Frog Dropsy and Bloat
African dwarf frogs are typically low-maintenance pets, however, they are living creatures that can be afflicted with a variety of ailments. Bloat, also known as Dropsy, is one of the diseases which most commonly affects African dwarf Frogs. Dropsy may also affect other species of frogs kept as pets.
About Dropsy
The term "dropsy" is an alternative word to edema. If your exotics veterinarian describes frog dropsy as hydropsy, bloat, edema, or ascites, they're probably using the same term.
Dropsy (also known as edema hydropsy ascites and the bloat) is a form of extreme bloating on the frog you love. The African dwarf frog might appear like a balloon, and disappear if you give it the chance, but they're not full of air. The reason that your frog appears to be bloated is due to the fluid that has accumulated within its tiny body. The fluid might appear overnight and causes your frog to feel extremely uncomfortable.
The Reasons
The process that causes dropsy frogs isn't understood fully which means that we don't understand what causes a frog to develop dropsy, however, we know that this swelling is caused by the lymphatic system.
If a frog drop lymph, the substance that circulates through the lymphatic system and fills up the lymph nodes but fails to drain as it should, and then builds up in the tissues that it is usually kept in and fills up the abdomen of a frog, creating the edema.
Diagnosis
But, don't think that your frog is a dropper without speaking with your exotics vet. There may be a reason for your frog to be constipated. There are times when frogs consume things that aren't included in their diet such as rocks and gravel that are removed from their enclosures and are actually affected, not bloated by dropsy.
A frog with dropsy generally appears to be overinflated. An x-ray could be able to rule out the ingestion of objects that are foreign but typically just a gentle touch and inserting an instrument in the abdomen of the frog can tell whether the frog is carrying dropped.
Effects
Like the pressure the buildup of fluid puts on an eyeball affected by glaucoma, the lymph fluid exerts extreme pressure on nearly all the organs inside a frog suffering from dropsy. The liver, kidneys spleen, and many other organs suddenly experience an enormous amount of pressure on them. Imagine a balloon of water, full to capacity and poised to explode with water. If you fill it too full the balloon will explode and the balloon will be unable to fulfill its purpose of holding in water. In the same way, when a lot of fluid is pushing against an organ, it becomes so stressed that it is unable to perform its job. As you could envision, those suffering from glaucoma will attest that this pressure can be extremely painful. This can cause your frog to become extremely sluggish and cease eating due the discomfort and discomfort (and clearly, a frog can't live without food).
Treatment
We don't have a clear idea of the cause of dropsy, we can't precisely treat it. However, we can certainly address the symptoms. It is usually a matter of your exotic vet to drain their African dwarf frog's stomach to eliminate the excess fluid. This helps relieve the pressure on organs and helps your frog to feel better quickly. Many people suggest adding salt to the freshwater enclosure to assist a frog who is dropsy, but this can be risky. Most of the time, the salt will kill your frog. The concept behind salt is to draw excess fluid from the frog. However, because African dwarf frogs do not belong to saltwater amphibians they tend to die as a result of the addition of salt.
It isn't much you can perform at home to aid the frog suffering from dropsy. If you include salt in their enclosure, there is a chance of leading to a painful ending to their existence. If you attempt to empty the fluid on your own you may damage something that isn't repaired. This is why it's an illness that requires experience. Euthanasia, unfortunately, could be an option to discuss with your veterinarian if they don't feel that there is any possibility for your pet frog.
Prevention
As we aren't sure what causes frog drops it's difficult to determine what we can do to prevent the frog from contracting it. It is known that it's not contagious. Some thought has been attributed to the electrolyte levels of the water that triggers the disorder. However, it's never good to keep your water as pure as possible. Remove chlorine from the water and then test the pH of your water to ensure the pH is at a neutral range (7.0-7.2).
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