Leopard Gecko Winston: What can I do to heal my leopard gecko's eye?

[sapphiresky614]

My darling male leo Winston has a swollen eyelid (his right eyelid) and I don't know what to do. I have been putting repti-rinse on it, the brand from flukers, a drop or two a day and nothing. He still has a swollen eyelid. This has been going on for several weeks now and I'm super concerned that he's going to lose his eye or maybe even die :'( He isn't acting any differently it just seems to be swollen but he sometimes closes his eye now and keeps it shut for a while. The eye itself doesn't look infected or anything it's just the top part of the eyelid that is stubbornly staying swollen. Can anyone offer me advice or help me?

 

[panthergecko]

Post a picture, others will likely be able to tell the seriousness of the eye.
Also you should schedule a vet apointment to see what a vet can do. There not as expensive as you think.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

My darling male leo Winston has a swollen eyelid (his right eyelid) and I don't know what to do. I have been putting repti-rinse on it, the brand from flukers, a drop or two a day and nothing. He still has a swollen eyelid. This has been going on for several weeks now and I'm super concerned that he's going to lose his eye or maybe even die :'( He isn't acting any differently it just seems to be swollen but he sometimes closes his eye now and keeps it shut for a while. The eye itself doesn't look infected or anything it's just the top part of the eyelid that is stubbornly staying swollen. Can anyone offer me advice or help me?

It is super important that you post pictures of Winston, his eye, and his cage. cricket4u is excellent about looking at pictures and giving great advice.

BTW, what is the substrate in Winston's cage and in his moist hide?

Please check the Leo Guidelines linked below for very thorough leo advice.

 

[sapphiresky614]

Here is a photo of the tank setup. I use paper towels for bedding & he's the only one living in a 30 gallon long tank. There's also a photo of Winston's eye

 

[cricket4u]

No humidity hide? I see Reptocal, but no multivitamins. Do you provide any?

 

[sapphiresky614]

I don't have a humidity hide. I just spray his one hide when he's about to shed. Also, I feed the crickets flukers cricket food with the multivitamins. Not the gelatinous stuff, but the bran meal cricket food that has multivitamins.

 

[cricket4u]

I don't have a humidity hide. I just spray his one hide when he's about to shed. Also, I feed the crickets flukers cricket food with the multivitamins. Not the gelatinous stuff, but the bran meal cricket food that has multivitamins.

I am having internet issues for 2 days in a row, so I apologize if I keep disappearing on you. Okay so...

It doesn't look infected. The only thing I see is the upper lid looks unusually large. I'm wondering if he has shed dried out underneath the lid? or is it the beginning of a vitamin A deficiency. Suggestions:

Continue rinsing his eye for a few more days- if it's dried up shed hopefully the moisture will loosen it.

Make him a humidity hide (example in caresheet)

Buy Reptivite with d3 (Includes vitamin A)- You will also need plain calcium(no d3)

Provide better gutload (suggestions in the caresheet)

Add some decor to spice up his life.:biggrin:

Does the calcium in the enclosure have d3 in it?

 

[sapphiresky614]

That's fine. I'm really rather confused about the whole thing. I heard some people tell me that all i need is to gut load my crickets with the proper food and then not worry about giving my gecko multivitamins. Then there are some people that say I need to give my gecko multivitamins. Then there are still others that say I don't need to give multivitamins at all. Also, I give Winston the repto cal that has a bit (the bottle says 6.0%) of phosphorus in it. It claims that you need a bit of the phosphorus to utilize the calcium? I don't know I just want to know exactly what I NEED and what is healthy for my gecko.

 

[cricket4u]

That's fine. I'm really rather confused about the whole thing. I heard some people tell me that all i need is to gut load my crickets with the proper food and then not worry about giving my gecko multivitamins. Then there are some people that say I need to give my gecko multivitamins. Then there are still others that say I don't need to give multivitamins at all. Also, I give Winston the repto cal that has a bit (the bottle says 6.0%) of phosphorus in it. It claims that you need a bit of the phosphorus to utilize the calcium? I don't know I just want to know exactly what I NEED and what is healthy for my gecko.

Most of the insects we feed are already high in phosphorus, so why add more. I think you will be better off with Zoo med brands. Did you read what I posted above?

