tree frog ulcer

Question
QUESTION: Our Green Tree Frog of about 3 weeks has a large ulcer from snout to almost the right eye.  I'm not sure if it's an abrasion or worse.  It's a Sat. evening and our exotic vet has yet to call me back.  Should I apply neosporin or diluted hydrogen peroxide?  Should I separate him from the White's Tree Frog he shares a rather large terrarium with?

Thanks for any advice,
Dana

ANSWER: Hi Dana, It could have started out as a rostril abrasion that has become infected. With luck it is not, or will not develop into, a generalized septicemia. The development of bacterial lesions is somewhat common with newly acquired frogs. I used to encounter it with new shipments of various frog species when I was in retail.

Peroxide is not suitable for amphibians, but Polysporin or Neosporin can be used. Betadine is also toxic for amphibians but can be used at a high dilution of one part Betadine to 100 parts water. It has a broad anti-bacterial and anti-fungal spectrum so it can be useful.  
Whether to quarantine him is always a tough call because these types of infections are exacerbated by stress and moving him again is one more stress factor. You will be able to keep a smaller temporary enclosure cleaner and monitor his food intake better and it is better to safe then sorry with your other frog. Make sure he has access to a warm spot of around 85F which will boost his immune system and handle him no more then necessary for the treatment. I'm glad to hear that you contacted a vet, I hope you hear back from them soon. Good luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thea,

I just read about the WTF w/ the Baytril abscesses.  I wanted to add that we are giving our Green Tree Frog Baytril.  The vet titrated it out and preloaded the syringes for me, so it's a quick procedure.  I am opening him w/ a periosteal elevator, a dental instrument that is blunt.  I did not cause the hole/perf I see tonight w/ anything sharp, but he is receiving the Baytril orally.  Do you think it's related?  I'm quite fond of this little guy and I fear things aren't going as I hoped.

Dana

Answer
Hi Dana, Your vet sounds like she is up with the current recommendations for treating amphibians, such as they are. It is not a very well studied area. An initial injection of Baytril followed by oral administration is the current recommendation that combines safety and efficacy. Initially it was thought that sufficient plasma levels could not be achieved orally, but studies and clinical evidence appear to disprove this.  It is quite common for the Baytril injectable solution to be used orally, although there is also an oral solution. It might be worth asking your vet what type you were given. I know that the use of the injectable as an oral will cause mouth erosions and lesions in horses. Can the same thing happen in frogs? Maybe.  All of the antibiotic use in amphibians (and reptiles) is off-label so there are no formal studies documenting contraindications and side effects.
It may also be worth asking your vet's opinion on the use of ceftazidime which is a 3rd generation cephalosporin with broad spectrum activity. It is normally an injectable but can be used topically with amphibians.
Baytril has long been the gold standard that vets reach for but this newer antibiotic is also demonstrating treatment success in stubborn cases.

Kudos to you for such effort and taking such a responsible course of action. I'm really pulling for the little guy!