Froglet with MBD

[Pactolus]

So, I'm pretty sure my grey tree froglet has the early signs of MBD. He is still eating normally when I hand feed him, but he barely ever hops, his mouth is usually hanging open slightly, and he seems to have trouble grabbing food on his own. I got a Flukers calcium supplement and multi vitamin supplement a couple weeks ago, and I've been dusting his crickets with those about every other feeding. He hasn't gotten visibly worse, from what I can see, and I know it takes a long time for MBD to be cured. Taking him to the vet is pretty much out of the question because he's so tiny.

I'm just checking in with you guys to make sure I'm doing everything right, and if there's any more I can do. Thanks.

[Heatheranne]

Try switching to repcal calcium with vitamin D3 supplement and dust daily for a few days. How often are you using the mvi? Does he also have twitching? Is he still eating? Does he have any skin discolorations or lesions that you can see?

Please update and we'll get back to you.

Thank you, Heather

[Pactolus]

Try switching to repcal calcium with vitamin D3 supplement and dust daily for a few days. How often are you using the mvi? Does he also have twitching? Is he still eating? Does he have any skin discolorations or lesions that you can see?

Please update and we'll get back to you.

Thank you, Heather

In a day or two when I go to get more crickets I'll see if Petsmart has the repcal. Is it better than Flukers? The stuff I'm using has vitamin D3. I've been using the calcium supplement more than the multi-vitamin, but I've also been mixing the two together. Should I always mix them together, no matter what?

He does not have any twitching. He's still eating, he just has some trouble getting fast crickets on his own. He has no discolorations or lesions.

[Heatheranne]

I'm hoping you caught it early. My vet had me switch from flukers to repcal. He said it is better absorbed. The mvi should not be mixed with the calcium bc it can lessen the effects of the calcium/D3.

[Sasha]

Don't mix the two together. Use the calcium w/D3 daily but once a week switch it out for the multi-vitamin.

[Pactolus]

I'm hoping you caught it early. My vet had me switch from flukers to repcal. He said it is better absorbed. The mvi should not be mixed with the calcium bc it can lessen the effects of the calcium/D3.

I'm hoping I caught it early too. He's been like this for about a month, and I realized something was wrong after a week or two. But like I said, he hasn't gotten worse.

And thanks for advice guys.

[helm96]

Glad he is not getting worse. Follow Heather and Patsy's advice on dusting, it is spot on. Also if your little froggy is having trouble catching the crickets you can remove the big back legs from the crickets and this will slow them down giving your frog a chance to catch them.

Keep us updated and let us know how your frog is doing.

[Gnag the nameless]

Glad the frog is doing better. I second Heather and Patsy, they're definitely right.

I hate to barge in like this, and I apologize if I am being rude by barging in on the conversation, but would having a UVB lamp and Gutloaded crickets prevent MBD in young Ranid's? Or is it insufficient?

I just felt that since MBD was the topic, that it would be best if I asked that now.

[helm96]

Although gutloading crickets and UVB bulbs can help, it just cannot provide the amounts needed, thats why it is SOOOOO important to dust. And right now it is more important for Pactolus to stay on the everyday schedule since he is actually repairing instead of maintaining!

[Heatheranne]

Although gutloading crickets and UVB bulbs can help, it just cannot provide the amounts needed, thats why it is SOOOOO important to dust. And right now it is more important for Pactolus to stay on the everyday schedule since he is actually repairing instead of maintaining!

Agreed.

[flybyferns]

Pactolus
Just wondering what Flukers product " Flukers calcium supplement and multi vitamin " you referring to ?

Because ....there is a Flukers rescue product specifically for this :

Fluker's Liquid Calcium

I think Will is absolutely correct! a 2.0 uvb near the enclosure can't hurt

Lynn

[Pactolus]

Pactolus
Just wondering what Flukers product " Flukers calcium supplement and multi vitamin " you referring to ?

Because ....there is a Flukers rescue product specifically for this :

Fluker's Liquid Calcium

I think Will is absolutely correct! a 2.0 uvb near the enclosure can't hurt

Lynn

Was using Fluker's Calcium with D3 and Repta-Vitamin

I bought Repcal calcium and Repcal vitamin today. He's still eating fine on really slow food or from my hand. Last night was climbing up the side of his enclosure, which I guess is a good sign.

[helm96]

It does look like a good sign but I would stay on the dusting schedule that was recommended. But it sounds like you're headed in the right direction!

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[Heatheranne]

Just a little FYI,

awhile back I had my frogs on flukers and he still developed subtle signs of tetany. My vet recommended I switch to repcal and the symptoms resolved in a few days and have not returned. We are not positive as to why. They both have vitamin D 3 for proper calcium absorption.

I'm glad he ate for you! Keep up the good work. I'll be following along.

[Pactolus]

Yeah, I'm using the repcal now. That's odd he improved in a few days for you, doesn't it take much longer for bones to heal?

[Heatheranne]

Yes. It depends on the severity of the disease. You caught this very early so I don't think he'll have any damage. I think he was just starting into the tetany phases.

(Tetany is the term we use which encompasses symptoms created by low blood calcium level = numbness, tingling, twitching, tremors, loss of muscle and bone movements, seizures, paralysis.)

[Heatheranne]

The liquid calcium Lynn mentioned works very well. I used it on my pacman frog when I got him. They didn't use any calcium at all, feeding or soaks.

Vitamin D 3 is added to the calcium supplements to assist with calcium absorption. Minimal calcium is absorbed without it. You can also get vita D from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

[Pactolus]

Hey guys, just posting an update. I've been dusting his food every night, and he SEEMS to be improving and being slightly more active, not as "lumpish" if that makes any sense.

It's a really good feeling to know that you saved an animal's life.