Help! RETF with Prolapse?

[froggsong]

Froggy hemroids? It looks like some sort of prolapse to me.

Here are a couple of links I could find that mention it:
Check this one first: Amphibian and Reptile Emergencies – Prolapsed Cloaca | That Reptile Blog
This one gives great info: Red Eyed Tree Frog - Gooey Bum - Reptile Forums UK
Horned Frog Haven

I hope this helps, and that it hasn't been too long. I really wish I had seen this sooner. As soon as I saw that I thought prolapse. If that's what it is, you sohuld try the treatment mentioned right away before the tissues begin to die (if they haven't already). I'm not trying to alarm you, I just want you to be safe rather than sorry. The sugar water bath wont hurt if that's not what's wrong.

Good Luck! Please keep us posted.

[seritchey]

Oh god! So this means I should definitely go back to the smaller crickets! Here's the update: In my extreme loss of sleep over this issue I watched him, and he spent a long time in the water last night, while not sugar water, it appears to have helped. it's mostly gone now, so I will continue to watch, and if not gone for tonight will soak him in sugar water, certainly hope he's okay!

[seritchey]

Froggsong, by the way, I added some keywords that came to mind to the first post. If this is what it is, and he is better, I want other people to be able to find this information more easily and quickly. Save them the massive heart/brain trauma I went through. If you would change the title to include the word prolapse, perhaps it will be of help to someone later

[froggsong]

Sure! That's a great idea.

Make sure you up his calcium intake as well (go with a phosphorus free, no D3 supplement, at every feeding for a while, then you can step it back to every other feeding if you want [I dust at every feeding]. If you want to use one with D3 to make sure they are metabolizing the calcium properly, only dust with that once or twice a week.) , and maybe the humidity in the tank (by 5% or so, if you can). From what I was reading, low calcium can cause muscle weakness which contributes to the chance of prolapse, dehydration can increase the risk for both impaction and prolapse because the feces will be harder and more difficult to pass, and then there is also the worry of prey that is too large (even though you bought bigger crickets, I'd point to one of the other factors first, IME).

I'm glad that he soaked and it helped him. I was worried that I hadn't seen this in time and the tissue may have started dying off. If it happens again, soak him in sugar water immediately.

I'll go ahead and get that title changed, as well as make it a sticky. This is apparently more common than most of us realize, and I want to make sure that people are aware of it. After you are done researching, would you be ok with writing up an article on it for me? If you could write about your experience and your research so that it can benefit others in the future, that would be wonderful.

[FroggieLove]

I did more searches and still can't find anything that matches this. I'm wondering though if it is some kind of internal parasite? Maybe the mucus is being caused by an internal parasite of some kind and being passed through the frog's system... But I'm not sure at all, just an idea.

Keep your frog in a quarantine tank with paper towel as substrate. Make sure your frog is still having bowel movements.

EDIT: I didn't see that there was a second page already. I looked up prolapse and that is what it looks like. Good luck dear.

[seritchey]

Originally Posted by froggsong

Sure! That's a great idea.

Make sure you up his calcium intake as well (go with a phosphorus free, no D3 supplement, at every feeding for a while, then you can step it back to every other feeding if you want [I dust at every feeding]. If you want to use one with D3 to make sure they are metabolizing the calcium properly, only dust with that once or twice a week.) , and maybe the humidity in the tank (by 5% or so, if you can). From what I was reading, low calcium can cause muscle weakness which contributes to the chance of prolapse, dehydration can increase the risk for both impaction and prolapse because the feces will be harder and more difficult to pass, and then there is also the worry of prey that is too large (even though you bought bigger crickets, I'd point to one of the other factors first, IME).

I'm glad that he soaked and it helped him. I was worried that I hadn't seen this in time and the tissue may have started dying off. If it happens again, soak him in sugar water immediately.

I'll go ahead and get that title changed, as well as make it a sticky. This is apparently more common than most of us realize, and I want to make sure that people are aware of it. After you are done researching, would you be ok with writing up an article on it for me? If you could write about your experience and your research so that it can benefit others in the future, that would be wonderful.

The things you linked to said not to feed them for a few days after it happens. Problem is I have 3 frogs, and the closest thing to a quarantine tank I can set up is a clear plastic cup with paper towels. I just got home, it is completely back inside. I will be monitoring him constantly(like I already am lol) to make sure it does not recur, and will still keep researching. I already dust their food with calcium at pretty much every feeding, sometimes every other. They are young, so between the three of them they will eat about 10 crickets a day! Other issue with not feeding, is he's the skinniest of the 3, and I'm afraid not eating for a week will be too much for him. I may have some free time tomorrow to write something up real quick for the articles section

[Chu'Wuti]

And just to ensure clarity, don't put your frog on paper towel substrate--paper towel is likely to increase dehydration of the exposed organ surface, perhaps even to stick and tear it, rendering recuperation from the prolapse much more difficult and even improbable.

[froggsong]

You can soak him in some pedialyte, I'm not sure what kind of nutrients it contains, but I have seen that recommended. If you feel like he needs to eat because of malnutrition, you can feed him a couple of waxies, they should be very gentle on his digestive system, and will help put on weight faster. He may be thinner that the others because of an impaction from before you got him (you've only had these guys a short time, right?) Some of what I was reading said that the prolapse can occur when they pass a blockage. You could also feed him a slurry, which would be even more gentle on his system.

EDIT: Chu, I keep my frogs on wet paper towels when they are quarantined... Wet paper towel should dry them out like dry ones would.

[seritchey]

I'll run up to the pet store on my way home from school, see if I can get some wax worms and smaller crickets. Should I make him eat in a separate container, so I know that the others aren't taking his food, and he isn't eating the crickets?

[froggsong]

yup, sounds like an idea. I think you should pick up a sterilite tub (a small one, shoe box size should work) and make yourself a quarantine tank as well.