Wierd open wound on 10 year old Leopard gecko

[guinessthegecko]

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]

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

 

[Nativeson]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Nke]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

That's a pretty crappy attitude to have. I'm glad that I'm not your pet! 10 years old is not that old for a well cared for captive leo. And some of us care for our animals throughout their entire lives...not just when they are young or it's convenient.

 

[Nke]

That's a pretty crappy attitude to have. I'm glad that I'm not your pet! 10 years old is not that old for a well cared for captive leo. And some of us care for our animals throughout their entire lives...not just when they are young or it's convenient.

Thats not what im saying at all! But a reptile is not a pet in anyway, but a hobby! A 10 years old leopard is old, yes

 

[guinessthegecko]

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

yea, we're kind of there too altho we aren't giving up on him, we just dont have the funds for this sort of treatment.
When we took him to the vet for the eye thing, they charged us almost 180 for the antibiotics and wanted over 600 for the surgery to remove it. We then took him to our reptile specialist store (we're in Toronto, Ontario, I would say I trust the owner of this store more than the vets) he removed the abscess in the hemipene (which we didn't even know about...the vet completely missed it!!) He showed us how to properly clean and care for his eye, which is basically healed completely and how to clean the hemipene.
For now were going to continue making sure the wound is clean and see what it does. When we found it, it was pretty fresh.

 

[Nke]

And BTW, show me one vet who wouldnt put down a 14 year old dog, with 3rd degree burns on 20% of its body :S

 

[Yoshi'smom]

I would spend a million dollars if I had to for a sick animal that was in my care! They need you to take care of them! That's your responsibility as a keeper!! Why would you let an animal that clearly needs veterinary help just be?
I have a half blind leo that needs to be hand fed every two days because it can't catch a meal! My vet has told me that there is no reason to put this animal down if I (the owner) am willing to go the extra mile for it and that there is no reason why this animal won't have a long and substantial life in my care!
This cat was saved by wonderful vets. She is an older cat so she had probably already lived half of her life out, just as this leo has (and I'm sure he has many years left)! Look at her now!!
http://tcastle.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/ms-b-survives-horrific-burns/

 

[Nke]

yea, we're kind of there too altho we aren't giving up on him, we just dont have the funds for this sort of treatment.
When we took him to the vet for the eye thing, they charged us almost 180 for the antibiotics and wanted over 600 for the surgery to remove it. We then took him to our reptile specialist store (we're in Toronto, Ontario, I would say I trust the owner of this store more than the vets) he removed the abscess in the hemipene (which we didn't even know about...the vet completely missed it!!) He showed us how to properly clean and care for his eye, which is basically healed completely and how to clean the hemipene.
For now were going to continue making sure the wound is clean and see what it does. When we found it, it was pretty fresh.

Yeah, every living things has to come to an end, sorry but its not always pretty.

 

[Nke]

I would spend a million dollars if I had to for a sick animal that was in my care! They need you to take care of them! That's your responsibility as a keeper!! Why would you let an animal that clearly needs veterinary help just be?

Cause its a wild animal :S If you see a 95 year old man, with lung cancer, we can both agree its his time ..

 

[guinessthegecko]

I would spend a million dollars if I had to for a sick animal that was in my care! They need you to take care of them! That's your responsibility as a keeper!! Why would you let an animal that clearly needs veterinary help just be?
I have a half blind leo that needs to be hand fed every two days because it can't catch a meal! My vet has told me that there is no reason to put this animal down if I (the owner) am willing to go the extra mile for it and that there is no reason why this animal won't have a long and substantial life in my care!
This cat was saved by wonderful vets. She is an older cat so she had probably already lived half of her life out, just as this leo has (and I'm sure he has many years left)! Look at her now!!
MS B SURVIVES HORRIFIC BURNS « Dogs,Cats, and crap I talk about

Id spend a million dollars too....if I had it! Moneys tight right now. Very tight and theres just no budget for another $100 bottle of antibiotics let alone $600 for surgery. I personally administered the antibiotics to Guinness every single day. That was hard stuff! I had to shove a syringe an inch deep into his throat! LOL Actually it was kind of fun, and I got a great feeling of satisfaction when all that hard work paid off. He got better and it was because of me.
I will do what I can. Within my means. He could possibly only be halfway through his life and if i can prolong it, I will.

 

[Yoshi'smom]

Wild animal or not, as a provider for the animal you have a responsibility to the animal! I'm not going to argue because it will just make me more upset! Sorry, it's just the animal rights activist in me. I used to work at a shelter and I've seen too many terrible things happen to animals that the owners could have taken responsibility for!
Guniessthegecko: I understand where you are coming from. I don't make much money either. I've worked it out with my vet that I can pay her in weekly installments. I also have 3 rabbits that are rescues that have chronic upper respiratory infections that need to be medicated when it flares up. And when it flares up it happens in all three animals. So they need to be medicated about once every 2-3 months. See if you can talk to your vet about it and at least get her opinion over the phone. I know vets will often give advice over the phone to people with animals that they've seen. See what you can do for him! I'm sure he's in good hands with you!
OK, I'm done. No more rants about animals.

 

[Nke]

Id spend a million dollars too....if I had it! Moneys tight right now. Very tight and theres just no budget for another $100 bottle of antibiotics let alone $600 for surgery. I personally administered the antibiotics to Guinness every single day. That was hard stuff! I had to shove a syringe an inch deep into his throat! LOL Actually it was kind of fun, and I got a great feeling of satisfaction when all that hard work paid off. He got better and it was because of me.
I will do what I can. Within my means. He could possibly only be halfway through his life and if i can prolong it, I will.

Ofcourse, do whatever you can! But animals do expire, sorry but thats life...