White's update

[Tara Garratt]

Hi all,
In late May I posted requesting help with my baby White's. I thought that it is long past time to give an update. As some of you may remember these babies were purchased at a pet store (a very good one) and then shipped to me by a friend as its difficult to get animals when you want them and at a god price in Saskatchewan.

Shortly after they arrived they were showing signs of an eye infection. They had very swollen eyes and the eyes clouded over. I posted requesting help. Many people suggested a vet trip, which I had already tried but there are no vets (not even at the vet college) who work with frogs that I could find. I followed the directions of a very wise person (Mark Pepper) and two of the three frogs started to improve.

Unfortunately "Jump" died after just a few days of treatment. I did not hold out much hope for the other two either. They were turning in circles to the point that they could not stand, never mind climb. They could not eat on their own and I had to resort to "force feeding." I have force fed mammals, but I have never attempted to force something smaller than a loonie to open its mouth and take food in.

Well, here we are six months later. "Skip" and "Hop" are growing quickly. "Skip" is croaking regularly. The very first time he tried to croak he was still so wobbly that he fell right over. Both frogs are blind in one eye, but they are doing very well. Even being blind they can now grab crickets as they race by. "Skip" continues to have a swelling above his eye that looks like a piece of something stuck there, but is not. This protrusion is part of the eye. Both frogs climb now and the circle-turning has reduced considerably. In time, perhaps the circling will stop all together.

Since I have spent so much time with these two, they are exceedingly tame. If I sit near the tank they bang on the glass and will persist until I take them out for a visit. I do not believe that frogs are intelligent creatures, but they are smart enough to recognize individuals (they do not bang for attention from anyone else and as the tank is in the livingroom by the couch I am certainly not the only one who sits in that spot). I am very pleased with their progress.

Thank you so much to those of you who tried to give advice, especially to those who suggested more than a vet trip. Of course I would like to publically thank Mark. Withouh his efforts "Hop" and "Skip" would be where ever good frogs go with their cage mate "Jump." I don't know when I can consider these guys "out of the woods" so to speak, but I am grateful for each day I have them.

Take care all,
Tara Garratt