Shackelford
New member
Hi there!
I took Buttercup to the vet last month because I was concerned that she may be constipated and I wanted a fecal exam. The vet did not seem very knowledgeable so I'd like a second opinion. I noticed 3-4 months ago that she was eating a lot (15 mealworms every other day) but not pooping as often as she used to (every other day). After taking her to the vet and realizing she was obese at 108 g, which the vet did not catch, I changed her diet to 8 mealworms every 3 days. She poops about once a week and is fed 2-3 times a week. Is this frequency normal? Previously she had quite large droppings with the urates about half as long and sometimes yellow. More recently her droppings are much smaller and the urates seem to have returned to white.
The lab results showed that she tested positive for pinworms. How much the concentration of worms is, I forgot to ask. I've read in a few places that some pinworms can be a natural part of a leo's flora. I don't know if this is true but I don't want to administer medication if I dont have to because I'm afraid it will unecessarily stress Buttercup out. Even with her current health problems, I have not seen any changes in her normal activity and eating.
Another thing that the doctor reassured me of is that the bubbles in her armpits are normal for a gecko about to ovulate. I believe this also occurred last year and she rarely ate for 3-4 months.
Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
Basic Information
Species of lizard: Leopard Gecko
Gecko's name: Buttercup
Morph: Hypo Tangerine
Gender: Female
Age: 2 yrs?
Weight: 108 g
Enclosure dimensions (length x width x height): 20 gal long
Substrate provided: tile
What type and brand of thermometer (digital with probe, temperature gun, LCD strip, analog (circle), combo digital thermometer/hygrometer, stainless steel aquarium type, other): stainless steel thermometer
What is the ground temperature right on the substrate under the warm dry hide: 86-90
What is the air temperature on the warm end about 4 inches up from the ground: 75
What is the air temperature on the cool end about 4 inches up from the ground: 75
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature (Under Tank Heater, heat light, Ceramic Heat Emitter, Flexwatt heat tape, hot rock, other): UTH
Insects and worms, list type: mealworms and crickets
Regular diet fed to the insects: cheerios, endive, spaghetti squash
Regular diet fed to the worms:
How often do you feed your gecko? Every 3 days
Please list any supplements (with brand names) used. How are they given and how often?
Repashy Calcium Plus dusted once a week, plain calcium carbonate dusted every other feeding.
If your gecko is sick, please describe the signs and how long your gecko has been showing these signs:
Constipation? 3-4 months
Additional Information
General
Gecko's total length: 9-10"
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it: 6"?
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner): breeder
Captive bred or wild caught: captive
Vivarium
Number of hides: 3
Location of hides: 2 warm, one cold
Is there a humidity hide? location? Yes when shedding, warm side
Please describe any other furnishings: branch, plastic plant
List recent changes in the environment, if any:
Upgraded to 20 gal from gal a month ago. I've also moved 3 times in the past 6 months.
Lighting
Artificial lighting: None
Incandescent ("screw-in type bulbs): wattages:
Fluorescent (tube bulbs):
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window:
Heating
Ventilation space for your UTH by elevating the tank above the shelf (some UTHs come with sticky feet for the tank corners): Yes
Are you using a thermostat(s)?
Which hide does she/he spend most of her time? Warm, dry
Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much? No
Humidity
Is the humidity measured? Yes
Humidity range:
Diet
Are the insects and worms formally “gutloaded” 1-2 days prior to feeding off to your gecko? If so with?
What calcium brand are you using? with D3, without or both? Both
Is the calcium in the tank with D3 or without? None in tank
Multivitamins (include brand name)?
Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet:
General Health
Is your gecko’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? Normal
Is your gecko’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? Normal
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight (loss or gain):
Discharge from the eyes or nose:
Increased breathing rate or effort:
Change in the droppings:
Urates
---white or yellowish:
---size of urates as compared to size of feces:
Abnormal skin color or shedding:
Parasites on the skin or in the feces:
Weakness:
Regurgitation:
Previous problems and/or illnesses
Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household
List other animals that are kept in the same cage: None
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months):
Are any of your other pets ill?
