RandomWiktor
New member
Ungh. I just got done spending nearly $200 on a gecko I had no desire to own.
One of my friends, who is unemployed and has some pretty major health issues, called me today because his tenant (a cousin) bailed out and left behind a gecko (and plenty of unpaid rent). He said it "looks really messed up" and asked if I could come take a look at it. This was the understatement of the century: the gecko had four major abscesses on its face (one was the size of a large pea) and was living in a 10g full of waste and dead crickets with one hide, an empty water bowl, and filthy calci-sand for sub. The animal clearly needed a vet, but my buddy is in no position to pay, especially now short the tenant's rent.
I am in a financial situation where it hurts to pay a big vet bill, but it can be done. Ethically I couldn't say "sorry buddy, not my animal, not gonna help." So I took the gecko to a really wonderful exotics vet near me. It needed four abscesses lanced, its eye (or specifically, where its eye USED to be before it ruptured from infection as we found out after clearing the crust) cleaned out, stuck shed removed from its toes, eye & topical ointments, anti-biotic injections - the whole nine yards. The prognosis is tentatively good since the animal IS a good weight (actually overweight), but it will need stressful weeks of antibiotic shots, ointment applications, and careful attention.
So please, send your good vibes and warm thoughts this girl's way - she needs it. I'm really hoping for a recovery even though this wasn't anything I wanted or needed. No animal deserves this kind of neglect; I have a good mind to submit the vet info to the SPCA and see if this dirtbag can be held accountable by the law.
I'll try to get pics up later when she is less stressed; she looks a little monstrous right now with all of the wounds and ointment though.
One of my friends, who is unemployed and has some pretty major health issues, called me today because his tenant (a cousin) bailed out and left behind a gecko (and plenty of unpaid rent). He said it "looks really messed up" and asked if I could come take a look at it. This was the understatement of the century: the gecko had four major abscesses on its face (one was the size of a large pea) and was living in a 10g full of waste and dead crickets with one hide, an empty water bowl, and filthy calci-sand for sub. The animal clearly needed a vet, but my buddy is in no position to pay, especially now short the tenant's rent.
I am in a financial situation where it hurts to pay a big vet bill, but it can be done. Ethically I couldn't say "sorry buddy, not my animal, not gonna help." So I took the gecko to a really wonderful exotics vet near me. It needed four abscesses lanced, its eye (or specifically, where its eye USED to be before it ruptured from infection as we found out after clearing the crust) cleaned out, stuck shed removed from its toes, eye & topical ointments, anti-biotic injections - the whole nine yards. The prognosis is tentatively good since the animal IS a good weight (actually overweight), but it will need stressful weeks of antibiotic shots, ointment applications, and careful attention.
So please, send your good vibes and warm thoughts this girl's way - she needs it. I'm really hoping for a recovery even though this wasn't anything I wanted or needed. No animal deserves this kind of neglect; I have a good mind to submit the vet info to the SPCA and see if this dirtbag can be held accountable by the law.
I'll try to get pics up later when she is less stressed; she looks a little monstrous right now with all of the wounds and ointment though.
addle:! well at leased the gecko now has an owner that will care for it.
