WYNDHAM WEEKLY‎ (Werribee, Australia) 13 November 13 Tricky surgery for tiny growling grass frog at Werribee (Sue Hewitt)

All creatures great and small come to Melbourne University’s Werribee veterinary hospital, but an injured, endangered growling grass frog posed special problems for surgeons last week.

The frog, less than the size of a human palm, was found with an injured eye near the Maribyrnong River in Footscray and given to a hospital staff member.

Dr Susan Beths said with a creature so small it was “tricky surgery”.

“Every eye dropper of blood they lose is important, and it’s vital to monitor the respiration rate,” Dr Beths said.

“Frogs absorb everything through their skin so it had to be handled with gloves from the start.

‘‘It was identified as an endangered species so we went ahead with a very delicate operation.”

Dr Beths said surgeon Dr Sasha Herbert used a surgical eye kit with miniature instruments to remove the frog’s right eye, which makes it unsuitable for release in the wild.

It has been given to Melbourne Zoo, which has a growling grass frog breeding program.
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