Whit's Tree Frog with Swollen leg and possible bloat, PLEASE HELP

[Kisa]

Possible good news.

I gave bruce his medication last night and noticed that he hasn't gone cloudy in only one eye, but now both, so I just began putting one eye drop in each eye. I'm not going to let this scare me too much. I'm staying on the antibiotics and keeping my fingers crossed that he won't even need that check up in seven days. Also, I put a cricket in with him last night after his medicine, sort of as a treat and "sorry for shoving that syringe down your throat and make you puke" gift, but he didn't seem interested in it at all. Yesterday he ate a cricket and his belly could still be full from the medicine and his own fattness, so I'm not letting this get to me either just yet. Plus he hasn't pooped since his last real feed that weekend so he may still be full of nasty waste as well.

But on to the good news!

I got up this morning and found Bruce sitting in his water bowl! Sleeping of course, but I think this is a good sign. He hasn't been to his bowl in a few days since he was sick, so I'm taking this as a good sign that he's on the road to recovery. Looking into his water dish now I'm seeing that there's some type of waste floating in there with him. Once he gets out freely (he's pretty dry since he's been sick and I want him to get hydrated), I'll remove it and check it out. Hopefully it's that poop I've been waiting for, which would be an ever better sign!

I'll keep everyone posted.

[Kisa]

Still not sure what the cloudiness in Bruce's bowl could've been, but I'm definitely going to update the vet when we go back.

Since I've taken him there last wednesday, Bruce has developed small lesions on his back leg (the one that was swollen). Since noticing these I have kept it extra dry in his viv (I left his water bowl in there but made it shallower and have restricted misting to once a day. I replaced his substrate with paper towels so I can monitor him more closely and have taken out most of the accessories I bought him. I left his water bowl, his log hide and a rock just in case he gets too cold. I sterilized these in boiling filtered water and placed them back in his viv after wiping it down with water to clean the bottom and sides. I've raised temps to 82-86 in the day time and 75 at night, the vet told me to keep it warm and dry while he heals.

Although it seems Bruce has lost his appetite since I started him on the antibiotics, he hasn't lost any significant weight yet and still has the strength to climb the walls of his viv and try to wrestle his way out of my hands when I take him out to give him his medicine.

I bought latex gloves since I've noticed the lesions on his leg and Neosporin to treat them with. I will apply it twice daily in small quantities with a Q-tip (and no I did not buy Neosporin + with pain relief, I read that it will kill him). I have been putting one drop in each eye and the proper amount of antibiotics orally each day.

With a little time and some luck, I think we'll get through this.

[Leefrogs]

Glad to hear he has streingth and is still chunky. Thanks for keeping us posted.

[Kisa]

Quick update:

Bruce ate a cricket! I put one in there just a few minutes ago and at first it didn't seem like he wanted it, or maybe he couldn't even see it, I'm not sure, but the cricket walked right up under him and he just opened his mouth and ate it!

I was so worried about his appetite I'm just glad he ate, even if it was only one. I put another one in there for him to see if he'd eat it as well. So far, no dice, but hopefully once he realizes it's in there he'll go for this one too.

Thanks for reading lee! I'll definitely let everyone know what's going on in the next few days. Overall, I feel like Bruce is getting better. Let's hope the vet does too.

[Kisa]

Brought Bruce back to the vet for his checkup a little early because of the appearance of the lesions.

The vet (a wonderful woman, I'm so lucky I found her.) thinks they could be from an external injury, like he got his foot caught on something and pulled it away quickly and got a deep scratch. Either that or it's from the infection. She said the cloudiness in his eyes should have cleared up by now with continued use of the eye drops so she's a little worried about that, so she had me continue the use of the drops along with the new antibiotic injection. I wish I had asked her for the name of the injection but she was really busy and had to move fast. I really do trust her though, through talking with her she seemed to know a lot about tree frogs in general and even told me she was going to make extra sure that the antibiotic she gave him was ok for White's.

She does agree that the cloudiness in his eyes is affecting his vision, I noticed he was having trouble seeing the crickets and even making his way around his viv, so I think that's why she gave him switched his antibiotics. I'm supposed to continue the use of the drops but stop the Baytril. She also gave me some blue stuff (don't have the name right in front of me) to dilute in water and soak his injured leg in to keep it from getting irritated, she also suggested I remove anything abrasive from his tank as it could have caused the injuries on his leg.

I've followed all her instructions and am supposed to take him back in 7 days for another recheck. Still keep your fingers crossed guys!

[DonLisk]

So glad you found a vet that actually knows frogs and seems to be providing good advice and helping you keep up a positive attitude. Hope all goes well over the next week and Bruce improves.

[Kisa]

So glad you found a vet that actually knows frogs and seems to be providing good advice and helping you keep up a positive attitude. Hope all goes well over the next week and Bruce improves.

I know, I feel so fortunate to have found a vet that I trust with my Bruce. Thank you so much for you positive feedback.

[Ebony]

Kisa..Im so pleased Bruce is doing well and has eaten (that is a really good sign). You are doing a great job. Bruce is in the best possible hands. Thank goodness you got him when you did. Keep us updated. Ive grown very fond of the little guy.

[Kisa]

Kisa..Im so pleased Bruce is doing well and has eaten (that is a really good sign). You are doing a great job. Bruce is in the best possible hands. Thank goodness you got him when you did. Keep us updated. Ive grown very fond of the little guy.

I am too! I was very worried his appetite had gone down the toilet, but now when I feed him I can tell he is half starved (I had to put him on a diet because of his weight, which I fear could impair his ability to heal). Thank you so much for saying that, it makes me feel much better knowing that even people who don't know me personally can tell I'm trying very hard to make him better. I would hate to have brought an animal into a place where he got sick and was in pain, I just hope he's happy, even through his illness.

It's so nice to hear you say you're fond of him! He's grown accustomed to us (me and my boyfriend, and friends who have helped me with his recovery), he no longer fusses when we take him out of the cage for his medicine, and will even settle into my palm when I hold him. He needs all the support he can get, even if it's from far away!

<3

[Kisa]

Sorry it's been a few days since I've updated you guys, but I've had my hands full these past few days.

Bruce's condition has improved since he received the injection and I have started the leg soak. His legions are healing quite quickly, the skin is even starting to grow over them and they are no longer bloody or irritated.

On the down side, his eyesight has not improved and the cloudiness has not retreated. He possesses his usual voracious appetite, but has a hard time seeing the crickets and mealworms (I bought him the worms as a treat for being so good, and from the want to vary his diet more, but I'm afraid they're too small and too stationary for him to see them ) Presently I am feeding him 2 crickets and 1 mealworm every other night, and watching him until he eats each one (I feed him one insect at a time) to monitor his eyesight and appetite.

I've made a followup appointment with Dr. De La Torre (a wonderful herp vet, as I said before) for monday, so hopefully she'll give me some good news and a possible new treatment for the eyes.

Thanks for reading guys! I'll have an update from the vet soon.