Leopard gecko shedding problem-amputated toes

[Lizzyloo]

My leopard gecko Lizzyloo is eating and shedding often, but she can never get the skin fully off her toes and now several of them have been amputated partially, due to the left-over skin cutting off her circulation. She yanks her legs away when I try to help her and I am worried I will injure her if I force it. What should I do? She kinda needs toes, right? I'm worried.

 

[cricket4u]

My leopard gecko Lizzyloo is eating and shedding often, but she can never get the skin fully off her toes and now several of them have been amputated partially, due to the left-over skin cutting off her circulation. She yanks her legs away when I try to help her and I am worried I will injure her if I force it. What should I do? She kinda needs toes, right? I'm worried.

Hi,

Can you take a picture of her digits and enclosure? Does she have a humidity hide? What supplements are you providing?

 

[Lizzyloo]

I am unable to take a pic now, but yes she has a humidity hide and wet moss. She eats 2-4 crickets daily and has a dish that I put Zoo Med's Leopard Gecko Food in, but to tell you the truth, I have never seen her eat ANY of it.

 

[MauricesExoticPets]

That particular ZooMed product is not worth your time or money you can discard it.

Problematic sheds are sometimes hard to deal with, especially when you are working with such fragile small geckos like leopard geckos.

If your leo is otherwise healthy you may consider replacing its current substrate with paper towels to ease sanitation and prevent infection in the amputated toes.

Placing the leo in a container with damp moss can help loosen stuck sheds, but you may still need to help remove it if there are multiple layers stuck. A moist Q-tip or similar can be used in a rolling motion if you are afraid of causing further injury doing this by hand.

Sand type substrates can make shedding toes difficult as the sand will draw moisture away from toe tips and shrink that area of the skin.

An experienced reptile owner in your area (join a herptoculture group) or good exotic vet could help you if need be.

The loss of a few toes is not detrimental in the long run, toe clipping is a very well established method of laboratory identification in cases where small reptiles are maintained. Just watch closely for infection.

Maurice Pudlo

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

My leopard gecko Lizzyloo is eating and shedding often, but she can never get the skin fully off her toes and now several of them have been amputated partially, due to the left-over skin cutting off her circulation. She yanks her legs away when I try to help her and I am worried I will injure her if I force it. What should I do? She kinda needs toes, right? I'm worried.

I am unable to take a pic now, but yes she has a humidity hide and wet moss. She eats 2-4 crickets daily and has a dish that I put Zoo Med's Leopard Gecko Food in, but to tell you the truth, I have never seen her eat ANY of it.

Additional ideas including videos for warm water soaks to assist in removing stuck shed can be found in the posts following the Leo Guidelines which are linked directly below \/ in my signature.

Don't pull unloosened skin off without soaking first.

Mod Thorrshamri recommends adding a chamomile teabag to the bath to soften the skin even further .

You will also discover more info on foods good for leos as well as your crickets right in the main care sheet section of the LGs.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...cularius-18-nov-2012-demo-video-included.html

 

[XoVictoryXo]

I have a gecko with the same issue he is a tough shedder, upping the humidity and making sure he gets more calcium helped this issue in the long run. Also closely monitoring the temps to make sure they are appropriate and not too hot!
But there is still the odd toe that gets a stuck shed, warm bath for approx 15 mins will loosen that skin and a wet qtip will draw it away.
Make sure to give him some tasty live insects afterwards ( they LOVE worms like mealies; phoenix, butterworms, silkworms, hornworms) they do not like water and having their toes touched so its pretty traumatic for them

 

[XoVictoryXo]

I havent! But I will try it out! I have lots of chamomile
LOL . like Gecko Tea hahah
ETA @ Cricket I always love your expertise!! It has been a lot better for Rex shedding lately - we have had a few successes- but there is still the occasional toe that needs to be coerced off.

 

[Lizzyloo]

THANK YOU for your advice! I will try the warm tea bath and Qtip (and get her some yummy treats for afterwards)! Wish me luck! I already feel better! I love my pretty little girl and want her to be very healthy and happy!

 

[SORROW89]

You have take a look at this cuz every forum I read has an epidemic of shedding and eyecap problems. Like 10 threads about the same two problems.
Vitamin A deficiency in Insectivorous Geckos | Gecko Time