Abscess on leopard gecko--- help?

[herpmomx7]

Hello! First thread Little about myself, I'm 21, have owned reptiles since 2008 and have rescued four reptiles. I currently have 7. I love each and one of them dearly and my oldest reptile is 6 years old.

I recently rescued a leo. He had impaction, possible worms, no heating, no light, shared a cage with ten fire belly toads and one other really mean leo. He had been attacked and it created an abscess. He’s in the proper set up now and is finally eating; impaction is gone and he seems happy! I already took him to the vet and he’s on a weekly medication for worms and I was also given ChlorhexiDerm Solution for his abcsess. I was told to rub it on his lip twice a day. I have done so and after a week it just looks a little worse. Does anyone know about this medication? Does anyone have any advice or know if it’s supposed to look worse before it gets better? This is not my first rescue but it is my first abscess and I just want him to be okay. Thanks!!!

 

[CrestedL]

A picture of him and the abscess would help

Since I am no vet nor do I have experience in prescribing treatments, I actually went digging around and reading for a while now on this solution along with abcess treatments, and I paticularly became interested in this bit that I found on Treating Abscesses in Reptiles (for anyone who would like to do additional reading on this page) :

"Even if all the caseous pus is removed from the site, and the site is kept open and irrigated daily and treated with systemic and topical antibiotics, more pus may form at the site, sometimes within a couple of days of the initial treatment. While this can happen even when the reptile is being given systemic antibiotics, it is more likely to occur when only topical antibiotics are given.

Failure to start antibiotic treatment may result in a worse infection if the site is not cleaned out thoroughly. Even when on antibiotics, particularly resistant infections may cause repeat abscesses to grow. This is because, even though the antibiotics used first are broad-spectrum (effective against a wide range of bacteria), the bacteria causing the infection may not be responsive to that particular antibiotic."

This being said, I would also like to point out on multiple occasions while reading about this treatment you're using, it was said many times that this was used for "horses, cats, and dogs", but this may prove worthless information

 

[Aimless]

I would strongly recommend getting a systemic antibiotic. chlorhex is a fairly weak disinfectant; it's a good wound flush, but won't do much to nuke the responsible germs.

good luck with him.

being as it's on his mouth, it is a mouth rot (stomatitis) complication? this is really common in neglected Leos.

 

[herpmomx7]

Unfortunately my camera on my phone stinks and doesn't provide a clear picture at all but I'll try to get one tonight that gives an idea of what it looks like. It's about this size on his lip... O but he's a little guy. It looks like mouth rot to me but he said it's purely an abscess that formed after he was attacked. I have brought all of this information to my vet. I'm meeting with him to discuss other options, however he believes at this point the only way to remove it would be through surgery. I'm really trying to find the best option... If it hasn't improved by the end of the week and the only option is through surgery (I'll bring the first response on this thread to his attention) I'm thinking I may have to surrender him to the reptile rescue in Raleigh since I can't afford a $300 surgery ): I can afford medications but I don't want to let this get worse on my hands. I care so much about this little guy.

 

[herpmomx7]

Also, if I'm reading your responses correctly- you two are suggesting that the ChlorhexiDerm Solution I am administering is not an effective medication to get rid of abscesses? I would like to bring this to my vet's attention if this is so. I have read multiple places that topical medications can not get rid of abscesses but I trusted the vet over the internet in that case. Learning more about abscesses, however, I'm somewhat unsure if my vet's sources on reptile abscess treatment.

 

[CrestedL]

Aimless said in her statement clorhex was a weak disinfectant, while good at flushing it will not be able to heal him well or fast, coupled along with my statement at the top of you read it saying that a systemic antibiotic would work well

What I said exactly explains what you're asking, Clorhex is topical which in the article states that more pus can reform commonly when only a topical antib is given, which means more pus will grow back when you think this is working, resulting in more swelling and little healing

Once again in the second paragraph, if you're just applying the medicine and never cleaned out the wound it's not doing much either, and since it it's a broad spectrum drug (used for a variety of ailments, would care not to list them all, and especially if it's made for horses, cats, and dogs) it may not be targeting the specific cause of the abscess and is just doing minimal damage to help it

It's like this, you're sick with a cold and your doctor perscribes you with a medicine that will clear all respitory problems, and as you know, there are quite a few other than a cold (wheezing, coughing part of a cold). When you take this medicine, it takes a really long time for you to get over this cold because only a little bit in it is to fight colds and the rest is just a mix to get rid of anything coughing and wheezing related, resulting in you having the cold for a very long time while wasting treatment when you could get actual cold medicine

That's what your vet is doing with your Leo, but subsitute the cold for the abscess, next time you go to the doctors ask him for a medicine that is a systemic antibiotic rather than a wide range topical cream, gel, solution, show him my little blurb of the article I said above if he doesn't understand

 

[herpmomx7]

I got a pic last night with my boyfriend's phone. This morning I noticed that it almost looks like his skin over the abscess has split and there's a little bit of blood. I didn't know if I should take that as the abscess about to come out. I couldn't take a picture with my phone though. The vet seems a bit misleading on his knowledge of reptiles and the only other one I can find around here has minimal knowledge and suggested the worst ideas with my bearded dragons in the past. You two have been extremely helpful, though. Here is the picture that was taken last night, sorry the quality's not great.