 

[sapphiresky614]

Yeah I just now read it I think you were right about your internet being a little funky because I got a different message. I am sort of low on money right now so the decor will have to wait a bit...but I'm sure that will be fine since he is a desert animal. The repto cal I have said in the ingredients that it has Vitamin A...and it was the first ingredient listed so...I don't know. Still not good enough? I will definitely try the zoo med brands and I'm hoping the pet store I work at has some :/ The gutload I feed my crickets is the flukers high calcium cricket diet.... you sure that isn't good enough? Also, I'm not finding where the caresheet is?? on your home page???

 

[sapphiresky614]

Well, pardon my ignorance...I just saw the post about the leopard gecko guidelines. I will make sure I follow this....I'm wondering though...what are your favorite products to use for the multivitamins? Should I just place a container for the reptocal and the container for reptivite? Or should I just totally forego the reptocal? I'll definitely read the caresheet I just want to know what you would suggest. And thank you!

 

[cricket4u]

Well, pardon my ignorance...I just saw the post about the leopard gecko guidelines. I will make sure I follow this....I'm wondering though...what are your favorite products to use for the multivitamins? Should I just place a container for the reptocal and the container for reptivite? Or should I just totally forego the reptocal? I'll definitely read the caresheet I just want to know what you would suggest. And thank you!

Is this the only thing you have? TetraFauna Reptocal Reptile Supplement at PETCO

This does not contain multivitamins.

What type of thermometer do you use to read the temps?
I don't see that you have a heat mat attached to a thermostat?
Any space underneath the UTH?

 

[sapphiresky614]

I don't have a thermometer but I do have a heatmat that is the exo terra mat in the medium size. Also, that is the reptocal I use that you pointed out.... I did check the ingredients on my reptocal and it said it had vitamin A as well.....but perhaps it's such a small amount that it doesn't really help. Also, I was looking at the ingredients to my flukers cricket diet and it says that it has Vitamin A in it. I'm assuming I should get new products then huh? I'm still unsure, even after reading the leopard gecko guidelines, about what I need to get in terms of the calcium, multivitamins & D3 stuff. I do have the calci with the d3 now but it doesn't have a good amount of vitamin A...

 

[cricket4u]

I don't have a thermometer but I do have a heatmat that is the exo terra mat in the medium size. Also, that is the reptocal I use that you pointed out.... I did check the ingredients on my reptocal and it said it had vitamin A as well.....but perhaps it's such a small amount that it doesn't really help. Also, I was looking at the ingredients to my flukers cricket diet and it says that it has Vitamin A in it. I'm assuming I should get new products then huh? I'm still unsure, even after reading the leopard gecko guidelines, about what I need to get in terms of the calcium, multivitamins & D3 stuff. I do have the calci with the d3 now but it doesn't have a good amount of vitamin A...

Sorry, this one does contain vitA. I was confusing it with another the company makes. The items I posted above are very important to your gecko's health. You never answered whether the calcium in the enclosure contained d3?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I don't have a humidity hide. I just spray his one hide when he's about to shed. Also, I feed the crickets flukers cricket food with the multivitamins. Not the gelatinous stuff, but the bran meal cricket food that has multivitamins.

I used to use Fluker's High Calcium Cricket Diet too. Scroll down the Leo Guidelines to the feeder section for better choices of food for crickets, etc. Crickets are recommended as the primary diet with other feeders added for variety. Just no waxworms, too fatty.

That's fine. I'm really rather confused about the whole thing. I heard some people tell me that all i need is to gut load my crickets with the proper food and then not worry about giving my gecko multivitamins. Then there are some people that say I need to give my gecko multivitamins. Then there are still others that say I don't need to give multivitamins at all. Also, I give Winston the repto cal that has a bit (the bottle says 6.0%) of phosphorus in it. It claims that you need a bit of the phosphorus to utilize the calcium? I don't know I just want to know exactly what I NEED and what is healthy for my gecko.

It is confusing "out there"! Good to hear that you have been researching .

Use phosphorus-free supplements as much as possible. Phosphorus actually interferes with the absorption of calcium. Scroll down the guidelines for three separate recs. Cricket4u and I recommend the first section.

