Newbie Needs HELP! with Leopard Gecko possible impaction

[james1966]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum and I found this forum in sort of an emergency situation.

My Leopard Gecko is 8 years old and so far has not had any issues since I took him in 3 years ago.

I have been using calcium sand as a substrate for a year and a half, and he has been happily feeding on crickets and mealworms on a regular basis.
A few months or so ago he stopped chasing crickets and would occasionally eat a meal worm or two but now he has stopped eating at all.
Its been a few weeks and now i see a physical sign of something which I believe may be an impaction.

Can anyone look at the picture and tell what this may be?

In preparation I also went ahead and have soaked him a couple times in tepid water and I see a small peice of something came loose from his bowel...but looks swollen still.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am attaching a couple pics of what I see.

Thank you
James

 

[cricket4u]

Hi,

He needs to be seen by an exotic vet ASAP! Please remove the calcium sand (dangerous) as well right away and place him on paper towels. Please read the caresheet, compare your husbandry and make all the corrections necessary. keep us posted on his condition.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html

 

[james1966]

Thanks for the reply...

I am about an hour + away from the nearest Herp Vet and will have to call tomorrow.
Do you think that the blockage coming out was a step in the right direction...?
What do you think that purple spot is ?

I was going to keep soaking him for 15 minute intervals every few hours as other sites recommend, do you think anything else may help until I can get him to the Vet ?

I will also change his substrate to the tiles as rcommended.

Thanks again
James

 

[avoidtheboyd]

Could he have possibly hurt his hemipenes somehow? or maybe a stuck sperm plug? I had a gecko that had gotten a sperm plug stuck and it seemed swollen like that but not purple.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi,

He needs to be seen by an exotic vet ASAP! Please remove the calcium sand (dangerous) as well right away and place him on paper towels. Please read the caresheet, compare your husbandry and make all the corrections necessary. keep us posted on his condition.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html

Thanks for the reply...

I am about an hour + away from the nearest Herp Vet and will have to call tomorrow.
Do you think that the blockage coming out was a step in the right direction...?
What do you think that purple spot is ?

I was going to keep soaking him for 15 minute intervals every few hours as other sites recommend, do you think anything else may help until I can get him to the Vet ?

I will also change his substrate to the tiles as rcommended.

Thanks again
James

Could he have possibly hurt his hemipenes somehow? or maybe a stuck sperm plug? I had a gecko that had gotten a sperm plug stuck and it seemed swollen like that but not purple.

James ~

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited.

Be sure to house him on paper towels right now until you have a chance to switch to tiles. Need to keep the area clean and dry.

Don't know why the area is purple, but really appreciate you sharing pictures from the beginning.

How soon can you get him to the herp vet? Please keep this thread updated.

 

[james1966]

Thanks Elizabeth,
He is off of the sand and on papertowels now.
He seems very unhappy... just parked in one place and occasionally openes eyes to see me.
I will get him into a vet today.

Thanks again

James

 

[james1966]

Thanks avoidtheboyd - I dont know how he would have hurt himself there, but I when I was soaking him he dislodged a chunk of whatever was blocking his vent... looked like a poop ball with a hard white attachment to it almost like a seashell shape. Then when I turned him over I noticed some softer white matter came out after ... like the white part of their feces. I am taking him to the vet today and will keep this updated.

Thanks Again

James

 

[XoVictoryXo]

I can only guess and speculate here, but it looks and sounds like He may have strained to defecate and had impaction from the sand-, and his hemipenes is swollen/irritated.
Keep us posted with what the Vet says. It is best to check him out immediately- he may prolapse which is a terrible terrible thing to go thru. I went thru this due to sand as well, but he did not have the wound on the outside, that part makes me nervous!

 

[XoVictoryXo]

also by chance: wow this wound/issue looks very similar!
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/leopard-geckos-other-eublepharis/33941-leo-infection.html

 

[avoidtheboyd]

Or he strained to pass the sperm plug possibly.

