bubble/swelling on front leg

[Burra]

Well, back from the vet. He thinks it is an infection, BUT is concerned that it might also be starting on this other leg. It's hard to tell for sure, their legs are so chubby, but if it is, then it may instead be liver failure. We are doing an antibiotic for 1 week and if there is no change he wants to do a work up to check his organ function. Until them he wants him on paper towels and as clean as possible as eco earth holds bacteria.

Here is the one thing I'm kind of confused on. The vet said that even though he is an albino, he absolutely needs some UVB light to process his calcium. He said just a few hours of a full spectrum light daily. Everything I see says different, that the UVB light will burn him. Any comments from long term albino keepers?

So $78 dollars later I have to wait a week and see. Oh, and try to medicate a frog.

[GrifTheGreat]

Well, back from the vet. He thinks it is an infection, BUT is concerned that it might also be starting on this other leg. It's hard to tell for sure, their legs are so chubby, but if it is, then it may instead be liver failure. We are doing an antibiotic for 1 week and if there is no change he wants to do a work up to check his organ function. Until them he wants him on paper towels and as clean as possible as eco earth holds bacteria.

Here is the one thing I'm kind of confused on. The vet said that even though he is an albino, he absolutely needs some UVB light to process his calcium. He said just a few hours of a full spectrum light daily. Everything I see says different, that the UVB light will burn him. Any comments from long term albino keepers?

So $78 dollars later I have to wait a week and see. Oh, and try to medicate a frog.

UVB can blind them and burn their skin. Use a calcium supplement that contains Vitamin D3. This replaces the need for UVB lighting since UVB radiation is used to produce Vitamin D3 naturally in the body. It is unnecessary and dangerous for Albinos.

When your frog Urinates is there mucus in its urine?

Liver cancer is a possibility. They will get fluid blisters and also will begin to bloat when the liver begins to shut down. There is no know treatment for Liver Cancer in amphibians.

Lets hope it is just an infection. I lost one recently to Liver Cancer.

[Burra]

Thanks Grif! I have been using Calcium with D3, no UVB. Everything I read, including the care sheet here, says the same. The vet said he needs a small amount of UVB or he can't metabolize the calcium, even with the D3. I know this is true for bearded dragons, not albino pacmans.

I haven't noticed mucus in the urine, but he always jumps in his water bowl to go. I'll keep an eye on it. Really hoping it's an infection. Sorry about your recent loss, they are chubby little family members!

[Lija]

Well, back from the vet. He thinks it is an infection, BUT is concerned that it might also be starting on this other leg. It's hard to tell for sure, their legs are so chubby, but if it is, then it may instead be liver failure. We are doing an antibiotic for 1 week and if there is no change he wants to do a work up to check his organ function. Until them he wants him on paper towels and as clean as possible as eco earth holds bacteria.

Here is the one thing I'm kind of confused on. The vet said that even though he is an albino, he absolutely needs some UVB light to process his calcium. He said just a few hours of a full spectrum light daily. Everything I see says different, that the UVB light will burn him. Any comments from long term albino keepers?

So $78 dollars later I have to wait a week and see. Oh, and try to medicate a frog.

that is part of keeping pets, you have to pay vet bills, I'm glad you took him in, my highest vet bill for exotic animal was over 300$ for hamster and similar for a frog (that is with huge employee discount). To medicate a frog is not that difficult by the way especially when they're tong trained.
what you were told to do sounds like a very good plan, remember to change paper towels every day

[Burra]

Yeah, I'm just hit with sticker shock at the exotic vet because the vet I work at doesn't see exotics, so no discount! I'm used to free exams and meds at cost! LOL! It's all good, I would never let an animal suffer.

I gave him his first dose, not very hard. He is young, I've only had him 3 weeks, and I've been trying to tong train him but he's not cooperating. He won't eat if I'm anywhere near his enclosure.

At least he's still eating fine and pooping. When that stops you know there's a problem.

Keeping my fingers crossed it's just an infection.

[Lija]

Yeah, I'm just hit with sticker shock at the exotic vet because the vet I work at doesn't see exotics, so no discount! I'm used to free exams and meds at cost! LOL! It's all good, I would never let an animal suffer.

i respect you for that! wish there are more people who think this way and care for their pets!

P.S. I'm pretty sure when I paid 300+ for a hamster people thought I'm crazy, he had heart problems and was in critical condition when we took him in, so he spent a night in a oxigen cage + all meds, UV + overnight care, BUT he lived for 3 more month after that. a friend of mine recently spent over 5000$ for spine surgery on her dog and now got news that she is looking into spending another 5000+ for chemotherapy and another surgery. You do what you gotta do, that is responsibility you are taking getting an pet.

[GrifTheGreat]

i respect you for that! wish there are more people who think this way and care for their pets!

P.S. I'm pretty sure when I paid 300+ for a hamster people thought I'm crazy, he had heart problems and was in critical condition when we took him in, so he spent a night in a oxigen cage + all meds, UV + overnight care, BUT he lived for 3 more month after that. a friend of mine recently spent over 5000$ for spine surgery on her dog and now got news that she is looking into spending another 5000+ for chemotherapy and another surgery. You do what you gotta do, that is responsibility you are taking getting an pet.

I couldn't have said it better myself

[DVirginiana]

Hopefully it'll just be an infection. I've had other animals die of liver failure; pretty gross way to go.

The problem with exotics a lot of times is that the animals are so tiny and fragile to begin with, compared to dogs or cats anyway. Half the time you're paying for something that has a good chance of getting your pet well again. The other half the time you could be paying hundreds of dollars for something that has a small chance of working and might only add a few weeks of highly medicated life for the animal.

[MatthewM1]

Hopefully it'll just be an infection. I've had other animals die of liver failure; pretty gross way to go.

The problem with exotics a lot of times is that the animals are so tiny and fragile to begin with, compared to dogs or cats anyway. Half the time you're paying for something that has a good chance of getting your pet well again. The other half the time you could be paying hundreds of dollars for something that has a small chance of working and might only add a few weeks of highly medicated life for the animal.

When I was younger one of our cats decided to try and eat a wasp it found in the house, and it stung its throat. $600 later it passed

[Burra]

Yes, unfortunately sometimes the money we spend seems to be for nothing, but at least it gave us peace of mind that we tried and we did the right thing. I got a rescue Weimaraner 2 years ago and he immediately tore his achilles tendon. Major surgery at U of Penn, got the screw taken out and immediately tore his CCL. Like, before he even left Penn! I stopped counting at 10000, and keep in mind even at U of Penn I got a small, courtesy discount for being a tech! In his case, it turned out fine. He is worth every penny, as my frog will be if he pulls through.