aquamentus_11
New member
the chances of them both being impacted this close in time seems kind of slim to me. am i wrong?
New rescue super thin. Advice please?
- Thread starter SamanthaLovely
- Start date
cricket4u
New member
That possibility crossed my mind and that's why I mentioned it yesterday, but I would have thought the vet would have ruled it out. If that turns out to be the case, please do your best to find a new vet.
SamanthaLovely
New member
To be honest she didn't do it as well as she did with my other two. Frodo was moving around alot and she didn't seem to want to pick her up. She asked me to do it but I don't turn mine upside down or hold them forcefully so I'm not good at it.
Pictures of the stool coming up soon
SamanthaLovely
New member
SamanthaLovely
New member
Here are the promised pictures:
27/04/2012 stool2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
27/04/2012 Stool | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
So the second one is what I thought might be the granules of sand. they were stuck together near the urate but when the paper towel was moved they got dislodged. Also that big chunk looks like it's from a cricket but I haven't fed her crickets for 2 or 3 days now.
I found this stool tonight when I came home. It was after having .2 of a cc/ml. She had gone once before today after her first feeding (I've split them into 3 or 4 feedings a day totalling about 0.6 cc/ml) and it also looks pretty gritty
Morning stool 27/04/2012 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Note that they were from the morning/night of Friday the 26th (today) I just did the date wrong.
27/04/2012 stool2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
27/04/2012 Stool | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
So the second one is what I thought might be the granules of sand. they were stuck together near the urate but when the paper towel was moved they got dislodged. Also that big chunk looks like it's from a cricket but I haven't fed her crickets for 2 or 3 days now.
I found this stool tonight when I came home. It was after having .2 of a cc/ml. She had gone once before today after her first feeding (I've split them into 3 or 4 feedings a day totalling about 0.6 cc/ml) and it also looks pretty gritty
Morning stool 27/04/2012 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Note that they were from the morning/night of Friday the 26th (today) I just did the date wrong.
cricket4u
New member
The one picture you mentioned look like granules, isn't food that's for sure. She has blood as well. Her stomache is probably full of all kinds of gunk. Normally when you see extremely odd poops like in this situation, chances are she was so dehydrated waste was backing up. In some cases substrate or a mixture of substrate with food can become so hard it can adhere to the intestinal wall and the only solution is to remove that segment of the gut.
Hopefully it's not that serious. If it were me I would skip the exray and have an ultrasound done on her belly. The best approach would be a study using barium, but I am not sure she will be able to handle the stress. Just keep providing fluids and maybe she will clear up. In my opinion she has more than food in her stomache. I am just hoping it's slowly unblocking itself. If it were me I would rotate: one day fluids only, next day liquid food. Just to make sure you are providing enough fluids to flush her out.
Last edited:
SamanthaLovely
New member
I think I'm going to call tomorrow before I leave and demand to talk to my vet. I'm going to ask her the probability of impaction and if I can bring Frodo in for an ultrasound.
This is starting to explain things a little more. Like why the make who was in with them had a perfect poo today, all his poos are generally good. He wasn't as dehydrated if he was dehydrated at all so it would make sense in a way. Though parasites do too. But I don't understand why they are acting like normal geckos and they don't seem to be "heading towards the end" like I assume they would if they have parasites. Well we'll hopefully see tomorrow. Wish us luck!
I am hoping it is unblocking as well. She seems to be passing sand granules so hopefully it's getting better. I'll see if there's anything the vet can give me/can reccomend I give to her to help loosen it if that is indeed what is wrong with her.
cricket4u
New member
Most of the time there is more than one problem. To be honest I have seen reptiles active and act normal until their dying day so I don't like to mislead anyone. What worries me the most is the bleeding. She might benefit from a drug metronidazole, but it's risky in her condition and must be prescribed by a vet who has experience. The wrong dose can lead to neurological symptoms. Okay, let's just keep on praying. Wish you good luck tomorrow.
SamanthaLovely
New member
Most of the time there is more than one problem. To be honest I have seen reptiles active and act normal until their dying day so I don't like to mislead anyone. What worries me the most is the bleeding. She might benefit from a drug metronidazole, but it's risky in her condition and must be prescribed by a vet who has experience. The wrong dose can lead to neurological symptoms. Okay, let's just keep on praying. Wish you good luck tomorrow.
I called her and she said it could be impaction and I could bring Frodo in for an Xray. I said ultrasound but she said Xray. I'll ask her about the metronidazole today. I'm hoping I can do payments on this visit. I've had 4 vet visits in the last month and a half and it's kind of eating all my money which wouldn't be a problem at all if I didn't have car insurance coming out today.