 

[cricket4u]

These are situations that often are a combination of problems, not one. It requires a thorough examination by a vet. Guessing is not going to help the gecko and soaking will only get him so far. I am glad to hear he will be examined by a vet. Please keep us informed.

 

[cricket4u]

A few months or so ago he stopped chasing crickets and would occasionally eat a meal worm or two but now he has stopped eating at all.

It's obvious the problem started a while ago due to the swelling on the leg (limb). Changes in eating habit should raise a red flag.

 

[james1966]

UPDATE on Geoffrey:

All theories combined were essentially correct.
Thank all of you for posting replies and appreciate all the concern.
He (Geoffrey) most likely had a lower impaction at the vent due to sand. Secondly... he couldnt pass the inpaction and it lodged at the vent opening and thus clogged the hemipenis and thus causing an infection. The vet gave me 0.03 cc syringe and antibiotics to give him. She squeezed quite a bit of "goo" from his hemepenis and he immediately perked up and strangely his color got s bit brighter ... maybe his stress level went down a bit? At any rate she said to continue the soakings and hand feed cricket/worm etc... but I tired and he still does not want to eat yet. His tail is still fat so no sign of malnourishment so far. Doc also too vitals and he is a healthy Gecko for being 10 years old. My worry is that he hasnt pooped yet ... and its been a while. Most likely when he is able to eat again... he will poop.

Thanks
James

 

[cricket4u]

UPDATE on Geoffrey:

All theories combined were essentially correct.
Thank all of you for posting replies and appreciate all the concern.
He (Geoffrey) most likely had a lower impaction at the vent due to sand. Secondly... he couldnt pass the inpaction and it lodged at the vent opening and thus clogged the hemipenis and thus causing an infection. The vet gave me 0.03 cc syringe and antibiotics to give him. She squeezed quite a bit of "goo" from his hemepenis and he immediately perked up and strangely his color got s bit brighter ... maybe his stress level went down a bit? At any rate she said to continue the soakings and hand feed cricket/worm etc... but I tired and he still does not want to eat yet. His tail is still fat so no sign of malnourishment so far. Doc also too vitals and he is a healthy Gecko for being 10 years old. My worry is that he hasnt pooped yet ... and its been a while. Most likely when he is able to eat again... he will poop.

Thanks
James

So one problem did lead to another. It is obvious it was infected and uncomfortable. Just so you know a sperm plug and a clogged hemepenis are not the same. Anyway, at least he is on antibiotics and will hopefully make full recovery soon. Thanks for the update and don't forget to read over the caresheet and compare your husbandry.

Also you mentioned he was 8 years old at first?

 

[james1966]

Yes.. Thanks Cricket.

I went out and purchased the tiles for his substrate, and a have a new UTH with thermastat, and deep dome with ceramic heater in the works. I have never had a "moist hide" for hm so might do that as well.
As far as his age....I thought he was 8 becuase I have had him for three years and the previous owner said she had him 5 years... When the Vet asked what his age was for sure I double checked... I called the previous owner again and she recalled that she purchased him in 2002. The Vet and I were both a bit surprised at his age in regards to how good his vitals and overall condition were. Anyway...he seems a bit better today.
Thanks for the clarifications and I will update and post pics when I get all the new items for Geoffreys care.

I appreciate the support

James

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

UPDATE on Geoffrey:

All theories combined were essentially correct.
Thank all of you for posting replies and appreciate all the concern.
He (Geoffrey) most likely had a lower impaction at the vent due to sand. Secondly... he couldnt pass the inpaction and it lodged at the vent opening and thus clogged the hemipenis and thus causing an infection. The vet gave me 0.03 cc syringe and antibiotics to give him. She squeezed quite a bit of "goo" from his hemepenis and he immediately perked up and strangely his color got s bit brighter ... maybe his stress level went down a bit? At any rate she said to continue the soakings and hand feed cricket/worm etc... but I tired and he still does not want to eat yet. His tail is still fat so no sign of malnourishment so far. Doc also too vitals and he is a healthy Gecko for being 10 years old. My worry is that he hasnt pooped yet ... and its been a while. Most likely when he is able to eat again... he will poop.

