have made them snacks for predators within the first few hours or days at the longest, each have their own personalities and respond to me in different ways. Having them in a domestic setting and interacting with them upgrades them in ways just as it dulls their instincts in other ways. Hang-in there for Terry.

The other thing I'm wondering is if the Vet can be certain his trouble is a blockage, is there a way to enter the cloaca with something like a tweezer/speculum and pull the blockage out? I'd ask the Vet that question. If they can sedate the patient the cloaca would be more relaxed and that would make that kind of procedure easier. Just wondering. If they can do that it would be a surgery without any cutting or stitching.

[apr0705]

Honestly thank you for telling me that they can sense human intent. I wasn't sure to what extent they could process emotions, i mean i know they pee when i pick them up so i always feel like i'm bothering them, but i would love to think that Terry senses my intent and knows i wouldn't hurt him intentionally.
The vet wasn't really *certain* about a blockage, it just seemed like her best guess i suppose. Going in and pulling it out would be the next thing i bring up to the vet if nothing else happens at this point, but i do have an update/development..

Last night when I went to give Terry his bath, the sides of his belly were very noticeably sucked in, and there was skin hanging around his mouth. I figured he was shedding, i just picked him up real quick to peek and make sure everything looked ok, then i quickly put him back in his hiding spot and left him alone for the night, no bath. It's been almost 24 hours, and I just checked on him again and i couldn't see anymore visible skin but he was extremely round. I think i'm going to skip bath today again, but just mist him periodically, and skip feeding tonight also. It's been 19 days since i witnessed his last shedding, (which was when this whole ordeal started). I'm not sure if hes actually just finishing that last shed, (since there has still been skin stuck to his belly this whole time) or if this is a different one, or what is going on with that. So that's why i feel like i should leave him alone for maybe 2 more days(?) and see what happens.

[KP]

One way you'll know they're at ease with you will be when you can handle them without them ever doing anything defensive in response, from discharges to inflation and curling to just scrambling to get away. Toads are a little harder to domesticate to that degree than Gray Tree Frogs are but you shouldn't hesitate to try. It's best not to take them up when they're sleeping or hiding but if you see them out and exploring their tank you can take that opportunity to further acquaint them with you. My Tree Frogs let me know they want to have outside time by jumping onto the screen door of their tank and crawling over to the part nearest to me. During the winter they're far less active and eat much less and sleep much more but periodically they will be interested in some socializing. They get agitated climbing on the screen and are all charcoal colored, then get very calm and turn very light gray once they're on my hand. In the winter months they'll just go to sleep on me but in the warm seasons they'll climb all over me.

[KP]

Check for any signs of elimination, and maybe try to feed him live food. If he's shed, and has been able to pass any blockage if that's what it was, then he'll get some appetite back for live food. But keep in mind that he's programmed to hibernate now so his apetite won't be anywhere near what it will be in other seasons.
It sounds like he's making progress.