Leopard Gecko Sundrop's condition

[cricket4u]

They never suggested any of it to me and when we talked about blood work before they said she'd probably drop her tail from it and she'd be worse off so they didn't want to. I didn't know any better and no offence but everyone keeps preaching about not taking advice from anyone but the vet.

I'd like your honest opinion here with no sugar coating, is she better off being euthanized than going through more of this? Is this something where she is in too much pain?
Because if it's something I should be more seriously considering then I think I need to seriously think the whole situation through.
And if she's not in unbearable pain and the odds aren't 10000/1 I'd like it if you have any links to information on it that you could share with me I'd be grateful because I'm not finding too much with my computer being really slow.

So she rather the gecko die than lose it's tail.:shock: The blood work would have given her many answers and she would have known the best course of action and medication to use. I'm sorry, but without tests it's impossible to know if she has a chance of recovery or not. If she is septic the chances are slim, however without blood tests you won't know. I am sure she does not feel well, but as for pain maybe not intense.

Just talk to the vet and let her know this has gone far enough and you need answers. Ask her what are the chances she is septic. She can draw at least a small amount of blood to get a blood smear. This gecko must be anemic by now. Something can be done, but it needs to be done right away and the vet has to a willing participant. It is her job to find answers and solutions.

 

[SamanthaLovely]

So she rather the gecko die than lose it's tail.:shock: The blood work would have given her many answers and she would have known the best course of action and medication to use. I'm sorry, but without tests it's impossible to know if she has a chance of recovery or not. If she is septic the chances are slim, however without blood tests you won't know. I am sure she does not feel well, but as for pain maybe not intense.

Just talk to the vet and let her know this has gone far enough and you need answers. Ask her what are the chances she is septic. She can draw at least a small amount of blood to get a blood smear. This gecko must be anemic by now. Something can be done, but it needs to be done right away and the vet has to a willing participant. It is her job to find answers and solutions.

If I recall bloodwork is expensive so we'll do it if we can but after the bill today I don't know how much we have to spend on it. If it's over 300 I don't think we'll be able to. I feel like such a failure as a care taker to them. I feel like I know nothing at all. I have all these dreams for nice large wooden enclosures with slate tile and caves for them to explore in yet the're still living on papertowel with take out containers for some of their hides.

 

[cricket4u]

If I recall bloodwork is expensive so we'll do it if we can but after the bill today I don't know how much we have to spend on it. If it's over 300 I don't think we'll be able to. I feel like such a failure as a care taker to them. I feel like I know nothing at all. I have all these dreams for nice large wooden enclosures with slate tile and caves for them to explore in yet the're still living on papertowel with take out containers for some of their hides.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You just took on a very huge task and very expensive one at that. Is she eating on her own? how is her activity level?

 

[SamanthaLovely]

She still won't eat crickets. We have her on the Oxbow. She will eat worms but the last time she regurgitated it and she hasn't wanted another for two days. She's not very active. She does run around and get feisty if handled. She tends to stick to her moist hide.

I called the vet's office just now and the secretary said blood work is always a good idea but they're only open until 1:00pm today and closed tomorrow so if the vet doesn't get back to me today she won't until Monday.

 

[SamanthaLovely]

She does seem to be gaining some weight. She was at 16 for a while. Yesterday at the vet she weighed in at 17 and today my scale is hovering between 17/18.

 

[SamanthaLovely]

Sundrop black spot peeling 2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78671811@N02/7619332800/

It seems to have just been something on her skin because when she stared shedding it started coming off and the skin is normal underneath. I took a Q-tip and helped it off because I didn't want her to eat it. I'm assuming that moisture or something got under the skin in that area when it started to lift. Probably during one of her baths. And now that it's coming off it's just coming off. The skin under the area looks normal. No discolouration or anything. I'll still be keeping an eye on the area. Maybe I should bath her less.

 

[cricket4u]

Sundrop black spot peeling 2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Sundrop black spot peeling? | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

It seems to have just been something on her skin because when she stared shedding it started coming off and the skin is normal underneath. I took a Q-tip and helped it off because I didn't want her to eat it. I'm assuming that moisture or something got under the skin in that area when it started to lift. Probably during one of her baths. And now that it's coming off it's just coming off. The skin under the area looks normal. No discolouration or anything. I'll still be keeping an eye on the area. Maybe I should bath her less.

Looks like a burn now. This is why a thermostat is so important. Petechiae- NOT and a great relief. You are providing a cool side? This gecko cannot afford to lose fluids. It is VERY important that she is provided with the perfect gradient. No higher than 77 at the cool end and make sure her humid hide is moist at all times.

 

[SamanthaLovely]

She's having trouble with the shed. I've been helping with baths and wet Qtips. I might have to remove the shed around her eyes. I won't have the car to get to the vet tomorrow. Is there a safe way for me to do this? I know it's bad to wait until tuesday and I don't want to do that to her but I also don't want to hurt her eyes. If I keep the area moist and use fluffy Qtips to loosen it without tugging will that be safe or should I not risk it?