Thanks
James

Yes.. Thanks Cricket.

I went out and purchased the tiles for his substrate, and a have a new UTH with thermastat, and deep dome with ceramic heater in the works. I have never had a "moist hide" for hm so might do that as well.
As far as his age....I thought he was 8 becuase I have had him for three years and the previous owner said she had him 5 years... When the Vet asked what his age was for sure I double checked... I called the previous owner again and she recalled that she purchased him in 2002. The Vet and I were both a bit surprised at his age in regards to how good his vitals and overall condition were. Anyway...he seems a bit better today.
Thanks for the clarifications and I will update and post pics when I get all the new items for Geoffreys care.

I appreciate the support

James

Geoffrey appreciates your support too , James!

Many thanks for updating with all the vet details on Geoffrey. He's a lucky kid to have a dad like you. Wonderful upgrades for his tank! BTW what size is it? Reason I ask is that Petco is having a $1 sale per gallon sale till January 19th.

Perhaps when you get things organized you would be willing to share 10 yo Geoffrey on the new thread for Senior Leos: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...194-senior-leopard-geckos-10-years-older.html. I welcome Geoffrey's participation :idea:.

 

[james1966]

Update: Last update to this thread before I skip over to the AARLG section. Geoffrey has recovered very well, his swelling is gone and there is no longer any discoloration in the area. He has pooped three times since and has managed to eat a bit (two worms). I hand fed him a couple crickets but he is still not really into chasing them. I had soaked him twice daily in warm water and gave him the antibiotics prescribed by the doc and that ultimately did the trick. I am curious if there is a way to get Geoffrey interested in crickets (besides removing thier back legs). He had stopped chasing them long before he fell ill with the blockage/impaction. Any sugggestion ?
Thanks again to all for the help... Geoffrey and I both appreciate it.
James

 

[cricket4u]

Update: Last update to this thread before I skip over to the AARLG section. Geoffrey has recovered very well, his swelling is gone and there is no longer any discoloration in the area. He has pooped three times since and has managed to eat a bit (two worms). I hand fed him a couple crickets but he is still not really into chasing them. I had soaked him twice daily in warm water and gave him the antibiotics prescribed by the doc and that ultimately did the trick. I am curious if there is a way to get Geoffrey interested in crickets (besides removing thier back legs). He had stopped chasing them long before he fell ill with the blockage/impaction. Any sugggestion ?
Thanks again to all for the help... Geoffrey and I both appreciate it.
James

Very good news!:cheer: In regards to him not chasing crickets, it would be best to allow more recovery time. I don't think it would be wise to tweak his diet at this time. In another 2 weeks or so, post another update and we will see how we can motivate him to hunt once again.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Update: Last update to this thread before I skip over to the AARLG section. Geoffrey has recovered very well, his swelling is gone and there is no longer any discoloration in the area. He has pooped three times since and has managed to eat a bit (two worms). I hand fed him a couple crickets but he is still not really into chasing them. I had soaked him twice daily in warm water and gave him the antibiotics prescribed by the doc and that ultimately did the trick. I am curious if there is a way to get Geoffrey interested in crickets (besides removing thier back legs). He had stopped chasing them long before he fell ill with the blockage/impaction. Any sugggestion ?
Thanks again to all for the help... Geoffrey and I both appreciate it.
James

I am super glad to hear that Geoffrey has made a good recovery. Many thanks for keeping this thread updated .

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Glad to hear ole Geoff is doing well
The antibiotics have killed his appetite but it is great that he is still managing to eat a few insects here and there. allow some more recovery time and when he is off the antibiotics i am sure his appetite will be back! yay!
Try maybe doing only one soak a day, as I am sure two would be stressful. (did the vet say why he recommended 2 soaks a day?)