[annex19]

Hi people,
I have a big problem with my Hemidactylus imbricatus (viper gecko).
It started a month ago. I thought that he was getting fat but 5 days ago I saw there was a something serious wrong! I asked what was going on… but now one knows , but they all said the same thing: go to see a vet immediately. So I went that day.

They said that it’s a serious infection, so they gave me some medication. The other thing that was possible was taking it away, but if it’s not only that but also blood he could die. So they said medication was the best option for now.
I need to give it him 10 days (with honey). That’s not a problem, except that he don’t takes it very well, so I hope he takes enough of it. Now it’s day four, he’s stressed and don’t eats (+ drinks) anymore. I don’t know what to do. The big problem is that I don’t know of the vet is right. No one on the forums of Belgium/Nederland’s ever had this problem.
So does anyone recognize this problem OR know something that I need to do different?
Please help

[thehotchik1000]

The biggest thing to do is to keep him hydrated. A warm bath for 15-20 min a day at 88.f could help do this. Or syringe feeding some water might help. What exactly were his symptoms? How did the vets determine this is an infection? Did they run any specific tests? I hope his meds work but if he doesn't seem to be making progress get him back asap to see if something needs to be changed or modified. Hope this helps.

[annex19]

-What exactly were his symptoms?
Nothing, he ate and drank well. But he had problems to climb over obstacles.
-How did the vets determine this is an infection?
When I called her and told what was going on, she told me he was just fat. But on the forum they said: that's imposseble. So I send her a e-mail with the picture and called her again. When she saw the picture she know it was a infection. She felt etc. But not a specific test. It was inpossible with such a little reptile, because of stress and taking it away was a big risk.

The medication won't work so soon, I think, because she told me I need te call her back within 10 days. To tell her if I saw anything...

[annex19]

On another forum they told me to amputate the tail.
Isn't that a great risk?

[thehotchik1000]

Well it could be a risk with an animal that isn't eating or drinking. Also, is there any way they can drain the tail? Reptile puss is very hard almost like old cheese. So unless it's filled with fluid they might have to make an incision to let whatever out. In That case amputation might be an acceptable risk. I don't keep this species but the tail does look very filled with fluid. Possibly they could try to remove some with a syringe to see exactly what it is. If nothing comes out there's a good change that it is a massive access in that case the infection will not go away until the puss is removed.

[annex19]

He was eating perfectly untill I needed to seperated him from the others. So if his tail gets off, he will also be seperated for some days (until the wound is ok I think).
In that case he won't eat eather.

I don't know what the best option is. Now I'm waiting if the medication works, but if it isn't better by next Monday I need to dicide. Someone told me that amputate the tail was probably already to late.

What would you do?

[thehotchik1000]

I don't think it's too late if the tail does need to come off. I would give the meds a little bit to see of their working. But I would also have the back up plan which it seems like you do. I have a feeling he's not eating bc of the infection and I think that if the vet does amputate the tail he'll bounce back fairly quickly. Generally the stumps close up quickly and tail loses are quite easy to deal with. Since they really aren't giving you any answers I would start discussing this with them.

[annex19]

I called the vet because he had(have) a wound. Now he needs more medication. Amputation is impossible, because it's to risky. So I hope the medication will help!

[thehotchik1000]

If he has had a wound I suspect that is the source of the infection. For it to fully heal and for the infection to go away I think they will have to remove the infected material or puss. Reptile puss is fairly hard to deal with bc its not liquid like mammilian puss is. It's hard like dried old cheese. Yucky stuff. I had a Leo with a fairly bad infection in her eye. I had received her as a relinquish animal from the prev owner. We had done a few courses of antibiotics but it refused to heal. My vet didnt want to do an incision to remove the puss bc it was so close to her eye and with help from the vet tech ended up maneuvering a pea sized rock of puss out of her mouth abbess. The infection had originated there and had gotten so bad it moved into her ocular cavity. So it's quite yucky stuff. Perhaps they can do the same or make a small incision if it's on or near the tail. I hope they can. For that little guy to get better it seems like something needs to happen quickly. I hope he gets through this.

[annex19]

the wounds weren't there before. I now, because I needed to look when I now there was something wrong.... and there were no wounds