Paralyzed rear legs

[vide]

This is question concerning a green toad (Bufo viridis). Even though it is not a caudate I would really appreciate some input.

So, today I noticed one of my toads mowing in an unusual way, to say the least. On closer inspection I realized that the rear legs where completely paralyzed. The thighs are a bit puffed up with fluid but these are the only symptoms I have noticed.
I examined the animal through gently feeling the bones in the legs to se if they felt weak or broken but they did not. I also gently squeezed the abdomen to se if it felt constipated but felt nothing unusual. I can see no discolorations or other abnormalities of the skin.

Yesterday it was feeding and moving normally. It still has a strong feeding response.

The toad is about 3 years old and approximately 7 cm long. I feed it mainly crickets and mealworms. I dust with calcium and vitamins at least once a week. I do not provide UV-B light.

Possibilities I am thinking about is:
MBD. But the bones feel strong and the front legs are still strong with apparently normal muscular function.
Constipation. Not sure exactly how this would cause paralysis but seem to remember hearing something about that it could.
Spinal damage through trauma. Just can’t se how that could have happened.
Chytrid fungus. God forbid! But the tank mate and my other animals seem normal.

I have now isolated the animal and I´m keeping it on moist paper towels and it has a simple hide. Otherwise I have no idea of what to do. I will call a vet tomorrow.
When googeling I found two threads in other forums where Litoria frogs where showing similar symptoms but no one had a good idea of what was causing them.

It is hart wrenching to see it in this state! Any help would be very appreciated!

Thanks in advance, Vide

 

[tylototriton]

I suspect that you are correct in assuming it is not MBD. You would most likely see all the bones being weakened. I can also tell you that it is not Chytrid fungus. Chytrid fungus affects the keratin-producing cells and causes a hardening of the ventral skin in frogs, this hardening then makes it difficult for them to absorb water and oxygen. There would be no paralysis if it were infected. Looking through Vosjoli's book on tree frogs I found kidney problems, which would cause bloating (edema) of the limbs. I honestly did not find much in the books. Spinal damage is the only other likely source I can think of. Best of luck in solving this problem

Alex

 

[salamanderguy]

it could be some sort of virus or bacteria. 6 months ago i had a disease come through and wipe out most of my collection. it started with paralazed legs and then they weakened and died. its probaly not that though

 

[Lasher]

Constipation. Not sure exactly how this would cause paralysis but seem to remember hearing something about that it could.

Not sure if its any help to you but some years ago a friend of mine kept a small group of Bufo Raddei and had exactly the same problem with one of the larger adults. He thinks it was a diet related problem. He always fed a veriety of suitable foods but as he kept quite a few large reptiles alot of 'left overs' went to the frogs - including meal worms which he had not previously fed. Over feeding of live foods with high chitin to meat ratio can cause compaction in lizards, we assumed the same thing had happened and the vet agreed.
The best theory we could come up with was that the blockage in the gut was pushing against the spine. Towards the end of its time you could definatley feel the lump in the abdomen.

The animals back legs seemed to be permanently half extended. I ate normaly for a week or two but stopped eating all together eventualy.

Unfortunatley there was noting he could do to rectify the problem and the animal had to be euthanised

The odd thing is none of the others(there were 6, two adult males, two adult females and two juvenile females) had a problem and were getting exactly the same diet - perhaps a genetic defect in that one animal that meant it couldnt digest particular foodstuffs the others could handle?

 

[vide]

toad´s condition unchanged

Thanks for the input everyone!
The toad´s condition is basically unchanged but it is now even more obviously bloated. I talked to a vet with some experience with herps but she couldn’t say much. I guess an x-ray is the only way to go to find out more but its very expensive and I suspect it would not result in any conclusions other then telling us what it’s not.
I am considering just trying to treat the bloat and I will put some more thought in to doing the x-ray…

 

[lestat]

I've heard of similar symptoms in frogs that were exposed to toxic substances, possibly an aerosol cleaner. I don't know what to suggest as far as treatment if that is the case, but it's worth keeping an eye out for.

 

[Lasher]

I think an x ray may be your only way to go. If it were environmental you'd have figured it out by now. Your right in that its not going to help fix any problem but at least it'll give you an idea what your dealing with.

 

[crotusia]

I have been having a problem like this lately with a marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) that apparently became sick because I neglected to change the substrate for too long. At first it was still alive but too weak to move. I isolated it in a separate small container with a fresh soil substrate but then noticed that it could move but was bloated, as well as not being able to move the hind limbs.

I would appreciate any advice at all about how to save it, but the animal is very sick and probably will not be able to survive much longer.

 

[xxianxx]

I had a similar problem with my african clawed toads (Xeopus laevis) a year ago, i had two related males and two related females, i found a female dead in the tank with no visible cause of death and a week latter i found the second female at an odd angle at the bottom of her tank. I picked her up to see what was wrong with her, once out of the water she hyperventilated for a couple of minutes i placed her back in the water and she couldnt swim and sank, she had no movement in her back legs so i placed her in a bucket with shallow water so that she could raise her head to breathe. I thought she might have brocken her back but the vet said it was ok, though he had no idea what was wrong, i euthanased her after a month of non feeding or improvement, her back legs appeared slightly swollen but nothing exceptional. I steralised the tank to be on the safe side but i have had no further instances of this in my collection. I would be very interested in the potential cause of this so i could prevent it happening again. They were never fed mealworms and mainly eat worms from my chemical free garden.