I took Buttercup to the vet last month because I was concerned that she may be constipated and I wanted a fecal exam. The vet did not seem very knowledgeable so I'd like a second opinion. I noticed 3-4 months ago that she was eating a lot (15 mealworms every other day) but not pooping as often as she used to (every other day). After taking her to the vet and realizing she was obese at 108 g, which the vet did not catch, I changed her diet to 8 mealworms every 3 days. She poops about once a week and is fed 2-3 times a week. Is this frequency normal? Previously she had quite large droppings with the urates about half as long and sometimes yellow. More recently her droppings are much smaller and the urates seem to have returned to white.
The lab results showed that she tested positive for pinworms. How much the concentration of worms is, I forgot to ask. I've read in a few places that some pinworms can be a natural part of a leo's flora. I don't know if this is true but I don't want to administer medication if I dont have to because I'm afraid it will unecessarily stress Buttercup out. Even with her current health problems, I have not seen any changes in her normal activity and eating.
Another thing that the doctor reassured me of is that the bubbles in her armpits are normal for a gecko about to ovulate. I believe this also occurred last year and she rarely ate for 3-4 months.
Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks!
Basic Information
Species of lizard: Leopard Gecko
Gecko's name: Buttercup
Morph: Hypo Tangerine
Gender: Female
Age: 2 yrs?
Weight: 108 g
Enclosure dimensions (length x width x height): 20 gal long
Substrate provided: tile
What type and brand of thermometer (digital with probe, temperature gun, LCD strip, analog (circle), combo digital thermometer/hygrometer, stainless steel aquarium type, other): stainless steel thermometer
What is the ground temperature right on the substrate under the warm dry hide: 86-90
What is the air temperature on the warm end about 4 inches up from the ground: 75
What is the air temperature on the cool end about 4 inches up from the ground: 75
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature (Under Tank Heater, heat light, Ceramic Heat Emitter, Flexwatt heat tape, hot rock, other): UTH
Insects and worms, list type: mealworms and crickets
Regular diet fed to the insects: cheerios, endive, spaghetti squash
Regular diet fed to the worms:
How often do you feed your gecko? Every 3 days
Please list any supplements (with brand names) used. How are they given and how often?
Repashy Calcium Plus dusted once a week, plain calcium carbonate dusted every other feeding.
If your gecko is sick, please describe the signs and how long your gecko has been showing these signs:
Constipation? 3-4 months
Additional Information
General
Gecko's total length: 9-10"
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it: 6"?
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner): breeder
Captive bred or wild caught: captive
Vivarium
Number of hides: 3
Location of hides: 2 warm, one cold
Is there a humidity hide? location? Yes when shedding, warm side
Please describe any other furnishings: branch, plastic plant
List recent changes in the environment, if any:
Upgraded to 20 gal from gal a month ago. I've also moved 3 times in the past 6 months.
Lighting
Artificial lighting: None
Incandescent ("screw-in type bulbs): wattages:
Fluorescent (tube bulbs):
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window:
Heating
Ventilation space for your UTH by elevating the tank above the shelf (some UTHs come with sticky feet for the tank corners): Yes
Are you using a thermostat(s)?
Which hide does she/he spend most of her time? Warm, dry
Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much? No
Humidity
Is the humidity measured? Yes
Humidity range:
Diet
Are the insects and worms formally “gutloaded” 1-2 days prior to feeding off to your gecko? If so with?
What calcium brand are you using? with D3, without or both? Both
Is the calcium in the tank with D3 or without? None in tank
Multivitamins (include brand name)?
Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet:
General Health
Is your gecko’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? Normal
Is your gecko’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? Normal
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight (loss or gain):
Discharge from the eyes or nose:
Increased breathing rate or effort:
Change in the droppings:
Urates
---white or yellowish:
---size of urates as compared to size of feces:
Abnormal skin color or shedding:
Parasites on the skin or in the feces:
Weakness:
Regurgitation:
Previous problems and/or illnesses
Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household
List other animals that are kept in the same cage: None
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months):
Are any of your other pets ill?
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