LAUSR

An adult female denny’s tree frog (Polypedates dennysi) of a captive population, weighing 61.0 g, presented with acute flaccid paralysis of the rear legs. On presentation, the frog was quiet, alert, and in good body condition. Upon physical examination, the frog was severely debilitated, could hold its body up with the front legs, but had paresis of the rear legs with questionable deep pain response. No fractures were palpated and no wounds were observed. The animal was empirically treated with calcium gluconate (Wedgewood Pharmacy, Swedesboro, New Jersey 08085, USA; 150 mg/kg) and sodium chloride (Hospira, Inc., Lake Forest, Illinois 66045, USA; 15 ml/kg) intracoelomically. A series of whole body radiographs—thoracic, abdominal, and appendicular skeleton—were taken (Figs. 1, 2). After 24 hr the frog’s condition remained unchanged and the decision was made to humanely euthanize it. Anesthesia was induced with a saturated buffered solution of tricaine methanesulfonate MS-222 (Western Chemical Inc., Ferndale, Washington 98248, USA; 5 g/L). Once fully anesthetized, a blood sample was obtained from the heart and submitted for ionized calcium (iCa). Results of the iCa revealed a value of 0.86 mmol/L (reference range mean value 1.16–2.75 mmol/L). The frog was not recovered from the prepared anesthetic solution. Make your list of differential diagnoses from the radiographs before continuing to the next page.