Gas bubble disease is seen in aquatic frogs when the water is supersaturated with air. Bubbles may be seen in the skin webs and foot webs, but death is usually from secondary septicemia. Careful monitoring of pumps and pressurized water systems should prevent this condition. Neoplasia may occur sporadically, but there is no consistent pattern. Rectal and cloacal prolapses are not uncommon and may be secondary to ascites.
Prolapse replacement is simple to achieve, but many animals recover spontaneously.
Causes of death in many amphibians remain undetermined. Common histological findings include hepatitis, glomerulonephropathy, renal cysts, and skeletal myonecrosis. These may be related to chronic low grade toxicity or nutritional factors. Very little pharmacological data exists although many drugs have been used on amphibians. The studies that have been done were usually on one species at one temperature.