Help with sick Leopard Gecko

V

vince174

New member
Hi. I'm new to thhis forum and hoping someone can help us. My son has a four year old LG. Everything seemed to be going well with him until around Xmas 2011. At that time, he seemed to start having shedding problems. Specifically we noticed that his eyes looked slightly gummed up-like he had problems getting skin off around his eyes. We tried to clean his eyes and then took him to a vet. The vet (who has exotics eperience) got some skin out of his eye and gave us some drops. He also seemed to shed almost every two weeks. The LG (Bullet) pretty much stopped eating crickets and would only occassionally eat a meal worm. Anyway, since Xmas, he's gone back to the vet several times. His eyes seem no better, he's lost some weight, we are know giving him antibiotics, an ointment for his skin, and continue with the drops for his eyes. We also let him soak in warm water a couple times a week to help with the skin. He still dosen't eat so the vet gave us some critical care cat/dog food we feed Bullet with a syringe. They did a fecal test which came back negative.

Anyway, Bullet went back to the vet today and the vet said he doesn't look like he's getting any better and said in maybe two weeks we should condsider putting him down.

I'm hoping someone here could give us some advice. I saw an ad for a product called Reptaid at Reptaid.com and was thinking giving that a try. I can try and post some pictures later this evening.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Vince
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
Hello Vince,

Can you copy, paste and answer these questions. The more information the better.

Gender:
Age:
Weight:
How big was the reptile when you first acquired it?
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner):
Captive bred or wild caught?

Enclosure:

Cage: type, size:
Substrate provided?
What types of hiding places are provided?
Is there a humidity hide?
Please describe any other furnishings:

Lighting:

Artificial lighting?
incandescent (“screw-in” bulbs): wattage(s) ?
fluorescent (tube bulbs)?

Temperature:

Do you have a thermometer(s) in the cage? what type?
What is the temperature in the warmest part of the cage? In the coolest part?
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature? hot rock, heat pad,
warm room, heat light, ceramic heater, aquarium heater, other:

Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much?

Humidity:

Is the humidity measured? Range:


List other animals that are kept in the same cage:
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months)
Are any of your other pets ill?
List recent changes in the environment, if any:

Diet:

Insects, list type?
Are they “gut loaded”? If so with?
How often do you feed your reptile?
Please list any supplements used. How are they given and how often?
What calcium brand are you using? with D, without or both?
Is the calcium in the tank with D or without?
Multivitamins?

Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet:

If your reptile is sick, please describe the signs and how long your reptile has been showing these signs:
Is your reptile’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased?
Is your reptile’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased?
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight loss, Weight gain
Discharge from the eyes or nose
Increased breathing rate or effort
Change in the droppings
Abnormal skin color or shedding
Parasites on the skin or in the feces
Weakness

Has your reptile been seen by a veterinarian for any of the current problems?

If yes, when?
Please list medications given:
Please list tests performed:
 
Last edited:
V

vince174

New member
Gender: Male
Age: 4 years
Weight: about 50 grams
How big was the reptile when you first acquired it? Very small 2-3 inches
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner): pet store
Captive bred or wild caught? Unk im guessing captive bred

Enclosure:

Cage: type, size: 20 gal
Substrate provided? reptile sand
What types of hiding places are provided? 2 huts, one on hot side, 1 cool
Is there a humidity hide? no
Please describe any other furnishings: plant, fake cactus, fake skull

Lighting:

Artificial lighting? yes
incandescent (“screw-in” bulbs): wattage(s) ? i think 75w for heat
fluorescent (tube bulbs)? yes 50 uvb fluorescent

Temperature:

Do you have a thermometer(s) in the cage? what type? No take measurments with laser thermometer
What is the temperature in the warmest part of the cage? 90- In the coolest part? 75
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature? hot rock, heat pad,
warm room, heat light, ceramic heater, aquarium heater, other: heat lamp and uvb on during the day...turned off at night

Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much? yes maybe down to 68-70

Humidity:

Is the humidity measured? Range: no


List other animals that are kept in the same cage: none
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months) no
Are any of your other pets ill? no
List recent changes in the environment, if any: none

Diet:

Insects, list type? crickets and meal worms
Are they “gut loaded” or dusted before feeding to your reptile? sometimes
How often do you feed your reptile? he hasnt eaten a cricket since xmas
Please list any supplements used. How are they given and how often? none
Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet:

If your reptile is sick, please describe the signs and how long your reptile has been showing these signs: see original post
Is your reptile’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? decresed
Is your reptile’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? decresed
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight loss, Weight gain {loss}
Discharge from the eyes or nose no-but eyes a closed mainly-bad shed perhaps
Increased breathing rate or effort no
Change in the droppings not really
Abnormal skin color or shedding yes was shedding every two weeks
Parasites on the skin or in the feces none
Weakness probably

Has your reptile been seen by a veterinarian for any of the current problems? yes

If yes, when? today and several times since xmas
Please list medications given: Neo/Poly/Dex Solution (eye), Silver sulfadiazine Creme (skin) and SMZ-TMP 200-40/5 (antibiotic liquid given by syringe)
Please list tests performed: fecal-negative
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
Okay so here is the list of demands:)

1)Remove the sand ASAP! put him on paper towel for now. Slate tiles when possible.

2)He must have a humidity hide. It's purpoe is for shedding and also aids in dehydration.

3)Remove the UVB ASAP! the enclosure is too small and overexposure does exist. It can
be used, but must be used under certain conditions.

4) Multivitamins is a must. Without that vitamin deficiency is guaranteed. I'm sure he is lacking Vitamin A. Buy Zoo med Reptivite ASAP, but dust very lightly and only for the first week dust 2 days in a row. The vets can give him a shot, but to be honest quite a few vets have overdosed Vitamin A and so it's best to try and provide it via food first.

Brand calcium? with D or without? how often? do you keep a dish in the enclosure?
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
Wait you said you do not dust his food at all? OMG he must have all kinds of nutritional deficiencies. Buy Zoo med repti-cal. One bottle of plain calcium. One bottle with D3(phosphorus free).

Please buy all this right away.

Temperature should be: 75-77 cool side~ 90-95 over the heat mat area. air temp 75-85
 
Last edited:
V

vince174

New member
Here's some pics

Here's a few pics.....
 

Attachments

  • DSC_8056web.jpg
    DSC_8056web.jpg
    72.7 KB · Views: 76
  • DSC_8058web.jpg
    DSC_8058web.jpg
    56.1 KB · Views: 73
  • DSC_8059web.jpg
    DSC_8059web.jpg
    73.4 KB · Views: 72
  • DSC_8060web.jpg
    DSC_8060web.jpg
    58.6 KB · Views: 75
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
:cry: Remove that sand ASAP and soak him in warm water please for 15 minutes. Soak him 1 time a day for a few days. He needs those supplements quick. Lights must stay off! I am not screaming at you, I am just heart broken.

Make sure you make him a humidity hide too or you can buy one. Just make sure to soak him.
 
Last edited:
V

vince174

New member
I appreciate all this help

I have Zoo Med Repti Calcium without D3. Thats what I've got right now. Should I put some of that in a dish in the cage ? Also, he's not eating anything right now. The vet gave us some Hills prescription diet cat/dog food that we've feeding him via a syringe. He'll eat this but he is not eating any crickets or meal worms.
 
V

vince174

New member
OK

I know you're not screaming at me....we have been letting him soak almost every night. What is the significance of the sand ? I will go get rid of it right now though.......What should I do with repti calcium ?
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
vince174 said:
I have Zoo Med Repti Calcium without D3. Thats what I've got right now. Should I put some of that in a dish in the cage ? Also, he's not eating anything right now. The vet gave us some Hills prescription diet cat/dog food that we've feeding him via a syringe. He'll eat this but he is not eating any crickets or meal worms.
Click to expand...

That's because the poor gecko can't see. Make sure you are mixing it with water. Yes , put the plain calcium in the tank in a little dish. Besides impaction? eye infections. I can assure you this is caused by a number of things.


