Illness/Sickness: Four-Toed Salamander, Maine

[slimfoli]

Yesterday I found a Four-Toed Salamander while moving old logs in my yard and it appeared injured. I created a nice little habitat for the salamander and found this forum as I know nothing about the anatomy of salamanders.

There is a bulge of what looks like its intestines coming out of its side just forward of the back left leg. The protrusion has grown larger and it looks as though it has wrapped itself around the leg. "Spot" (my daughter has named it) can still move, and seems to be ok despite his condition. Is he a "gonner" or is something biological going on?

Thank you.

 

[Jan]

What you describe is not normal anatomy. From the description, something pathological rather than biological appears to be going on and it sounds rather advanced. A few pictures, if you can post them, would allow for further discussion/comment. Have you tried feeding it...and is it eating?

 

[slimfoli]

Hi Jan, thanks for responding. Its been a few days and Spot seems to be doing well. Believe it or not, whatever was hanging out of him seems to have gotten smaller and looks as though its healing (it has also changed in color to a deep purple/red). He is still mobile. I'm just making sure his environment stays a little moist and leaving him alone to see what happens. I took a few photos but haven't managed to get them up on the site yet.

 

[Jan]

The healing capacity of a salamander is pretty remarkable - best of luck and hope the condition is indeed moving in the right direction.