Leopard Gecko Neglected and Now Deformed and Underweight

[n.brydges]

Hi Everyone!

New here, in need of your opinions!

Four days ago I went over to my little neighbours house because she wanted me to look at her leopard gecko which I knew that healthy when she got him. When I got there I was disgusted and told her in how bad of condition her gecko was in. He had several lays of shed built up on its feet and several layers built up on its head, so that it couldn't even see! The gecko was on some wood chip-moss like substrate with a heating pad for humans underneath and no calcium supplement was given or offered in a dish! I told the little girl I was taking her gecko to try and nurse it better. I had to get the poor thing out of those horrid conditions.

When I got the gecko home, the first thing I did was removed the stuck shed from his head. There were three layers stuck on his head . He could finally see again! But then I noticed this gecko had more problems than just not being able to see. Because of the layers upon layers up built up shed on its feet, it obviously lost all its toes, but its legs became deformed as a result of trying to walk with all the shed stuck on his feet and toes. From the way the legs look now, I'm very skeptical about the quality of life this little gecko is going to have, right now he's pulling himself around using his "forearms" and sliding on his belly. Also one of his rear legs is also deformed, I'm wondering if the bones have become so weak from vitamin deficiency that they're just bending (because he also had significant shed built up on the rear foot and had to find a way to walk) or might this leg be broken. I want to know if anyone's seen anything like this before.

Another question is is there anything I can put on the toes that just have recently fallen off to help them heal?

Lastly, I'm feeding him Lafeber's Emeraid for Carnivors which I got from the vet last time I brought a critically ill gecko in. I live in a very small town and the vets don't have much to offer and I really can't afford to bring this poor guy in.

I have him in a small aquarium on paper towel and am monitoring the temperatures which are fine.

What do you think about his legs?
I'm attaching pictures (I hope this works!)

 

[cricket4u]

Hi,

Having her treated by a vet will increase her chances of recovery. Perhaps call a vet and hopefully you can work something out? It's very important to provide the best conditions possible. Please follow the temperatures suggested in this caresheet.

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

Is she refusing insects?

 

[n.brydges]

Yeah he is not interested in food, I've tried crickets (but I don't think he can move fast enough to catch them), he's not interested in mealworms either and I even tried wax worms but no luck.

 

[cricket4u]

Yeah he is not interested in food, I've tried crickets (but I don't think he can move fast enough to catch them), he's not interested in mealworms either and I even tried wax worms but no luck.

How long have you had the Emeraid? Once opened it's only good up to 9 months. Are you proving a humidity hide on the warm side? have you tried giving her a soak to aid in hydration?

 

[n.brydges]

My Emeraid is still good. He has 3 hides, 1 humid and normal hide on the warm side and another hide on the cold side. I've been soaking him for about 15 mins a day and I've seen him go to the water dish and take a drink. I'm just worried about his legs and toes.

 

[cricket4u]

The physical deformities are permanent. You can only correct the diet and housing conditions and hope for recovery. If she begins to recover, her limbs will at least be strong enough to move about as needed.

 

[cricket4u]

Did you weigh the gecko? I'm not sure if you're aware that a gecko in this condition should be given Emeraid at only 1-2% of body weight to start? She will be best off with balanced liquid nutrition for now. Just keep in mind that without proper diagnostics you're taking a huge risk. Is she lapping up the Emeraid voluntarily?

 

[n.brydges]

Yes I am more than aware that not going to see a vet is not good, but I just can't take him. I'm trying my best to give him the best quality of life I can give him with the circumstances and resources I've been dealt. Thanks for your advice.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

this leo is in dire need of an emergency vet visit. How sad He is skinny and malnourished and needs a vet visit immediately. There is nothing you can do at home in this case of MBD and severe malnutrition. He needs medical attention immediately. This breaks my heart. If you can not afford medical attention please give him to a reptile rescue - he is suffering.

 

[n.brydges]

There is nothing like that around me. Vets here don't like deal with exotics or know much about them because there is a bylaw against owning them in my region. Last time I took a sick gecko to the vets I knew more than the vet did about them. I have already looked into it. Just trying to help this guy as much as I can with the things I have been given. I'm sure I'm giving him a better and more comfortable life than sitting in his own filth, not being able to see, having layers upon layers of shed stuck to his feet and going hungry. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[cricket4u]

Did the previous owner mention when was the last time the gecko ate anything? Age of the gecko?

 

[n.brydges]

The previous owner was an 11 year old who did not know how to take care of it and I blame her father who bought the gecko for her. But I doubt this gecko has ate anything since 3 sheds ago. He had 3 layers of shed on his head, and the eyelid shed had come out of his eyelids and covered his eyes completely so that he could not see. So in combination with not being able to see, barely able to walk and get around, and being fed crickets that were just dumped into his aquarium and hopping around... I don't think he has ate live prey in a couple of months. The first night I got him he took a very big poop, I thought it looked weird so I smashed it up and the brown part to it was just the moss-wood chip substrate that was used in his cage so he has obviously ingested a lot of the substrate and is more than likely impacted because he has not passed another poop with brown, just the white part. Like I mentioned before I have offered him crickets, mealworms, and wax worms but he's not interested.

 

[cricket4u]

How sad and unfortunately I've seen this situation way too often. Why even buy your child an animal if you're not willing to be involved in the care. Most kids are not responsible enough or simply lack the knowledge required to keep reptiles. The expense alone is more than most mothers would want to deal with. I've had to take in many reptiles of all kinds due to this reason and there was no shame in the parents face when they told me they were not willing to spend the money to provide the proper care needed.:-x

This gecko is in poor condition, but at least his face appears lively. Poor little one, I really hope he/she makes it.:sad:

 

[n.brydges]

I estimate that he's a little over a year old. His head is still... fat? well fatter than the rest of his body. The last time I rescued an emaciated gecko, she was so thin that the bones on her head were showing and you could see the indents before her ears, so he's not as emaciated as the last one I rescued; however, his skeletal issues are much more severe.