Mainly UVB overexposure
Vitamin deficiencies
Lack of humidity
 
Last edited:
V

vince174

New member
More

Well we only starting using the UVB a couple months back....the vet recommended we buy it. I will put some of the calcium in a dish tonight. You said mix something with water ? Mix what with water ? He'll have the humidity hide tonight also. Assuming its not too late for Bullet, what should I do to try and nurse him back to health ? I'll need a specific list if I can trouble you for that. Also, he won't eat crickets or mealworms, what should I dust that he will eat ?

The only good thing perhaps is that BUllet is still relatively active.....maybe thats a positive sign......
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
vince174 said:
Well we only starting using the UVB a couple months back....the vet recommended we buy it. I will put some of the calcium in a dish tonight. You said mix something with water ? Mix what with water ? He'll have the humidity hide tonight also. Assuming its not too late for Bullet, what should I do to try and nurse him back to health ? I'll need a specific list if I can trouble you for that. Also, he won't eat crickets or mealworms, what should I dust that he will eat ?

The only good thing perhaps is that BUllet is still relatively active.....maybe thats a positive sign......
Click to expand...

I am not the type to give up without a fight and if he is active he has a good chance. I am not surprised the vet mentioned the use of UVb, but unfortunately they do not explain the risks or distance and have no idea how he is housed. I meant the Hill'A/D with water. Please tell me the vet at least told you that along with how much to offer.

You will have to continue the Hill's A/D until he is strong enough and starts eating his insects. Keep offering the insects daily. Because he was under so much UVB I would dust with plain calcium for at least 1 week first. Then dust with D3 once and wait another week. That is a start, so just keep me posted after a few days and we will go from there. Just keep soaking him daily for now.
 
Last edited:
V

vince174

New member
One more thing....

You said turn off the light ? I already got rid of the UVB.....I should still turn on his heat lamp during the day, right ?
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
You can also buy sterile saline and carefully spill some over his eyes right from the bottle to help the shed. Do not touch the tip of the bottle. It should remain sterile.
 
V

vince174

New member
Thank You

We really appreciate all your help. So this is what I've done so far. 1) Got rid of UVB 2) got rid of sand 3) replaced sand with paper towel 4) placed dish of calcium in tank 5) put moist moss under his hide on warm side of tank 5) will continue soaking him daily.

I will go buy those suppliments tomorrow.

Surprisingly, the vet did not say to mix the critical care food with water ? Go figure. Maybe she is not as much an exotics expert as we thought.

I will let you know how this goes by the weekend. Thanks again. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.

Vince
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
Your welcome. Just check the thread when possible to see if I have added anything. It has been a long day for me so I am a half asleep at the moment, but don't worry I double checked what I have written. I cannot believe she did not mention mixing it with part water. Please do 50/50 food/water. Okay so that's it for the moment and like I said check in when possible.
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
I believe in providing a photoperiod for all reptiles at least using UVA, but after some thinking I think it will be to his benefit at least for now to shut off all lights. In order to provide the needed heat you can buy a Ceramic heat emitter or a infrared bulb a last resort. Why? it's possible that because of the strength and how you positioned the UVB he has developed photo-kerato-conjunctivitis. It may differ in how it appears, but here is a picture.

UV Lighting for Reptiles: A new problem with high UVB output fluorescent compact lamps and tubes?

Just imagine laying under the sun (only being inches away, everyday) the sunburn and possible UVB rays toxicity. The vet should have drawn blood and checked kidney and liver function. He must be under so much stress I would fear causing more stress by taking him to a new vet.

The vet puts him on antibiotic with a negative fecal and no bloodwork. On top of that she/he recommends Hill's A/D without fluids. Sounds like the vet had no idea what to do.

The antibiotics can kill the good bacteria in his gut leading to appetite loss and put a toll on his kidneys. It's important to reduce stress. Can you cover the back and 2 sides of the glass in his tank? I would soak him, assist feed him right after and then place him back in the tank to be left to rest until the next day. The idea is prevent causing more stress.

He needs a seperate humidity hide. I know you put the moss under his warm hide, but that will just force his skin to be moist at all times which is not ideal. You can make it (does anyone reading have an example to show?) or buy this http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Reptile-S...?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1332968196&sr=1-4
A large would be best for an adult.

How long has he been on the antibiotics (which he probably did not need )?


Warning! If he does not show at least some signs of improvement within a week or starts declining, Take him to a new vet.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top