Taking your frog, toad or other amphibian pet to the vet is challenging enough, but in winter, more so.
Your amphibian may already be ill, so it’s vital that s/he be kept warm. A sudden change to a cold temperature can make the condition worse, even kill your pet.
Following a few simple steps will help ensure a safe trip to the vet.
Heat your car for a few minutes beforehand. A cold car can be a shock to a pet.
Place your pet in a container with a lid – plastic will do. Poke holes in it to provide air circulation. Put some wet bedding at the bottom of the container. It can be paper towels or cloth that have been moistened or bedding from your pet’s home. The bedding provides moisture, a burrowing place and makes cleanup afterwards easier.
You can add more warmth to the container using a hot water bottle. If you don’t have one, take an old sock, fill it with rice and heat in the microwave. Or fill a latex glove with hot water and secure it. Make sure you can easily handle any of these items because if they are too hot they can burn your pet. You can wrap your heat choice in a towel if you’re not sure.
After the vet visit, prepare for the trip back home. If the bedding is dry, ask your vet if you can wet it and if you can reheat the heat source, either using hot water or a microwave.
It’s a good idea to have a container partially prepared and anything else necessary for travel within easy reach. In this way, if an emergency arises, you’re close to being ready to go.
Always keep your vet’s telephone number handy as well as the number of an emergency clinic in case your vet is not available.