Giant bullfrog rescue

[Buck Rogers]

Other than putting it down.

This is not an option, I am too stubborn to lose it!

Trying to get hold of vets, but we had a public holiday yesterday and can't get hold of the only reliable reptile vet in the area. We ganna keep trying throughout the day!

[John]

I actually think the frog's chances are good to survive. The main issue will be if the jaw problem prevents it eating. Can you better describe how the jaw is "split"? Anyhow, do take it to the vet and let us know how it gets on.

[Buck Rogers]

The jaw is split completely down the middle, so if you can imagine on yourself if your lower jaw is cracked and separated in two halves. One half is sitting normally and the other half is bent in slightly but not hanging lose. I hope that makes sense...

I have seen worse injuries on monitor lizards and I don't think this is something that will kill the animal. I think with time it will fuse back but be skew, in the meantime it can be tube fed with a mixture of Hills AD, pro biotic yogurt and a glucose mixture - is this a bad idea. How would a vet treat something like this? The jaw can't be wired shut surely and a brace wouldn't be able to be mounted.

I know in the wild these guys get pretty raucous when fighting in pans and also when defending their tadpoles, they pretty hardy.

[Buck Rogers]

I just wanted to thank John again for his speedy response, it was 10:35pm when we treated this Bullfrog and there was nobody I could think of here in South Africa on a public holiday and straight away John was there replying to my emails.

THANK YOU SO MUCH JOHN!!!!

[Buck Rogers]

Just some quick feedback. Went to a local Wildlife Rehab centre close to my work, that we often work alongside with reptile catch and releases, they also have a large Bullfrog with a squashed leg that is going to the same vet I use. So the one I have is going to either go today or tomorrow morning to the vet to be treated. They say that they really tough frogs and pull through some of the most horrific injuries, and they said that if mine made it through the night its a good chance it has made it.

From here it will have a pin in the forearm and they use a specific plastic mould and super glue it to the Bullfrogs jaw on the outside. I am really skeptical of this, because I don't think superglue is the best thing to be using on an amphibian... But apparently they have had good results from this.

[onedge30]

Best of luck with the bullfrog.

[Buck Rogers]

Hi all

Unfortunatly the Bullfrog never made it. I took it in to a local vet and a week later it passed away under anesthetic. The Bullfrog's left front arm was completely shattered, jaw bone cracked at the back and multiple fractures to the spine. If a Bullfrogs jaw is split in the front they can work on it and it can easily survive, but they put it under to amputate the leg and it never came out from the anesthetic after that.