Taking the gecko to the vet - what do I do?

TheOneBlueGecko

TheOneBlueGecko

New member
I am taking my leopard gecko to the vet tomorrow, she was doing fine when I first got her, then stopped eating the meal worms. I switched to crickets and she seemed way more interested in eating these and was doing great, but now she is not eating enough to stop her from losing weight. So, I am worried about parasites - actually I am hoping for parasites because at least that would be an explanation.

What do you bring you gecko in when you take it to the vet? I don't have any critter keepers, so would a box be fine?

I am also bringing a stool sample (if she gives me one), but I have already read the instructions for collection on here so I am good with that.

As there anything else I should ask about or be concerned about with the vet?

The place deals with a lot of reptiles so they should (fingers crossed) know what they are doing.
 
bwoodfield

bwoodfield

New member
When my step-son brought Buffy home she was in a cardboard carrying box, so I can't see why you couldn't do the same. Just make sure she won't come in contact with tape or edges, and make sure it's clean. Maybe line it with a couple layers of papertowel, make sure there are air holes, etc.
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
I have a small plastic container (gladware) that I hole punched a few holes in (you can use a knife I suppose). I put paper towels in it and a toilet paper tube for the critter to feel secure. Just make sure you keep the gecko out of the sun, and out of the A/C in the car. You can also put a water bottle with hot water wrapped in a wash cloth to keep the gecko warm near the box or container, whichever you use.

First thing, your vet is going to want to give her a shot of vitamin A, or another vitamin. I don't know why they do this (they always insist they're deficient but they're not, they even do this to my cat)... When you first get there tell them you will not pay for any procedures you do not go over and discuss first, then okay them. It's important to be firm with them. They do want to help, but they also need money. My vet knows where I stand. His assistant gave my last visit gecko a shot and I refused payment, it's written in my chart that I will not pay for anything I don't go over first. Drives my vet mad, but I just refuse to pay for something that isn't needed in my eyes. As long as the supplements are being given there's no need at ALL for vitamin shots. I can see calcium shots if it's MBD, but she doesn't have that.

They're going to want to do all kinds of things. Hey, they might not every vet is different. I'm just speaking from personal experience with quite a few vets. Tell them when they come into the room that you want the fecal done, and a full body exam (body exam is included in the sitting fee usually, it's routine). If you're worried about her weight you can ask about critical care formula, it's a hand fed calorie/nutritional supplement. After the exam, ask what he thinks. Nothing else is wrong except she's not eating, correct? If that's the case it's most likely parasites. If she has nothing -physically- wrong with her then call it a day and wait for the fecal (1-4 days). After the fecal, if it's not parasites, then go back for more tests.
 
TheOneBlueGecko

TheOneBlueGecko

New member
Thanks. I think I will go with a box with paper towels and holes as I do not have an plastic containers at the moment. I had not thought about the heating, which I feel stupid about now. She should be warm enough, but I was planning on putting her on the ground in front of the passenger seat, which is the safest spot for the box, but I need to make sure I don't have the AC blowing down there, which I usually do.

The weight/not eating enough is the concern I have. She seems a bit weak and her color is a bit dull (it has been like this for a while and does not look like she is shedding), but I think this is related to the food issue. She should be good with the supplements as her food does get supplemented with the vitamin and calcium powder and there is calcium out for her, so I am glad to not have to worry about those shots. They are one of the procedures I had heard about, but was not sure if it was something that made sense for my gecko.
 
TheOneBlueGecko

TheOneBlueGecko

New member
Well, took the gecko in, no problems. I had a stool sample with me and Drake kindly added to it at the end of the appointment as he pooped once he had been treated, I think 2ml of liquid pumped into a little body will do that.

As for the gecko, there were no immediate signs of issue other than it being underweight. Though the vet also pointed out that the geckos intestines looked like they had quite a bit of water inside, which goes with me noticing that the gecko had been drinking a lot.

So, the doctor is going to get a fecal check done, but for the time being he gave the gecko some Baycox, which is used to treat parasites (specifically crypto, I think). Which I was glad I did not have to do because the gecko was not happy to open his mouth to be feed 2ml of the liquid. My little guy is a fighter.

The vet also gave me some good general advice for the gecko and ran through the list of basic husbandry requirements to make sure everything was going right. He breed leopard geckos back in the 80s.

So, I am supposed to call back tomorrow to say if there is any change as a result of the treatment and then they will call back later about the test results.

Just in case anyone is wondering (because I know there are people that are always curious about how much vet exams cost) this is the break down for my visit (although I will point out that this is a very good reptile and bird doctor, so I think you pay a bit more for that):
General Reptile Exam Cost - $72.50
Fecal Exam - $28.00
Baycox (the medicine he gave the gecko) - $9.35
 
Last edited:
TheOneBlueGecko

TheOneBlueGecko

New member
So, the fecal came back clean...hmmm.

I am kind of at my wits end with what to do. I will get another fecal done in a week or so and see if there is any change, but for the time being I remain concerned about the gecko's weight.

She does not eat a lot, even when offered a lot of different foods. She gets crickets that have the backs half of their hind legs removed (she eats some of these). She has meal worms that she does not seem to care about at all. And I am thinking about giving her some wax worms (yes, I know they are junk, but she needs to get her weight up).

Her temps are fine, I have checked and double checked that. She does not seem stressed, although she does always sleep in the same part of her tank.

My hope is that the baycox might get something out of her system and she will be a bit more motivated to eat.
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
Medication will cause her to lose her appetite. I'm surprised he didn't offer any critical care. Call him and ask him if he has any you can buy. You'll have to hand feed it to her but it's complete nutrition.
 
TheOneBlueGecko

TheOneBlueGecko

New member
The medicine her gave her is a one time thing that is supposed to be fairly mild (his description), that was the reason for not giving something to hand feed to her. I will see if her appetite changes today and then talk to him again.
 
TheOneBlueGecko

TheOneBlueGecko

New member
Woo hoo! She ate a meal worm! Or at least I think she did, one is missing from the bowl (and, though I don't see how they could have possibly climbed out, I checked the whole tank and it is nowhere to be found!) She has had a few crickets since the traumatic (or at least I assume it was for her) vet trip, but this is the first time in quite a while she has eaten from the meal worm bowl.

This at least makes me a bit more hopeful that she will turn around and get better because I think the meal worms provide a less stressful food source for her, and I can have a constant supply of them in the tank for her. I don't feel comfortable having crickets in there day and night. Plus, she had been turning away from the meal worms whenever she did catch one moving, so it is a good thing that it was actually eaten.
 
Last edited:
TheOneBlueGecko

TheOneBlueGecko

New member
Well, got her to eat a wax worm today, I am hoping I don't have trouble getting her off of them later, but for now I look at them as a necessity. Preventing starvation is currently outweighing the issues with high fat food in my mind (feel free to disagree, I am wavering on it myself). Tomorrow I am going to work on tweezer feeding her some meal worms and then try another wax worm Monday.

I got her to eat the wax worm by taking it out of the bowl and prodding it with tweezers to keep it in front of her until she noticed, which I had tried before, but with no success. This time she saw it, went into her hunting stance and attacked. Took her a bit of time to eat it but she did.

I am still not sure if she is feeling better, or if my relentless harassment is just starting to pay off. Or if moving off crickets for the moment is giving her the chance to get her strength back with slower prey.
 
Mardy

Mardy

New member
Beggars can't be choosers, if that's what she'll eat, it's better than starving. Feed away! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top