Leopard Gecko Lost Toenail After Shed, I'm Worried She May Lose a Toe as Well. Help!

[Rose23]

My 4 year old female leopard gecko, Olive, shed about a month ago and I noticed she pulled out a toe nail, I think, there was no blood and it looked okay. She may have just broken it off. Nevertheless, I changed her substrate to paper towels for the time being and then back to reptile carpet. (Its now back to paper towels.) However, she shed again this week and I noticed her toe looked crusty. I cannot tell if this is retained shed or if its just hard scales/skin from not walking with a nail there. I always help my geckos remove their stuck toe shed. I've been giving her some warm toe soaks and gently rubbing at it with a q-tip and nothing comes off. I just want to make sure it is not stuck shed. I would not be able to forgive myself if she loses a toe over this, so I want to prevent that if it is the case. I attached some images, do you think it looks like stuck shed or just hardened skin? Thanks! I hope everyone is well!

 

[acpart]

I think she has a bit of shed stuck on the tips of the toes. Either soak her in 1/2" of warm water in the sink or spray some water on her feet and then dig in and pull it off. I find that q-tips aren't going to do it; it needs some serious fingernail work.

Aliza

 

[Rose23]

I think she has a bit of shed stuck on the tips of the toes. Either soak her in 1/2" of warm water in the sink or spray some water on her feet and then dig in and pull it off. I find that q-tips aren't going to do it; it needs some serious fingernail work.

Aliza

So far, I have soaked her 3 days in a row since she last shed. I've tried a q-tip and more recently I tried my fingernail to peel it off. It made her toe sore and red, she's a super friendly gecko and she even nipped me. So I'm wondering if I should take her to the vet yet?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

So far, I have soaked her 3 days in a row since she last shed. I've tried a q-tip and more recently I tried my fingernail to peel it off. It made her toe sore and red, she's a super friendly gecko and she even nipped me. So I'm wondering if I should take her to the vet yet?

Something else I've tried recently is a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove stuck toenail skin, after time in a humidity chamber first. Please scroll to Method #5.

For link 4 click: 7 Stuck Shed Humidity Box Assists for a gecko's toes, body, head, & eyes -- April 2020 update​

 

[Rose23]

Something else I've tried recently is a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove stuck toenail skin, after time in a humidity chamber first. Please scroll to Method #5.

For link 4 click: 7 Stuck Shed Humidity Box Assists for a gecko's toes, body, head, & eyes -- April 2020 update​

I gave that method a go yesterday. I had her in a warm soak with paper towels over the container to keep her and the humidity in. I let her soak for about 10-15 minutes and then I used the soft bristled toothbrush on her toe. Here is a picture of the same toe after the soak and scrubbing. I don't think it looks much different. I can't even really see on the toe where the stuck shed is stuck, it all looks very streamline with her skin all over. Im not sure what I should do, I don't want to hurt her by picking at it more.



Thanks!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I gave that method a go yesterday. I had her in a warm soak with paper towels over the container to keep her and the humidity in. I let her soak for about 10-15 minutes and then I used the soft bristled toothbrush on her toe. Here is a picture of the same toe after the soak and scrubbing. I don't think it looks much different. I can't even really see on the toe where the stuck shed is stuck, it all looks very streamline with her skin all over. Im not sure what I should do, I don't want to hurt her by picking at it more.

View attachment 48937

Thanks!

Does the skin on this circled "thumb"/digit involve the skin or just the nail? Does that seem to be on the entire toe?

Have you tried loosening it with mineral oil or maybe even olive or vegetable oil? That's certainly worth a shot.

 

[Rose23]

Does the skin on this circled "thumb"/digit involve the skin or just the nail? Does that seem to be on the entire toe?

Have you tried loosening it with mineral oil or maybe even olive or vegetable oil? That's certainly worth a shot.

She doesn't appear to have any external nail exposed. So it's on the tip of her toe, where her nail should be and a bit on the underside where her toe naturally curls down. It almost just looks like the larger scales that wrap around the nail area. Ive always been able to pull off stuck shed that she misses the day after they shed themself. This bit on her toe/nail area feels really hard and doesn't want to budge.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

She doesn't appear to have any external nail exposed. So it's on the tip of her toe, where her nail should be and a bit on the underside where her toe naturally curls down. It almost just looks like the larger scales that wrap around the nail area. Ive always been able to pull off stuck shed that she misses the day after they shed themself. This bit on her toe/nail area feels really hard and doesn't want to budge.

Maybe a vet could help.

I don't know what else to suggest.

 

[Rose23]

Maybe a vet could help.

I don't know what else to suggest.

No worries, thank you for the help! I've been thinking about scheduling an appointment at the vet so that they can take a look at it to see if its stubborn shed or just her skin hardening from where her nail broke/fell out.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

No worries, thank you for the help! I've been thinking about scheduling an appointment at the vet so that they can take a look at it to see if its stubborn shed or just her skin hardening from where her nail broke/fell out.

You're welcome, of course.

Please keep this thread updated.

 

[Rose23]

You're welcome, of course.

Please keep this thread updated.

I took her to the vet a bit a go, and they said she seemed fine! She lost another nail recently but the vet said not to worry and that she seemed healthy. They were unsure if it was stuck shed or not but they said to just keep an eye on it. It seems she took care of it on her own during her most recent shed!

Thanks again!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I took her to the vet a bit a go, and they said she seemed fine! She lost another nail recently but the vet said not to worry and that she seemed healthy. They were unsure if it was stuck shed or not but they said to just keep an eye on it. It seems she took care of it on her own during her most recent shed!

Thanks again!

You're welcome. Thanks for your update.