As for your comment about fluids. How much water would I give her for the day?
cricket4u
New member
NO!!! Do not ask her about the metronidazole. She is the vet so if she feels it will be a benefit, she will prescribe it. The vet has not been too efficient with diagnosing and I did not mean right now as I don't feel Frodo will tolerate it well at the moment. First deal with the possible impaction. Ask the vet about the amount of fluids. She has to weigh her to give you a specified amount. Yes, rescuing gets really expensive that is why I commented you have your hands full and it's not for everyone. I was afraid it will come to this
SamanthaLovely
New member
NO!!! Do not ask her about the metronidazole. She is the vet so if she feels it will be a benefit, she will prescribe it. The vet has not been too efficient with diagnosing and I did not mean right now as I don't feel Frodo will tolerate it well at the moment. First deal with the possible impaction. Ask the vet about the amount of fluids. She has to weigh her to give you a specified amount. Yes, rescuing gets really expensive that is why I commented you have your hands full and it's not for everyone. I was afraid it will come to this
Oh ok. I get it. The money isn't really a problem. I'll just have to borrow my insurance until next pay. I'm on my dad's insurance as primary driver of his second car so he pays the insurance and I pay him back. I just have to ask if he can wait a week or so if the vet bill is too much. My boyfriend helps me out with vet bills too because he owes me a good sum of money. And I don't really have anything else to spend money on besides car insurance.
cricket4u
New member
Just a heads up. It's always a good idea to ask for a copy of the xrays. You never know if you will need to get a second opinion and having them with you can save time and a headache. The reason I brought up metronidazole was that in most of these cases there is a bacterial infection in the gut. However, I do not want the vet to prescribe blindly again. Keep us informed of the findings.
SamanthaLovely
New member
There are no findings. Sundrops Acid Fast came back negative but the vet assured me that means nothing. Frodo's hasn't come back yet. She did the Xray and nothing. She said the stuff in the poo was pieces of cricket even though I haven't fed either of them crickets for 3 or 4 days. She basically says it's crypto even though there are no results for Frodo and Sundrops came back negative. She told me to bring in more fecals because she ONLY tested for crypto after telling me she was testing for ALL parasites and bacteria. And now I have no money until the friday after next.
She just keeps telling me there's no hope and I'm going to have to get them put down. The next closest reptile vet is Bowmanville and they want $92 for the initial visit. I'm going to go there on my next pay after I get a copy of my files from my vet. Unless I can dig up some money before then.
For now I'll just keep doing my best to keep them comfortable and fed well.
Frodo is 18g now. 2g more than my last visit.
SamanthaLovely
New member
Do you think that will help her increase her chances? Honestly I don't know what to think anymore. Looking ah her she's alert, she's active. I know there has to be something wrong but if she were normal size I wouldn't think she was different from any other gecko. And then there's my vet telling me it's already a lost cause.
cricket4u
New member
It's difficult for me to judge either way due to the fact I have only seen a picture. I do believe the vet is out of line by telling you to put them down without any negative findings. I knew the exray would be a bit useless. I did not believe she had total impaction as it would have been quite obvious. I would not have returned to her after I witnessed she was not comfortable handling them. It's a big red flag!!
Would I give up? NO. If they were acting lethargic and showing signs of pain, then yes.
So what you are saying is that the only thing she tested for was crypto?
Last edited:
cricket4u
New member
The biggest problem here is lack of resources. Both financial and clinical knowledge. It's quite obvious there was a lack of communication between you and the vet. I admire your intentions and truly understand your desire to help these beautiful creatures, however it's no easy task. I know by know you feel like yanking your hair out. Now your starting to get the picture of what you have got yourself into. I know that what I am saying is not helping the situation, but can help others think twice before taking on such responsibility.
Finding a true diagnosis can cost hundreds or even thousands. Some people think it's as easy as buying meds over the internet and experimenting, when in reality they are just prolonging a reptiles painful death. Many have killed their reptiles trying to treat at home not wanting to pay for vet care. I don't think this is your situation, but I am hoping it does not cross your mind. Just reminding you, make sure those temps are up to par.
Finding a true diagnosis can cost hundreds or even thousands. Some people think it's as easy as buying meds over the internet and experimenting, when in reality they are just prolonging a reptiles painful death. Many have killed their reptiles trying to treat at home not wanting to pay for vet care. I don't think this is your situation, but I am hoping it does not cross your mind. Just reminding you, make sure those temps are up to par.
Last edited:
SamanthaLovely
New member
To my eye they are not in pain or lethargic. And yes that's what I'm saying. I'm very upset about it.
SamanthaLovely
New member
The biggest problem here is lack of resources. Both financial and clinical knowledge. It's quite obvious there was a lack of communication between you and the vet. I admire your intentions and truly understand your desire to help these beautiful creatures, however it's no easy task. I know by know you feel like yanking your hair out. Now your starting to get the picture of what you have got yourself into. I know that what I am saying is not helping the situation, but can help others think twice before taking on such responsibility.
Finding a true diagnosis can cost hundreds or even thousands. Some people think it's as easy as buying meds over the internet and experimenting, when in reality they are just prolonging a reptiles painful death. Many have killed their reptiles trying to treat at home not wanting to pay for vet care. I don't think this is your situation, but I am hoping it does not cross your mind. Just reminding you, make sure those temps are up to par.
I definitely understand what you're saying. But I think if I had a vet who communicated better I wouldn't have the financial issue because they wouldn't tell me to come in only to send me home because they didn't tell me to bring a fecal (Which I always do anyway if I can get one that morning.) But if she had of told me that all she needed from me was a sample then I could have just dropped it off.
I don't buy much online because I don't have a credit card. And I'd never buy something that should be prescribed unless it was prescribed to me. My temps are good. I have a feeling that it's not crypto but another parasite or bacteria. Could be influenced by my hoping it's not though.