Hi,

This is dropsy or bloating disease. Please read the article I wrote about the subject below and visit my website for more info.

`Bloating Disease' is a common affliction of African Clawed and
African Dwarf clawed frogs. Bloating Disease as it is often referred to, is when large amounts of lymph fluids collect in the abdomen,legs and chin of the frog, as well as in major lymphatic zones,giving the frog the appearance of a blown up latex rubber glove.
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels (channels), nodes
(glands) and organs. It functions as part of the immune system to protect against and fight infection, inflammation, and cancers. It also functions in the transport of fluids, fats, proteins, and other substances within the body. When the channels and nodes become blocked, the frog starts to suffer with Bloat. From many, many reports of this condition I have found out that there seems to be two types of bloating disease, acute and non-acute. The acute condition comes on very quickly; the frog swells within hours and often looks red, lethargic and does not eat before symptoms occur. If caught early enough this can be treated, it is less likely for the frog to survive, although they do have a good chance if it is treated early enough. The non-acute type of bloat often takes weeks or months for the fluid to accumulate. This is often why it takes a
long time for owners to realize something is wrong as they believe their frog is just putting on weight. The frog does not exhibit any other symptoms except for the bloating and fluid accumulation, they continue to eat, mate and swim around for a long time with this type of the disease. It is treated in the same way as acute bloat, but it may take longer to take effect, but survival rate is higher than with acute bloat. The frog can live with the acute condition for a short period of time but soon the frog will stop eating and become buoyant due to the pressure of the fluids on the internal organs. Frogs with Non-acute bloat can present symptoms for up to 3 years before the frog becomes ill or dies, and up till then will act completely normally. From my research I have discovered that it appears to be caused by the repeated infection of a certain type of bacteria which seems to affect the lymph ducts which drain the
bodies fluids properly, the bacteria seems to block or stop function and ability of these ducts which leads to the accumulation of large amounts of lymph fluid. This fluid can naturally be broken down and be drained by the frog's lymph nodes if proper conditions or medication is administered to help the lymphatic system function properly again. Aquarium salt and external and oral administration of Anti-Internal Bacterial tropical fish remedy has appeared to be
successful. Some accounts have shown that a pure diet of bloodworm can often lead to BD, especially in ADF's.


Chris
www.clawedfrogs.tk
All About African Clawed Frogs

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