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Quick answer
Swollen individuals could be carrying eggs, have an infection
that's caused them to take on water
or have an intestinal blockage.
Further
information
Female amphibians become noticeably swollen with eggs in spring.
This is natural and they normally return to a smaller size once
they have spawned. Occasionally, a bloated amphibian could
be a female that is egg-bound - where eggs get stuck in the
reproductive system. Try contacting a vet about this as they may
be able to release the eggs; most vets treat wild animals for
free but do ring to check first, also many may not be confident
treating amphibians.
A swollen
amphibian may also be indicative of a blockage in the gut.
Unless a vet is able to help with this (which may not be
possible) the outcome is, unfortunately, not good for these animals.
Sometimes Froglife receives reports of frogs (or other
amphibians) that become noticeably bloated. The bloating is
apparent all over body of the frog, rather that only the belly
(which indicates the animal is carrying eggs or has a digestive
problem). This unusual bloating is
thought to be related to a hormonal imbalance which pulls water
into the frog's body causing it to swell. Symptoms often appear
to subside over time but, again, a vet may be able to help by
draining the fluid.
Toads also inflate themselves as a defence mechanism (to make
them look too large to eat). They will 'deflate' when the
perceived threat has passed.
If you have found a bloated amphibian that is dead this is likely
to have occurred after death (especially if it died in the pond)
rather than being a symptom of something that killed it.
Find my nearest vet.
Find a wildlife hospital.
Amphibian disease.
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