If he makes it, he will be my special needs baby

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

There is nothing like that around me. Vets here don't like deal with exotics or know much about them because there is a bylaw against owning them in my region. Last time I took a sick gecko to the vets I knew more than the vet did about them. I have already looked into it. Just trying to help this guy as much as I can with the things I have been given. I'm sure I'm giving him a better and more comfortable life than sitting in his own filth, not being able to see, having layers upon layers of shed stuck to his feet and going hungry. Thanks again for the advice.

Please be open to our suggestions. How are you handling the Metabolic Bone Disease issues?

What does Emeraid include?

How much experience have you had with leos?

Can you provide this range of temperatures:

Temperatures for all leos regardless of size:
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. Can turn off overhead heating at night.

 

[n.brydges]

I'm quite comfortable with my knowledge of leos. I have a healthy male and female of my own and I did quite a bit of research before I even decided to get my first gecko a year and a half ago. I know that leopard geckos do not need UVB light, only a heat source like a UTH, which do get left on all the time; however, to help with the MBD I am placing Stump (the sick gecko) up near the window ledge, where the sun is to help with his bones temporarily for a few hours during the day. I'm not exactly sure what is in Emeraid as I don't have it with me right now, but I am sprinkling a bit of Calcium D3 (Flukers brand) in the mixture before I give it to him, because I didn't see it listed in the ingredient list on the packaging, and I know Emeraid is for a wide range of carnivorous animals no just for leos in particular. He also has a bottle cap full of calcium in his aquarium. And I do monitor the temperatures and use under tank heaters.

Surprisingly, he is quite active for being so emaciated and deformed. Whenever I walk into my room and flick the light on he always pops his head out and looks and will come out of his warm hide every now and then and walk around.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'm quite comfortable with my knowledge of leos. I have a healthy male and female of my own and I did quite a bit of research before I even decided to get my first gecko a year and a half ago. I know that leopard geckos do not need UVB light, only a heat source like a UTH, which do get left on all the time; however, to help with the MBD I am placing Stump (the sick gecko) up near the window ledge, where the sun is to help with his bones temporarily for a few hours during the day. I'm not exactly sure what is in Emeraid as I don't have it with me right now, but I am sprinkling a bit of Calcium D3 (Flukers brand) in the mixture before I give it to him, because I didn't see it listed in the ingredient list on the packaging, and I know Emeraid is for a wide range of carnivorous animals no just for leos in particular. He also has a bottle cap full of calcium in his aquarium. And I do monitor the temperatures and use under tank heaters.

Surprisingly, he is quite active for being so emaciated and deformed. Whenever I walk into my room and flick the light on he always pops his head out and looks and will come out of his warm hide every now and then and walk around.

Good to hear that you've rescued Stump and are providing him with a much better life!

What type of calcium are you leaving in Stump's tank?

Do you mean that you are placing the tank near the window ledge with Stump inside his glass tank? The glass (window and tank) blocks out most of the UVB rays. Depending upon the screen you use, that will block rays too. The tank could severely overheat if placed in the direct rays of the sun :-( enough to kill Stump depending upon the strength of those rays.

Emeraid is a balanced formula which contains vitamin D3 . Best not to add Fluker's calcium with d3 to an already balanced formula. Emeraid is very similar to Oxbow's Carnivore Care.

Leo Stump will be more comfortable if you add a dome with overhead light (ceramic heat emitter or Exo Terra's Night Glow Moonlight Bulb) to up the air temps a bit in addition to the UTH. Then turn off the overhead at night.

 

[n.brydges]

He ate a wax worm tonight! He was pretty quick to snatch it up, I was pretty impressed! I only let him have 1 since I had already given him his Emeraid for the night plus I wasn't sure if he would be able to properly digest it being so emaciated still. The last emaciated gecko I got ate crickets, but she was too weak to digest them and they just sat at the back of her throat and began to rot.

I know wax worms aren't the healthiest for geckos, but I know they're high in fat which (I think) is good for him right now.

I'm going to try a mealworms tomorrow night. Would you limit the amount he eats? Or let take as much as he can? I'm thinking limit it, but I don't have much experience with sick geckos. Should I keep giving him a small dose of Emeraid and a worm? He weighs 26gs as of today.

 

[cricket4u]

He ate a wax worm tonight! He was pretty quick to snatch it up, I was pretty impressed! I only let him have 1 since I had already given him his Emeraid for the night plus I wasn't sure if he would be able to properly digest it being so emaciated still. The last emaciated gecko I got ate crickets, but she was too weak to digest them and they just sat at the back of her throat and began to rot.

I know wax worms aren't the healthiest for geckos, but I know they're high in fat which (I think) is good for him right now.

I'm going to try a mealworms tomorrow night. Would you limit the amount he eats? Or let take as much as he can? I'm thinking limit it, but I don't have much experience with sick geckos. Should I keep giving him a small dose of Emeraid and a worm? He weighs 26gs as of today.

I am really happy to hear he is willing to eat. Please do not feed mealworms for now. Right now he has poor skeletal support and weakened muscle contraction, therefore he can have difficulties due to it's chitin. It would be best to continue just the Emeraid for a few more days. Can you order silkworms or baby hornworms on line?

 

[n.brydges]

Are wax worms okay? I can see if the local pet store in town has silk worms and baby horn worms tomorrow.