5 days without a poop...I am worried now!

[curiousKathy]

Okay...I am getting more concerned now! It's been about 5 days and still no poop. I tried to give him some vegetable oil on the tip of his nose. He licked some off, but I don't know if it was enough to lube him up. I also gave him a warm soak; water started at 92*F, but got cold by the time I finished cleaning his tank. (I hope I didn't mess him up letting the water get too cold...I didn't think it would cool down that fast) He ate one cricket tonight at feeding time. I am concerned that he may be impacted. Is there any physical symptoms to look for? He is still walking around, but does stay in his warm hide. But he has always done that...should I continue with the warm soaks but not let the water get cold? How do others keep the water warm for the 15 minute soak? He did have a larger than normal cricket 2 nights ago...could that be the problem? Otherwise I can't think of anything else that is different...for more explanation please check the "concerned mom" thread posted by me earlier this week...

curiousKathy

 

[Jayyoung]

sorry to hear this.

I am new to keeping reptiles so I did a quick search the information I found is at http://drgecko.com

I guess first off the Vet would be the wisest thing to do if you suspect any heath issues. The site linked above has some good information but it is symptom based and treating something without fully understanding it can be really bad.


five days is a long time for anything to go without voiding. all the info I have seen states regular voiding is every day to every other day. Did you notice the last void of feces to be dry or hard? I think usually constipation has more to do with feeding or the environment than signs of disease. To be safe and sure the vet is again the best way to go.

I hope every thing works out for the best.

 

[gothra]

Is he about to shed? Some of my geckos hold for several days right before they shed, and they would poop right after shed. Are you using any type of lose substrate? And is your gecko well hydrated? I think you should use mineral oil instead of vegetable oil in case you think its impaction problem.

When I soak my geckos, I usually take them out every 5-7 minutes to add more hot water; so the water stays warm.

 

[curiousKathy]

He shed on Monday and hasn't pooped since the shed...No loose substrate. He is on repticarpet. He always has fresh water available, but not sure if he's hydrated. thanks for the tip about keeping the water warm...

Guess I didn't consider parasites because he appears so healthy, but I probably should have a fecal done.

Thanks for your input!

curiousKathy

 

[curiousKathy]

Most excellent news!!!! Jackie left me a little present this morning!!! I saved it and I am going to take it to work on Monday to look for parasites. I have never been so excitedd to see reptile poop in my life!!!

Thanks for your advice! He may get another soak just because....grin.

curiousKathy

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Thats great to hear. Your going to need a more "fresh" poop if you aren't looking until monday, though.

 

[moosassah]

I hope the fresh poops keep on showing up!

 

[gothra]

Hurray! To the poop!!!

 

[curiousKathy]

Thats great to hear. Your going to need a more "fresh" poop if you aren't looking until monday, though.

If he produces some more, I will take it in. I put the other in the fridge, but it won't be the freshest on Monday...hopefully he will make some more that will be fresher! I just wanted to save it in case I didn't get more poop right away. I haven't done a fecal float or fecal test before, so I will ask around at work first, but I have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done. If there is any question I will take a sample to a rep vet for testing or maybe call and/or ask how they run their test...hmmmmm!

Thanks!

curiousKathy

 

[curiousKathy]

I got a big present tonight at his regular time and place, so I think we are back to normal once again...thank goodness! Whew! I am taking this one into work with the old one. I will use the old one for practise and the fresh for the real thing. If nothing else it will be fun to see what one can find in reptile poop! Hopefully I find nothing significant!

I was wondering something...it seems that Jackie's tastes have changed. He is more into mealworms than crickets...am I wondering if this change is what caused my scare...he quit eating as much and quit pooping. Plus aren't mealworms more difficult to digest? Would that cause him to take longer to poop?

Just thinking outloud!

curiousKathy

 

[Scott&Nikki]

I was wondering something...it seems that Jackie's tastes have changed. He is more into mealworms than crickets...am I wondering if this change is what caused my scare...he quit eating as much and quit pooping. Plus aren't mealworms more difficult to digest? Would that cause him to take longer to poop?

Just thinking outloud!

curiousKathy

Mine did the same. I don't recall my girl having a large space between poops when she changed, though. Deffinately no more than 1 day. Mealworms are "more difficult" to digest, but I don't think that would cause what happened. I guess just hope it stays normal and you won't have to worry about the reason.

 

[curiousKathy]

Mine did the same. I don't recall my girl having a large space between poops when she changed, though. Deffinately no more than 1 day. Mealworms are "more difficult" to digest, but I don't think that would cause what happened. I guess just hope it stays normal and you won't have to worry about the reason.

Thanks Scott!

I would like to know, so I can prevent it (if possible) from happening again. 5 days is too long to go without pooping...I will check his poop to see if there is a problem there...I would be VERY happy if he stayed normal, though. I LOVE my leos and it worries me when things don't go just right!

Thanks for the reply!

curiousKathy

 

[curiousKathy]

Hi guys! Great news! I had a co-worker test Jackie's poop...it was NEGATIVE for parasites! YEAH!!! So I still don't know why Jackie didn't poop for 5 days, but it's not parasites! He is fat and happy and turning me into a leo slave! Hopefully the pooping will become regular again!

Thanks for the support!

curiousKathy

 

[curiousKathy]

I got the results back from his fecal float at work...he was negative for parasites. So that's good, but I still don't know why he isn't pooping everyday like he used to. He pooped Monday night, but hasn't since. Hopefully I will get a present tomorrow morning...grin As you can see, he looks healthy...how do I make sure he is drinking enough?

Thanks!

curiousKathy

 

[SpOuK-3-]

Is this your little cuty in the avatar ??? He's really cute !!!! he/she 's just like mine !

 

[curiousKathy]

Is this your little cuty in the avatar ??? He's really cute !!!! he/she 's just like mine !

That was Jackie about 2 weeks after we bought him...this is a more recent pic...

They change quite a bit when they are little!

curiousKathy

 

[MichaelJ]

isnt poop great !

mealworms being harder to digest??! I've read that a few different places and in my experience I've found the exact opposite. My brood seems to be much more regular on mealies than crickets or even pinkies. After a pinky it's just a larger present. I've seen crickets pass through almost completely intact before they come out in an exoskeleton wrapped in urate. Lovely image huh? sorry.. Personally I would think that the arms, legs, and barbs on them would be harder on the the GI tracts. But I'm not a vet..

 

[mavman99]

I have started getting the 100 pack of small mealies from Petco and keeping them in a tupperware with oats, etc. I don't put them in the fridge so they keep growing and I know they are gutloaded. When it is feeding time, I sift through them looking for white ones that have just shed. I read on here that they are easier to digest, and it makes sense because they are far squishier when you pick them up than the regular brown mealies.

 

[curiousKathy]

I have started getting the 100 pack of small mealies from Petco and keeping them in a tupperware with oats, etc. I don't put them in the fridge so they keep growing and I know they are gutloaded. When it is feeding time, I sift through them looking for white ones that have just shed. I read on here that they are easier to digest, and it makes sense because they are far squishier when you pick them up than the regular brown mealies.

Excellent tip! Thank you!

This time he went one day and then pooped and then 4 days without. I gave him a soak and a little mineral oil last night and he left me a large present. Do I need to soak him every night?

Thanks!

curiousKathy