Wierd open wound on 10 year old Leopard gecko

guinessthegecko · #1 10-31-2011, 03:12 AM

Hey everybody!

Edited to add pic. When I created the album I didnt realize how clear the pic turned out!

Im brand new here! my SO and I have a 10+ year old leopard gecko whos been having a bit of a rough time lately and we thought he was almost fully back to health. Until we discovered the wound. Its very wierd. Its an open wound thats probably about a square inch worth of surface that looks like its been either scraped or bitten off.

Hes in a Extra Large Exo Terra terrarium on paper towel with a infrared lamp. We found no other blood or stuff in the tank but we did find what looked like some discarded skin but it was the smallest amount. There was no unusually sharp corners except for in an area he cant get to, and if he can get to it, it would have affected the opposite side so were a bit confused.

We immediately gave it a pat down with a wet Qtip, then a once over with a dry one and immediately started the polysporin treatment. Then I registered here. I'm going to try to get a pic uploaded so you guys can see. Also, there's some hardened area just above and to the right of his hemipenes (He used to have an abscess there, more about that below) And it just doesn't look firm or right compared to how it used to look.

A bit if back history on the guys past year:
He had a bad abscess over his right eye, completely swelled up and covered it. Thankfully it's fully healed now. We took him to a herp they gave us antibiotics and we administered it daily. He also had an abscess on his hemipene that we had removed by a pro and we treated it daily. It seemed like he had been getting back to health and then we discovered this. Anybody seen this before? Will he drop his tail and is there anything we can do to make this more easy for him?
THanks in advance!

Yoshi'smom · #2 10-31-2011, 08:19 AM

That picture will help. Otherwise I can't help to much without it.

Nativeson · #3 10-31-2011, 09:06 AM

Pics would definately help, but unfortunately it would seem like you are on your way back to the vet. Is there maybe an underlying cause of these things? For example a bacterial or viral infection that's not being treated thoroughly? Something that maybe is dormant for a while and rears its ugly head when your thinking everything is getting better? Before and after the other "events" was his enclosure and all the furniture completely sanitized? Maybe there was/is some cross contamination happening?
Just some ideas and my 2 cents. I'm sure most would agree that your only true course of action here is a visit to a qualified herp vet, which it seems you already have one! Best of luck and please keep us posted.

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**Riverside Reptiles** · #4 10-31-2011, 11:58 AM

I've seen salmonella present itself with open wounds on herps. But again, without testing, there's no way know. I would say that your best bet is a trip to the vet. Be careful with using topical antibiotics. If it's in a spot where the gecko can lick it off, you probably shouldn't be using it as they are not made for ingestion.

guinessthegecko · #5 10-31-2011, 05:24 PM

Pic added. You can see the wound, and the hemipene area above it, Ive since cleaned it pretty well but its still hard to the touch and he does NOT like us around it at all.

Yoshi'smom · #6 10-31-2011, 06:00 PM

It honestly looks like a burn or stuck shed problem. Is he housed alone?

Nke · #7 10-31-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoshi'smom

It honestly looks like a burn or stuck shed problem. Is he housed alone?

Doesnt look like a burn at all imo. But alot like a shed problem, so you might be right there

guinessthegecko · #8 10-31-2011, 06:15 PM

Yes he is housed alone. he also seems to be in pretty good spirits, hes still eating (mealies and silks. we used to feed him crickets, but not since the eye thing)

Yoshi'smom · #9 10-31-2011, 06:23 PM

I would take him to the vet and ask what you should do about it. I know like RiversideReptiles said that topical ointments are not good to use if the gecko can lick it off.

Nke · #10 10-31-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoshi'smom

I would take him to the vet and ask what you should do about it. I know like RiversideReptiles said that topical ointments are not good to use if the gecko can lick it off.

Imo you shouldnt put too much money into such an old animal! Sorry but thats what i think