Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A month ago, I adopted a White's tree frog from someone who was moving out of the country. He's been eating ok. Not great, just ok. I figured it was just him getting used to a new place and a new owner. I noticed a lump on his back about 2 weeks ago. I called her and she said not to worry about it, that every so often he would get a couple bumps and she would either take him to the vet so the bad ones could be drained or she gave him oral antibiotic drops and the bumps went away after a few days. So I decided to just keep an eye on it. Tonight when I took him out, the bump had a little white spot on top. Not to sound gross... but it kinda looked like a huge whitehead that was ready to pop. So I kinda pressed around it a little bit and it didn't seem to bother him. I went about my tank cleaning routine with him on my shoulder, lah-ti-dah, and then I pick him up to put him back in his tank and theres a long thin string of whitish-grey stuff running from the center of the hole to almost all the way down to his butt. I thought it was pus so I tried to wipe it and he cringed. It is a worm. I poked at it and it slowly recoiled. I took some scissors and cut it above the hole. It's probably 1.5 inches long. And the remaining little piece slowly withdrew into the hole. My frog didn't see to flinch or anything when I cut the worm, but he flinched big time when I lightly tugged on it to see how much would come out.

So... What is it?! What do I do??? The worm is thin, skinny, flat and white. I don't see segments but that doesn't mean there aren't any. Oh, and he refused to eat tonight.

Oh no! I think cutting it off was the WRONG thing to do. I think it is a Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm) and granted this is talking about humans not frogs but it says:

"Infected individuals usually wind the emergent worm around a small stick; however, they dare only pull out a few centimeters of worm each day, lest the worm break. If the worm breaks, the individual will experience a painful and serious reaction that may include anaphylaxis. Without surgical intervention, the process of removing the worm usually takes weeks or months.

No medication is available to end or prevent infection. However, sometimes the worm can be surgically removed before an ulcer forms. Analgesics, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce swelling; antibiotic ointment can help prevent bacterial infections."

Help! Please?

I really don't think there is anything we can say or you can do to help your frog. You need to see a vet. None of this "its just a frog" nonsense either. You have taken this life into youre care and you owe it to the frog to try everything you can to get it better. Find a reliable vet.
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

White's tree frogs : 1:1:0
Mantella viridis : 1:1:2

No, he's not just a frog. I adopted him as a rescue, actually. Not that makes him special, it just makes me want to try harder since he's previous owners were less than suitable.

We went to the vet this afternoon. It's not a Guinea Worm. Vet thinks it is a parasite similar to a tape worm. He went ahead and pulled the rest of the worm out and Squishy flinched but then was fine. I have to give him an oral dewormer and a topical antibiotic. We go back in one month for a recheck and another dose of the dewormer. Unless he isn't healing well and then it's back to the vet asap. He said that Squishy is very healthy otherwise and that he should heal up just fine.

My neighbor asked how much it cost and I told her. She then retorts "coulda bought 2 or 3 new ones for that price". Humans bother me.

I'm sorry if I sounded harsh. wasn't in the best of moods yesterday!

Glad your frogs going to be ok, its always good to hear success stories, (with vets along with the frogs)

People bother me too. I get laughed at when I bring my frogs or my budgies to the vets. Since they are relatively inexpensive, people think that they are replaceable. I wonder if they would feel that way about their dog or kid eh? (kids are free after all, they just cost alot of money once you get them) lol (and you bring them to the "vets" alot!)
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I think my frog owns a megaphone....

White's tree frogs : 1:1:0
Mantella viridis : 1:1:2

good point, ppl. value life on how much stuff costs, if a piedball ball python was sick most ppl. would take it to the vet, but if a normal one was then they probally wouldn't. exact same species, personality ect, different price.

uh, me too. i can't beleive she said that, it was her frog, not that that should have made any difference but still... even if she was thinking that it would have been smart to keep it to herself, cause obviously you didn't feel that way. it was good of you to take it to the vet though, good luck with him!

He's doing much better. The wound on his back is hardly even noticeable now! His appetite still sucks. But the vet said it could be a few weeks before he starts eating normally again. He also said that he was a bit chunky so it wouldn't hurt him any to fast for a few weeks. *gasp* You callin' my frog fat?! LOL He also said that crickets need to be his main food and mealworms as a treat, not the other way around. Easy for him to say, he doesn't have to convince Squishy, I do!

glad to hear he's doing better, most herps can go a while without eating so he should be fine. i know what you mean about convincing them to eat crix, for a while my dragon would only eat worms, they he got sick of them or something, because he doesn't eat them very much now.

Did the vet ever give you a species name for the tapeworm? The way you explained it, long and THIN, sounds like a tapeworm, but when you said no segments then it sounds like a roundworm.