Diseased and Dead Frogs

[brbrown]

Yesterday, I discovered one of my garden frogs with a problem. It is yellowish with black markings, fairly large and one that has been around for a while now. I found it quickly groping around in circles and then turning on its back and then lying still. When I uprighted it, it followed the same sequence of movements. It looked healthy enough with its usual plumpness, no apparent damage or discolouring. Today it is dead. I have looked at the description of symptoms on the Frogwatch web site and none of them seem to apply. What could be the cause? Has anyone seen this problem before please?

[Kayleigh]

It could have been poisoned if there was no physical sign..
Have you or your neighbours used slug pellets..
It could have eaten a poisoned slug..
Or just died of old age or anything really.

[brbrown]

Hello Kayleigh. Thanks for the reply. No I haven't used slug pellets but I suppose, as the frogs move around, they may have eaten some pellets in another garden. I wondered if the turning in circles might pin point the problem. It reminds me of a problem cows get sometimes where they stumble and chase around in cicles. Brian.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by brbrown

Hello Kayleigh. Thanks for the reply. No I haven't used slug pellets but I suppose, as the frogs move around, they may have eaten some pellets in another garden. I wondered if the turning in circles might pin point the problem. It reminds me of a problem cows get sometimes where they stumble and chase around in cicles. Brian.

Not sure but it sounds like it was in discomfort well it was as it was dead the next day..
Did you remove the body as if it was poison something else might eat it.
Was this the only one.

[Malcolm Banks]

Hi Brian, The clinical signs do not on the face of it resemble infection with either the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (fungus) or a ranavirus. However, reading the article ( World frog trade spreading killer diseases - environment - 07 May 2009 - New Scientist ) in a recent New Scientist, maybe it should be reported to the Frogwatch people, in the event that other cases with similar clinical signs are (or have been) observed.
M

[brbrown]

Hello Kayleigh. Yes I have removed the frog and in fact wrapped it in polythene in case and in answer to your posting Malcom, I did let Frogwatch know and wondered if they might want it for testing. Apparently they do this sometimes. Brian

[dampflippers]

http://www.froglife.org/FAS/FAS7.pdf
Leaflet to download on amphibian disease.
Yes, it does say keep it in case they want to exmine it.

There is a fornm to fill in here: Froglife - latest news

I would also suggest you email with photo if poss, description and your postcode and ask if they want you to send it to them.
info@froglife.org

[brbrown]

Hi Damflippers. Thanks for the reply and links - good information. I have already filled in the form you refer to. I will email as you suggest.Brian

[Kayleigh]

I found a dead frog yesterday the only one I have found since I made the pond in 3 years and hopefully the last..
No marks on it but there was red marks nuder the front legs not sure if this was just the natural markings of the frog or something more sinister..

[dampflippers]

Oh dear! Hope it is a natural death, but you should still fill in the Froglife form or email them with your location and is poss a photo.
They are mapping the spread of deaths and diseases, so any info is helpful.