Front limb disorder.

Looking for advice from any toad owners or veterinaries out there.

I have a young common toad (bufo bufo). I guess his age to be just under two years (he was 1.5cm when I found him this summer). He is growing at an incredible rate and is now 6cm (nose to tail).

Over the past few weeks, he has gradually lost the ability to use his forelimbs to any great extent and moves by pushing his body with his hindlegs.

His targeting ability, when compared to toads of similar age, is quite poor too; however, as he had a good number of targets to aim at, his intake of insects was adequate.

Believing this onset to have been caused by some nutritional deficiency, I replaced his diet of gut loaded crickets and meal worms with a diet designed to mimic that of an insectivorous one encompassing a wide range of insects.

This diet consists mainly of a vegetable enriched catfood, a light pinch of vitarep powder, a small quantity of powdered cornflakes and weetabix, a touch of honey and a few drops of milk to achieve the consistency of paste which he can swallow. This diet administered behind his tongue using a syringe.

His 'soak/toilet pond' contains water treated with a aqua drops to dechlorinate and balance.

My question is: has anyone else ever witnessed any similar forelimb immobility in any of their toads/frogs? If so, what is this disorder and how is it best treated?


Edited by Craig

Radiohead , Kid A ,Track 4

Edited by Alan Hyde

it's got me Al, the URL's are correct and the files are in the upload folder, though as it happens, I have a copy in you folder  (ooops I put up the wrong piccy before, should be this one)

Edited by administrator

Gemma,

Now that you mention it, I do remember having had the same problem with emerging toadlets; in fact I even posted the question here, back in the Summer.

It is very strange, though, that, if this is some sort of genetic trait, it has taken some time time to manifest itself...

Do any other Frog/Toad keepers treat their tap water with dechlorinating drops before using it in a vivarium?

Whilst Tubby (his name) is quite happy to hide in his flowerpot and feed without having to go hunting (40 years is a long time to care for a disabled toad!), I would still like to be able to recover the use of his limbs. Any more ideas anyone?

Edited by Craig

Thanks Gemma,

I phoned the local veterinary sugery today and apparently one of their vets has good knowledge of fish/amphibians, so a chat with her on Monday may come up with a few tips and maybe even a cure.