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Emergency procedures in the field: a report of wound treatment and fast healing in the giant ditch frog (Leptodactylus fallax)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

GM Rosa  and
A Fernández-Loras
GM Rosa*
Affiliation:
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NR, UK Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2 Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrés Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK
A Fernández-Loras
Affiliation:
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrés Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands, UK Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: goncalo.m.rosa@gmail.com
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Abstract

A sub-adult, female, giant ditch frog (Leptodactylus fallax) (known locally as a mountain chicken) presented with a puncture of the coelomic cavity with partial intestinal evisceration. Improvised field treatment included replacement of the eviscerated intestines and closure of the wound using cotton-tipped applicator swabs. After seven days, the animal's injury appeared to be healed. During the rapid progression of the healing process, the animal showed no adverse effects. This report demonstrates a novel and successful field technique for wound treatment of a serious penetrating injury in an amphibian. It also shows a practical, feasible, and beneficial procedure that improved this animal's welfare and that might be appropriate under field conditions or if standard medical procedures cannot be followed.

Keywords

amphibian medicineanimal welfarefield surgeryLeptodactylus fallaxminor surgerywound healing
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , November 2012 , pp. 559 - 562
Copyright
© 2012 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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