Problem with Leela-tu

[Kelentari]

Well, Leela-tu stopped eating and has lost weight. I took her to the vet today. The doctor did a fecal exam and said there were no signs of parasites. She thinks it could be cryptosporidium but said that we could treat the symptoms first before we sent off for the test. She sent me home with an antibiotic and panacur. She also suggested I raise the temp in her cage and give her warm baths twice a day. So here's hoping it's not that dreaded condition and that the medicine and baths will give her her appetite back.

 

[Hannah64127]

i'm sorry to here she's sick
i have a bearded dragon who is seriously ill she may have a fractured back or gout or some other things she is getting fed baby food very day.she is on steroids and very heavy antibiotics and were still not completely sure whats wrong with her.also she is getting two 30 minute baths and she has perked up a little bit

 

[cindy]

Oh Damm!! I had a female with cryptosporidium, and in the last stage before she died, she was only skin & bones....
I did everything in my power to keep her alive; providing medication and fluids, raising the temperature, force-feeding, etc. She lived for another six months, and then the disease finally killed her.
I so hope Leela-tu isn't infected!!
I don't know if you have any help to give her the medication?? I usually diddn't, so I used a toothpick (horizontal) to open her mouth. I then could easily give her the meds. It worked perfectly!
Please keep me updated on how she's doing, oké??? And I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's not cryptosporidium.
Greetings,

Cindy

 

[Kelentari]

Oh Damm!! I had a female with cryptosporidium, and in the last stage before she died, she was only skin & bones....
I did everything in my power to keep her alive; providing medication and fluids, raising the temperature, force-feeding, etc. She lived for another six months, and then the disease finally killed her.
I so hope Leela-tu isn't infected!!
I don't know if you have any help to give her the medication?? I usually diddn't, so I used a toothpick (horizontal) to open her mouth. I then could easily give her the meds. It worked perfectly!
Please keep me updated on how she's doing, oké??? And I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's not cryptosporidium.
Greetings,

Cindy

Well I thought I would have help, but my dad didn't today...the doctor said I could open her mouth with a credit card and then someone else could administer the medicine. I tried to do it by myself but failed miserably. She licked a little of it off of her nose and when her mouth was slightly open, so I tried putting the rest in but spazzed out and squirted it across my desk.


So how did you manage the toothpick method? Stick the tip in first then turn it? Leela's so little and I'm afraid of hurting her while I'm forcing her poor little mouth open. *sigh

 

[lemonjello]

It is extremely important that your leo (and your hands witch have just held the leo) don't come into contact with other leos. If the vet said there wasn't any parasites in the poop, and she didn't find any crypto in there, she should be OK.

You named a gecko leela-tu?

 

[cindy]

hey Kelentari,

A credicard????? Oh my, that vet should place a creditcard in her own mouth, and see how she likes that!:-x Leela-tu is just to little for something big like that!!:roll:
If possible, place her in your softly closed hand, and only let her head stick out. If she wriggles, and tries to escape don't get frustrated ;-), just let her get tired and keep placing your hand over her body and paws. Then you take the toothpick (horizontal) and with the most flattened side you push lightly at her mouth. She will get agitated and shorly opens her mouth. Then you can push it a bit backwards. Now just keep it there. She will first put up a fight to get rid off the toothpick, but eventually give up. Than you will be able to administere her meds.
As soon as she had her meds, you can remove the toothpick, and bring her back to the safety off her vivarium.
Good luck, and please keep me informed if it works for you!?
Hope she'l gets better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greetings,

Cindy

 

[Kelentari]

Thank you so much for the tips, Cindy. Leela isn't doing well, though. I noticed she was having trouble moving properly today--she seemed to only be able to navigate left circles. I got her out for her bath and she got really nervous--she eventually calmed down, but I had to rest my finger underneath her head to keep it above the (extremely shallow) water. I was gently letting little drops drip off of my finger onto her back. She seemed fine with that then suddenly got agitated again. I then lifted her out of her bath and set her back in her home. She had some disturbing seizures, which included her opening her mouth several times. Afterward, I noticed that she had deposited a little yellow/white bm on my glove. I'm going to leave her alone for a bit before trying to give her her meds. She's in one of her hides now.

 

[Kazska]

Damn I'm sorry to hear about that hope she gets better soon!

xxxXXX

 

[lemonjello]

hey Kelentari,

A credicard????? Oh my, that vet should place a creditcard in her own mouth, and see how she likes that!:-x Leela-tu is just to little for something big like that!!:roll:
If possible, place her in your softly closed hand, and only let her head stick out. If she wriggles, and tries to escape don't get frustrated ;-), just let her get tired and keep placing your hand over her body and paws. Then you take the toothpick (horizontal) and with the most flattened side you push lightly at her mouth. She will get agitated and shorly opens her mouth. Then you can push it a bit backwards. Now just keep it there. She will first put up a fight to get rid off the toothpick, but eventually give up. Than you will be able to administere her meds.
As soon as she had her meds, you can remove the toothpick, and bring her back to the safety off her vivarium.
Good luck, and please keep me informed if it works for you!?
Hope she'l gets better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greetings,

Cindy

Well, cindy, sometimes geckos will lock up their jaws so that you can't open them with a toothpick. And if you used a toothpick to open a gecko's jaws, there is a much higher chance of injury(Like getting stabbed). I doubt the vet wanted to put the WHOLE credit card in her mouth, either :roll:

 

[Kelentari]

Well, thank you for all of your kind replies, everybody. My poor little Leela-tu has passed away.

This is the second gecko that I've purchased from the petstore that has died. I guess I should have learned my lesson the first time, but I thought maybe I'd have better luck with my second Leela.

Since the vet didn't see any other problems except for suspecting cryptosporidium, I am forced to assume she had it. I'm tempted to just throw out Leela's tank and all of her dishes and furniture. I've read that ammonia will kill crypto, but I'm not sure I want to risk it. Any thoughts?

 

[lifeshighways]

I have not got one single bit of advice for you, all I can say is I have followed your post on both Leelu's and feel so sorry for you, you seem to try every possible method to save them and keep ending with the same result. I know it's heart wrenching for you, especially since Leos are so hearty!
Dont give up.. please keep trying..I don't know where you are but if you're on the East Coast of the US I can help you find a dealer around here that will send you very healthy lil babies....

I would however get rid of anything that has ever been in contact with either of the Leelu's! Just for precaution sake ya know? I wouldnt take a chance with cleaning anything!

Good Luck to you, feel free to add me on myspace (lifeshighways@gmail.com) or you can email me directly anytime you like!

 

[lemonjello]

Well, thank you for all of your kind replies, everybody. My poor little Leela-tu has passed away.

This is the second gecko that I've purchased from the petstore that has died. I guess I should have learned my lesson the first time, but I thought maybe I'd have better luck with my second Leela.

Since the vet didn't see any other problems except for suspecting cryptosporidium, I am forced to assume she had it. I'm tempted to just throw out Leela's tank and all of her dishes and furniture. I've read that ammonia will kill crypto, but I'm not sure I want to risk it. Any thoughts?

MY thought is that you should get a necropsy on her, so you can REALLY see what happened, instead of just believing one thing when it could have been another.