Retained shed on juvenile's eyelid

[Nikkiwhiskers]

Atlas shed the day before yesterday and has retained shed on his or her lower eyelid (and a spot of it on the upper one on one side). Humidity was kept at 35-45 and warm side ranged from 86-97 F but was mostly around 90 F. I do have a humid hide. They get calcium without d3 every day and reptivite once a week.

How can I remove the shed without hurting my gecko? Atlas is fairly small and I'm hesitant to try without advice, which I need ASAP.

If a vet visit is absolutely needed and there is no alternate fix, how much would it cost? I can't pay over $150 at the moment.
Image: https://ibb.co/HpxjcD8

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Atlas shed the day before yesterday and has retained shed on his or her lower eyelid (and a spot of it on the upper one on one side). Humidity was kept at 35-45 and warm side ranged from 86-97 F but was mostly around 90 F. I do have a humid hide. They get calcium without d3 every day and reptivite once a week but will be upped to twice as soon as I get more (it's in transit right now).

How can I remove the shed without hurting my gecko? Atlas is fairly small and I'm hesitant to try without advice, which I need ASAP.

If a vet visit is absolutely needed and there is no alternate fix, how much would it cost? I can't pay over $150 at the moment.
Image: https://ibb.co/HpxjcD8

Hello ~

Are you using a heat mat or overhead heating for Atlas?

A significant increase in ambient humidity may loosen that shed just enough for this to work. IF the first 20 minutes wasn't enough, try an additional 30 minutes.

Prepare a plastic food container.

1. Poke several holes in it so Atlas can breathe.
2. Place damp paper towels inside.
3. Spray all around.
4. Place Atlas inside.
5. Snap on the lid.
6. Place this directly on top of your heat mat for 20 minutes.
7. Be sure temps do NOT exceed 91*F.
8. Open container.
9. Try gently removing stuck eyelid shed with a wet q-tip.

Do you have a thermostat? A thermostat will prevent spikes to 97*F and keep temps relatively stable.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Just use Reptivite multivitamins with D3 at 1 feeding per week + 2 other light dustings with plain calcium per week. As Atlas matures he'll go from daily meals to eating 3x per week. Keep the supplement schedule the same.

Weekly Schedule 124 for Leopard Geckos 0-12 months old
Adapted for leo Atlas
(withOUT UVB)​

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) symptoms include uneven (lopsided) gait, walking on one or both "elbows", bowed limbs, belly dragging, and an underbite. Difficulty chewing should be closely monitored.

The Reptile Supply Company based in Lodi, California stocks Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3.

During this time your leopard gecko will be transitioning from daily feeding to feeding 3x per week. This all depends upon how fast your leo grows!

Feed lightly dusted prey 3x per week.

• Monday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins with D3
• Tuesday > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting
• Wednesday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with pure precipitated calcium carbonate withOUT D3 (Zoo Med's Repti Calcium or NOW human brand calcium)
• Thursday > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting
• Friday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with pure precipitated calcium carbonate withOUT D3 (Zoo Med's Repti Calcium or NOW human brand calcium)
• Saturday > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting
• Sunday > > no food or free choice > > no dusting

For link 124 click: Weekly Feeding & Supplement Schedule 124 for leopard geckos 0-12 months old

 

[acpart]

To get the shed off the eyelid you're going to have to use tweezers. I was terrified the first time I did this. Hold the gecko firmly with your fingers holding the head still. Give it time to relax and stop struggling. Steady your arm and use the tweezers to gently grab hold of the edge of the shed. Sometimes even with the best humid hide they just don't get it all off and it's really important to remove it from around the eye so it doesn't get up in the eyelid and cause an abrasion.

Aliza

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Have some of these suggestions worked for that eyelid shed, Nikki?

 

[Nikkiwhiskers]

Hopefully the ice will clear soon so I can take him/her to the vet. I'm concerned that it hasn't come off yet. Until then I'm still using the suggestions above.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hopefully the ice will clear soon so I can take him/her to the vet. I'm concerned that it hasn't come off yet. Until then I'm still using the suggestions above.

I'm a little surprised.

Try spraying your gecko as well as the paper towels and sides of the plastic humidity box. 60 minutes inside that box won't hurt at all. That should loosen the skin enough for a wet q-tip to work.

IF the stuck shed is on the eyelid's surface, and the eyelid is shut, try wiping the eyelid with a dry q-tip immediately after 60 minutes in the warm humidity box.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'm a little surprised.

Try spraying your gecko as well as the paper towels and sides of the plastic humidity box. 60 minutes inside that box won't hurt at all. That should loosen the skin enough for a wet q-tip to work.

IF the stuck shed is on the eyelid's surface, and the eyelid is shut, try wiping the eyelid with a dry q-tip immediately after 60 minutes in the warm humidity box.

Additional Tips:

Be sure to monitor your gecko at all times during these procedures.

Always give your gecko a head start with a humidity box/sauna. Place your gecko in a Humidity Box for several hours to loosen stuck shed on eyes, toes, head, and/or body (including the tail tip).

*** If the eyes have retained shed, gently flush them with a normal saline solution. Fill a small squeeze bottle with a contact lens wetting/moistening solution such as Blink Wetting Solution for Contacts NOT a contact lens CLEANER. Aim the flow towards the eye(s).

Alternatively, saturate a cotton ball or a small sterile gauze pad with this normal saline. Gently hold this against the eye(s) for several minutes. Avoid the nose! Afterwards gently wipe the eyelid with this gauze away from the snout/nose. ***​

IF these methods are ineffective or if there are any signs of infection, seek vet attention immediately!

 

[Lizardian]

I've used a q-tip dipped in mineral oil to help loosen my own gecko's shed. You should be able to get mineral oil from any pharmacy or grocery store that has a pharmacy area.

If you do end up taking the gecko to a vet, you can always ask for a price estimate. They probably can't provide you with a very accurate price without seeing the issue first, but they could at least tell you what to expect for the office visit / exam. You can even be upfront and tell them you can't pay over $150 at the visit and to have them inform you before doing additional services / diagnostics if costs are expected to go higher. They'll work something out.