Most of the insects we feed are already high in phosphorus, so why add more. I think you will be better off with Zoo med brands. Did you read what I posted above?

Yeah I just now read it I think you were right about your internet being a little funky because I got a different message. I am sort of low on money right now so the decor will have to wait a bit...but I'm sure that will be fine since he is a desert animal. The repto cal I have said in the ingredients that it has Vitamin A...and it was the first ingredient listed so...I don't know. Still not good enough? I will definitely try the zoo med brands and I'm hoping the pet store I work at has some :/ The gutload I feed my crickets is the flukers high calcium cricket diet.... you sure that isn't good enough? Also, I'm not finding where the caresheet is?? on your home page???

Better choices for feeder fooods are listed in the guidelines, including several links by GU member Maurice Pudlo.

You might be able to find some appealing silk foliage at a $ store.

Well, pardon my ignorance...I just saw the post about the leopard gecko guidelines. I will make sure I follow this....I'm wondering though...what are your favorite products to use for the multivitamins? Should I just place a container for the reptocal and the container for reptivite? Or should I just totally forego the reptocal? I'll definitely read the caresheet I just want to know what you would suggest. And thank you!

Only pure calcium carbonate powder goes in a small bottle cap in the tank 24/7.

Use Reptivite with D3 to lightly dust the feeders 2x per week.

Here is a photo of the tank setup. I use paper towels for bedding & he's the only one living in a 30 gallon long tank.

What are the dimensions of your tank?

There's also a photo of Winston's eye

Thanks!

I don't have a thermometer but I do have a heatmat that is the exo terra mat in the medium size.

An accurate digital min/max thermometer is a must for a leo tank. It is vital to know nearly precisely what temps exist within your leo's setup. Fluker Farm's has a nifty thermometer/hygrometer (measures humidity too). Best order off Amazon. I have 4 of those.

Also, that is the reptocal I use that you pointed out.... I did check the ingredients on my reptocal and it said it had vitamin A as well.....but perhaps it's such a small amount that it doesn't really help. Also, I was looking at the ingredients to my flukers cricket diet and it says that it has Vitamin A in it. I'm assuming I should get new products then huh? I'm still unsure, even after reading the leopard gecko guidelines, about what I need to get in terms of the calcium, multivitamins & D3 stuff. I do have the calci with the d3 now but it doesn't have a good amount of vitamin A...

Hang in there with those Leo Guidelines! If you have suggestions on how I can make them more clear, let me know.

 

[sapphiresky614]

Okay, great. The reptocal I have does have d3 with it, sorry not for mentioning that earlier. I will definitely be giving some collards to my crickets from now on...are there certain types of collards that work for them? Perhaps some arugula lettuce and kale? I will get another hide for my leo as well. Does it need to sprayed everyday or just when they are shedding? Also, thank you both so much for helping me out you've gave me a lot of insight. I thought I was doing everything right but it seems I still need to make a few adjustments

 

[cricket4u]

You're welcome. Just a reminder that the calcium in the enclosure must be 100% plain (no d3)

 

[cricket4u]

It will be best to maintain the hide moist at all times. It will also aid in hydration. If his eye does not improve soon or worsens he will need to be seen by a vet.

 

[sapphiresky614]

Alright. I'll definitely get a moist hide for him. I do know of some herp vets nearby that I can reach, and I'm also studying to become a vet nurse so I will be able to get ahold of the proper person for help if need be. thanks!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Okay, great. The reptocal I have does have d3 with it, sorry not for mentioning that earlier. I will definitely be giving some collards to my crickets from now on...are there certain types of collards that work for them? Perhaps some arugula lettuce and kale? I will get another hide for my leo as well. Does it need to sprayed everyday or just when they are shedding? Also, thank you both so much for helping me out you've gave me a lot of insight. I thought I was doing everything right but it seems I still need to make a few adjustments

All I can get where I live is one type of collards. Don't know any details on them except that they have the highest calcium to lowest phosphorus of any veggies I know. Collards are also great for supplying the crickets with a moisture source .

You can make a simple moist hide out of a plastic margarine tub or some such container. Some details in the Leo Guidelines.

You are very welcome. I like helping folks get off to a good start with their geckos :idea:.