 

[SamanthaLovely]

Ok so what happened was I got the Q tip and loosened the edge of her nose and she ran her face along my hand 50 times and it came off. She used me as a scratching post

 

[SamanthaLovely]

She's at 14 grams. She doesn't want to eat at all. Her small heating pad won't penetrate through the cocoa fibre in her moist hide. I don't know if the large one burnt her before. Honestly I have no idea what to do for her. She still has stuck shed on her because the vet told me not to touch it. I'm sure she's going to die soon because we can't do anything. The vet has no idea what she's doing. She won't give me any straight answers. She charged me 150 dollars to weigh Sundrop and give her SQ fluids. No answers at all. I'm stopping with the metronaidazole. She doesn't want it and it's doing nothing. I don't know what to do. There is so much going on right now that I have no money and no vehicle. I'm at that point where I'm wanting to put her down just for her to not have to live like that. I can't stop crying being upset about her. I don't know what to do.

 

[cricket4u]

If you can't afford the blood test than the best thing to do is put her down. She is obviously suffering from lack of nutrition and will only end up starving to death.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

She's at 14 grams. She doesn't want to eat at all. Her small heating pad won't penetrate through the cocoa fibre in her moist hide. I don't know if the large one burnt her before. Honestly I have no idea what to do for her. She still has stuck shed on her because the vet told me not to touch it. I'm sure she's going to die soon because we can't do anything. The vet has no idea what she's doing. She won't give me any straight answers. She charged me 150 dollars to weigh Sundrop and give her SQ fluids. No answers at all. I'm stopping with the metronaidazole. She doesn't want it and it's doing nothing. I don't know what to do. There is so much going on right now that I have no money and no vehicle. I'm at that point where I'm wanting to put her down just for her to not have to live like that. I can't stop crying being upset about her. I don't know what to do.

What has happened with your Oxbow feedings? Do you have a soft, flexible rubber tip that attachs to the syringe so you can place the Oxbow directly into her mouth? Just be sure to give her a little, then let her swallow, then a little more.

Lately you had reported a weight gain to 17-18 grams. Now you say Sundrop is 14 grams.

It is crucial that we know the temperatures of her cage.

 

[SamanthaLovely]

I got a quote for the blood tests. We have an appointment for the 8th. I'm going to see what I can do about an earlier time when our schedules are posted. We're just trying to get the money together for first and last for a house so it's just alot of balancing money.

 

[cricket4u]

You must bring her weight up, if not she will not make it. She has been through so much. Are you having trouble with temps? That is a very important part of recovery.

 

[cricket4u]

What has happened with your Oxbow feedings? Do you have a soft, flexible rubber tip that attachs to the syringe so you can place the Oxbow directly into her mouth? Just be sure to give her a little, then let her swallow, then a little more.

Lately you had reported a weight gain to 17-18 grams. Now you say Sundrop is 14 grams.

It is crucial that we know the temperatures of her cage.

Do you have any ideas where she can find a soft, flexible rubber tip that attachs to the syringe right away?

 

[cricket4u]

Is she regurgitating everything? If so this gecko needs intense treatment that cannot be done at home. If you continue to force feed and she is regurgitating, she will end up with fluid in he lungs. She also needs a GI study and with her poor body condition I think the vet has given up.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Do you have any ideas where she can find a soft, flexible rubber tip that attachs to the syringe right away?

The only place I can think of would be the vet's office. Perhaps there is some online source? Maybe she already has the flexible rubber tip and Sundrop is no longer accepting Oxbow feedings?

I hope it is not too late, but notice this thread began on 5 June 2012.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I got a quote for the blood tests. We have an appointment for the 8th. I'm going to see what I can do about an earlier time when our schedules are posted. We're just trying to get the money together for first and last for a house so it's just alot of balancing money.

You must bring her weight up, if not she will not make it. She has been through so much. Are you having trouble with temps? That is a very important part of recovery.

Please do get a vet appointment ASAP. Sundrop's condition is critical. Without the proper temperatures all hope is lost...really.

Do you have a digital thermometer to measure her temperatures? One can be purchased from places like Radio Shack for about $20.

 

[SamanthaLovely]

I got thr rubber tips and some new syringes today. She eats if I can get her to have the first taste. She only regurgitates live food. I was thinking because it was too big. She had around 0.6 ml tonight. I'll get the exact temps to you when I get home. The vet called back to talk today but we had to go again and didn't get it in time.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I got thr rubber tips and some new syringes today. She eats if I can get her to have the first taste. She only regurgitates live food. I was thinking because it was too big. She had around 0.6 ml tonight. I'll get the exact temps to you when I get home. The vet called back to talk today but we had to go again and didn't get it in time.

Excellent, Samantha! Thanks for sharing these vital details. Great to hear that you only have to tempt her first on the Oxbow. I know assist feeding can be tedious, but look what you both have to gain .

If Sundrop will accept the feeding, probably best to do "small" amounts 2x per day.

Keep this thread posted . I am keeping everything crossed for you and for Sundrop.