My frog's throat

[demeteraurion]

I was wondering if my frog's throat looks normal. It's very puffy/swollen. It happened before and then its gone down and looks normal but now its puffy again and has been like it for awhile. I should also mention when I first got him his tongue was stuck out of his mouth twice when he was trying to eat but we helped him get it back in and its never happened since. This could also relate to why he stopped eating.

[John]

So let's get this straight. The frog is not currently eating? How long has it been since he ate?

[demeteraurion]

I've been force feeding him. He's had a medium dubia and three small ones the past two days and half a nightcrawler a few days before that.

[SiNi5T3R]

maybe when his tongue was sticking out his bone like teeth got his tongue and its bothering him?

[demeteraurion]

Hmm, idk because its been not puffy before, I mean it has looked normal. Then it will get all puffed up and sometimes go back to normal looking but it hasn't gone down this time. I've heard of using diluted Listerine to clear oral infections but I don't want to do so if its not a problem. I will try to look in his mouth tonight when we feed him.

[GrifTheGreat]

I wouldn't treat him for an oral infection unless you know for sure. I haven't heard of using diluted Listerine. What's the ration of listerine to water?

[DVirginiana]

Can you feel the throat? If it's stiff or puffy feeling, then it might be an infection or the result of him biting himself. If it's squishy then I wouldn't think it's an infection. idk though. Regardless, I would hold off on the listerine thing; I've never heard of that, and it sounds like it could end badly.

[demeteraurion]

Really I swear I read it on a frog related forum. I think it was for 50%/50%. It's not really firm, his throat. When he is sitting on wet paper towels his neck like sticks to it its so baggyish lol. But if its an infection he has had it for quite some time so I'm surprised he's not dead.

[GrifTheGreat]

5o/50 sounds alittle high. Listerine contains alcohol and a decent amount not to mention if swallowed by humans causes gastric irritation and pain due to it. I would think it would be sever on a frog since they don't burp and the gas bubbles couldn't escape his stomach.

[demeteraurion]

Oh it was 10:1 I just looked, I don't think the site I read it from was very reliable, it was when I first starting reading about pacman. I don't know whats wrong, it doesn't seem to bother him from what I can tell.

[GrifTheGreat]

I would definetly keep an eye on it. If it seems out of the ordinary.

[John]

Alcohol passes through amphibian skin easily. Some of us use it for euthanizing ill amphibians. I wouldn't put listerine near my frogs.

I think if the frog doesn't regain an appetite soon then you need to bring it to the vet. The throat is overly puffy and it could be a symptom of a bloat-related infection.

[GrifTheGreat]

What types of infections cause bloating in frogs? I've heard red leg does. What others cause this?

[John]

A few kinds of bacteria. Red leg is usually caused by Aeromanas hydrophila. But it could be any number of septicemic bacteria, if it is that at all.

[demeteraurion]

I gave him a warm bath last night and its seemed to gone down a bit. Is there anything I can use that is a natural anti-biotic and wont bother him? I know sea salt will pull out infections and bacteria and the Frog First Aid section has some information about it but it says to use .6%...... o.O

[GrifTheGreat]

I've read that you can crush the salt into a powder and dust their food with the powder to treat intetinal infections. I'm not sure if it would work for an oral infection though. An antibiotic from a vet might be the best bet.

[demeteraurion]

Do you think a regular vet could help? There are no vets that work on frogs anywhere near me. I think a Baytril shot like they gave to Grif would really help him but you can't get them without a scrip.

[GrifTheGreat]

You could call a regular vet and ask if they would administer a Baytril shot to your frog. It doesn't hurt to ask. If there are any that treat reptiles near you they would probably administer one and know the amount to animal weight ratio also. There is a frog first aid article on this forum that has. Alist of items and meds to keep on hand and baytril is one of them. It can't be kept on hand if you can only get it from a vet. So I'm assuming that the name in () is probably the over the counter form and it says to put it in water. You should look at the article and also try the vet. I would consult a vet first before trying to self treat Rupert.