Had another escape and isn't ending well, Help!

[charlamanda]

Since the last mass escape several days ago I have been hyper-vigilant checking the hood for exits. Now the cats have been giving me a problem. Since discovering the froggers outside their home, they are now aware of their presence and know that they are inside the fish tank. The cats are constantly around the frog house and jumping on top of the hood, which normally wouldn't be a problem because it's constructed of sturdy plastic and can easily support the weight of our cats and possibly several at a time. However, the back section, where the hoses and cords would be, has been covered with a screen I attached with duck tape and can definitely not support a cats weight, this has me really stressed. Before I went to bed I covered the back so if any of the cats jumped on top of the hood they couldn't push the screen in and let the frogs out..like we suspect happened the last time. We have been spritzing the cats with the misting bottle every time they get too close to the tank, hoping they will learn to stay clear of it. They hate it, but you know what they say about cats and curiosity.
I haven't been feeling well and didn't get to bed until about 6:30 am and was awakened at noon with my mother yelling that the frogs had gotten loose, I jumped out of bed in a complete panic.
When my mother got up she noticed the cats around the frog tank acting weird, she went to investigate and found a frog on the front of the tank near the top right below the hood. That's when she yelled to me and got the little fella and held him until I got up and to the living room. I decided to put all the froggers into the dining room container so I could take a head check before I really panicked. My mother noticed that one of our kitty's were really freaked and pacing in front of the stove. My mom was sure at least one of the frogs were under it. After the head count only 1 was missing and thanks to Buster we knew exactly where he/she was. Luckily I saw the frog immediately and was able to take a stick and swish the frog out which wasn't moving or "sticky" like the tree frogs are normally.
The poor thing was covered in a hair ball that had completely engulfed it and was nearly impossible to remove. I took the frog to the bathroom to wash the hair off, it took forever, I didn't want to pull it to hard because it could cut the frog. The frog hardly moved, was very light and dry(I suspect dehydrated) and really bloated, like it had puffed up like I've seen toads do. I am keeping it in a non see through container you get kitty litter in, it's been washed thoroughly, lined it with wet paper towels and put a bath bowl in with tepid water and pedialyte, I soaked him/her in it for a while before putting it and the frog in the container.
After about an hour I checked on the frog who was perched on the rim of the bath I had left him/her in when I closed the container. He/she still seemed very bloated and turned almost black. I decided to put a cricket bowl in the container with 5 crickets in it. I am hoping eating will help it to de-stress and will work out the air in, I am guessing, it's intestine/stomach.
*****Why is this frog ssooooooo bloated and what else can I do to help him/her?????
There doesn't appear to be any obvious injuries, but at some point I will cover the little terrified froglet in a triple antibiotic ointment to prevent any infection if it does have some.
For now I have him/her in a non see through container, hoping to relax the frog, re-hydrate and keep a close eye on the poor thing.
**** Should I keep the frog in it or can I return it to it's regular tank?
****What else can I or should I do??
The frog seems to be doing "OK", but I am real concerned with the bloating and have no idea what exactly happened to it. If it was eaten and spit out, batted around or stepped on..who knows, but I am real upset.
It turns out the lid had "shifted" and wasn't set into the top completely. It was open only 1/4 if that and in a small spot an inch or two wide, I can't understand how these frogs could have squeezed out through it. We suspect one of the cats jumped on the lid and the weight and landing momentum moved it ever so slightly allowing only those 2 to get out...thank god only 2 got out.
Before I go to bed tonight I am going to duck tape around the entire lid so it can't move. Any more escapes and I am going to need to be commited!!LOL

[Jace]

I'm sorry to hear about your little one. Unfortunately, no matter how great a setup we have for them, their natural instinct is to get away and that can lead to some sad stories. I am currently missing a Fire Belly toad, but after 3 days, I am not expecting a happy ending. Mine got out of an opening less than an inch wide...and it was a three inch toad. Frog Mathematics 101.

Have you checked out the Frog First Aid article to the left? I believe it has a section on rehydration that you might find useful. In the meantime, keep it separated, away from any loud distractions and stress and I am sure in a couple of days, it will act as if nothing is wrong and wonder what all the fuss is about. I would make sure it is eating well before returning it to the tank as an eating frog is a great sign. Best of luck!

[UncleChester]

Sorry to hear about your escpees (both of you).

I can't offer any first aid advice, but is there some cat free room you can put your frogs in, at least at night?

As for the tiny gaps frogs can go through, I've seen Grays squeeze themselves through holes that appear no larger than their skulls. The fleshy parts are all very squishy, I think only the bones hold them back.

[Eel Noob]

Sorry to hear about your frogs. Hope it makes a full recovery.

[Ribbitmethis]

I pulled my lepto back from the brink of death via dehydration once. He got out and had hidden behind a running computer. When I found him, he was so dried up and covered in dust bunnies I was sure he was dead. I placed him in a bowl of dechlorinated water on what I thought was stupid hope. I left him alone for a day (no touching, no food) and he perked up, but didn't eat for another week. I hope yours

[charlamanda]

Thanks everyone and sorry to hear about all your escapes stories too, it sucks. After