 

[herpmomx7]

his eye stays closed for about 5 minutes after I pick him up out of his cage. I was very upset my vet told me it was nothing to worry about because he didn't even explain why he's doing that and when I asked if it has to do with the abscess he said the abscess isn't big/close enough to affect the eye. I usually wipe a wet q-tip over his eye and it'll open with a white film that slides to the corner of his eye, like an eye booger. The vet kept insisting it's a normal function but I have never seen a reptile's eye have much difficulty opening and it be a "normal function"

 

[CrestedL]

Definitely not normal, your vet is a moron. I cannot perscribe treatment for this as in not a vet not have I ever had this situation, I just do research and report on findings, perhaps [MENTION=3989]Elizabeth Freer[/MENTION] or [MENTION=52816]kholtme[/MENTION] could help with any ideas on trying to comfort his pain a little till you can find a vet much worth your time, im sorry

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I got a pic last night with my boyfriend's phone. This morning I noticed that it almost looks like his skin over the abscess has split and there's a little bit of blood. I didn't know if I should take that as the abscess about to come out. I couldn't take a picture with my phone though. The vet seems a bit misleading on his knowledge of reptiles and the only other one I can find around here has minimal knowledge and suggested the worst ideas with my bearded dragons in the past. You two have been extremely helpful, though. Here is the picture that was taken last night, sorry the quality's not great.
View attachment 36015

his eye stays closed for about 5 minutes after I pick him up out of his cage. I was very upset my vet told me it was nothing to worry about because he didn't even explain why he's doing that and when I asked if it has to do with the abscess he said the abscess isn't big/close enough to affect the eye. I usually wipe a wet q-tip over his eye and it'll open with a white film that slides to the corner of his eye, like an eye booger. The vet kept insisting it's a normal function but I have never seen a reptile's eye have much difficulty opening and it be a "normal function"

Your leo really needs to see a good vet to treat this abcess right away, even if you have to drive some to get there. An abcess like this could lead to a systemic infection. Perhaps the infection has already impacted his eye.

The size of this abcess could be impacting the eye and causing it not to open much. How does the inside of his mouth look?

Click this link: ARAV's Find A Vet. If that does not help, you will find other links right at the beginning of my leo caresheet. Maybe a good animal vet in your area could recommend one?

EDIT: Does the right eye stay open?

 

[herpmomx7]

Salisbury has told me they didn't have a reptile specialist before so that's strange... Raleigh is where I was going to go consult the reptile rescue to see if the best option would be to surrender. I know I can't afford the surgery to remove it. I know the cost of rescuing sometimes isn't the cost of bills but the cost of getting attatched and having to move them to someone else that can help but the situation he was in, if I didn't buy him off the man he wasn't going to live and I knew he wouldn't have gotten out of there any other way. I will call the vet in Raleigh and see if I can set something up asap.

 

[CrestedL]

Perhaps the best gift is knowing he is in the care of specialists, not the idiots who call themselves vets in your area, I know you've grown attached and it's a beautiful thing you did to save him but sometimes these things are out of our reach, it may bring you peace of mind that he no longer has to suffer or be given treatments that are ineffective, it's hard to let go but sometimes it's the best thing to do in chances of survival... I'm sure if he was more healthy than this he would be greatful to have such a caring owner as yourself, you took it upon you to rescue him and you did all that you could, but you alone could only do so much, and it would be best to pass the torch to others knowing you did the best you could

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Let us know what happens.

 

[herpmomx7]

The inside of his mouth is pink and clean, other than this abscess and his eye he's a perfect gecko. This is definitely the hardest decision/circumstance I've been through with one of my reptiles. I'm going to contact the vet that's close to the reptile rescue I plan on consulting. Thank you for that list! There's not one close to me but I don't mind a drive if it means help for him. I hate this for him. That's the way I'm choosing to look at this. I always know any time I take one in that they might need more than me and I always know that no matter how much I love and adore them if I can't provide for them I need to find somewhere that will. I will let you guys know what happens. Y'all are so helpful.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

You're welcome. From what I've heard, Raleigh-Durham has a teaching hospital that's good with geckos.

That's good news about the insides of his mouth! After the abcess is removed, he's got a good chance at a long life.

 

[kholtme]

I dont have anything to add, these guys got you covered. Thanks for the thought CrestedL, best of luck to you and your gecko herpmomx, keep us updated.

 

[cricket4u]

Hi,

This leo is suffering from dehydration. His eye is sunken, therefore it's crucial to improve hydration before any systemic drugs are prescribed. If the vet is knowledgeable, this will be mentioned. Is he drinking water or at least using his humidity hide? It will be best to offer water on a paper towel to his insects instead of veggies if you are not doing this already.

 

[herpmomx7]

Hey Cricket4u. Crickets are the only thing he'll eat, and they are on a wet paper towel and also have fresh potato slices in there that they feed off of. I watch him drink often and keep fresh water in there for him and I also give him daily baths where I also see him drinking. He prefers his dry hide but I'm not as worried about dehydration. He pees/poops a really good amount and I always check to see how it looks before I dispose of it (sorry if that sounds gross haha). He is a really new rescue so he's still on his road to recovery, but if he's not in my hands, he'll be in the Raleigh rescue's if they'll take him so either way he'll be in good hands

 

[herpmomx7]

However the next vet I talk to whether it's the one I used previously for his check up or a new one, I will bring his hydration up and discuss it. I will not avoid what you're concerned about. I'm pretty confident that he's doing good drinking/hydrating wise but it still never hurts to start a conversation.

 

[herpmomx7]

His eye by the abscess stays open once he gets it open. His other eye looks very healthy and alert, and opens and closes with no issues. The inside of his mouth is very pink and looks perfect. I'm talking to a vet tomorrow about a payment plan for a surgery if I can do that it'd be prefect, I'm so excited. Now my only fear is how rough the surgery will be on him and how rough the recovery will be.