Blood Infection? ...I am nervous and my vet visit today did not help AT ALL......

[tangerineman]

ok, so to make this brief, a bad shed caused the very tail tip of a gecko to die, unfortunately i did not cut it off just above the dead part as i was instructed to do, since it fell off in my hand later that evening.
i put the non-pain relieveing neosporin on it, and did my best to not overly disturb or stress the gecko further during the healing period...

now, i took her out last night, and she is shaking, like trembling, and haivng trouble with balance , and started to walk in circles, there is obviously something wrong, her colors are brighter than normal, and she has lost a small amount of weight noticeable mostly in the tail...
she has not lost a lot of weight, and seems healthy, until she moves.
then she has issues.
the tail end seems to be healed over but not growing back yet,

i think i made a mistake by not cutting the tail off as i was instructed to do,
but since the tip fell off, i thought it was ok on its own...

----
so first thing today i woke up, called the vet, brought the gecko in,
and the vet looked at the gecko... i explained my methods of feeding supplimentation, etc...

after being slightly criticized for not using @#$@#$ PROVEN organic food to gutload my feeders, and also for using cornmeal based supplement powder for mealies (vionate) I was instructed to get the gecko more sunlight and use iodine on the tail...ok, iodine, easy....

now..the gecko has had all the chance in the world to get any sunlight she
wanted, she happens to be nocturnal i reminded the vet, and told her the geckos aquarium does happen to get some sunlight during certain times of the day, although it is indirect.

The vet told me it could have been tainted food, pesticide, or contaminated food issues...but, i feed all my geckos from the same supply-
I told the vet that out of my 130+ geckos; hatching, raising, etc, caring for,
no other geckos showed any signs of this, even ones with tail issues from aggression or accidents...

I have a feeling the vet does not understand how a gecko moves, b/c it is painfully obvious by watching this gecko that she is having a difficult time,
I am almost sick over this, i raised this gecko in my shirt pocket practically since I got her in Oct '06.

is the state of vet reptile affairs so bad that they seem to know as little about these geckos as I have perceived?
-I mean i felt like she should have paid ME for giving the 'Introduction to Leopard Geckos' lecture that everyone was listening in on at the clinic!!
-right then i should have walked the #$#$ out of the clinic, i knew it.

I am using feeding and supplimentation methods that have been proven to work...if this was the cause i am sure some of my other geckos would surely show symptoms....

I can't help but feel like she gave me this advice for my 'first visit' knowing very well i will be coming back when it worsens as my gut tells me it is going to.

ok, so i got off track, but ...
the symptoms-
it's head shaking, or lack fo ability to control the head and balance,
and walking in circles..stumbling off balance really..

thanks-
any tips on what this possibly could be , so i can explain to the vet next time i see her would be appreciated.

I apologize for my abnormally aggressive tone, i am just totally bent out of shape.

-Duane

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Duane, I don't blame you for being 'bent out of shape'!!!! Are there any further signs of infection or necrosis in the gecko's tail?

Something just popped into my mind... a gecko's parathyroid gland is responsible for shedding and calcium absorbtion. Extreme stress and extreme temperatures can cause the gland to over-act, and can leach the blood calcium levels. Have you checked your temperatures on the hot side of the gecko's enclosure?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a 'cornmeal-based' supplement (Vionate?) for your gut-load and worm bedding. I use the stuff myself. Geckos do NOT need UV rays... you were right and the vet was mis-informed about leopard geckos being nocturnal.

Unless there is something neurological going on with your gecko, or it has a severe calcium deficiency, I really don't know what to tell you!

 

[tangerineman]

thanks for the quick response...

Hi marcia, thanks for your quick response-
temps on the warm side could have been a bit warmer the last week or so,
mid 80s, i usually aim for upper 80s, but we had a bit of a cooling spell in the evenings here this week,

the tail appears to have healed over, although it is not growing back as quickly as i had expected...in fact no signs of any re-growth at all, there is some loss of fat deposits in the tail, i can tell by appearance but also by feel, the tail has shown some 'loose skin' feel when pressure is gently applied to it.

the tail breakage that occurred when the tip fell off shows an uneven area, not a 'symmetrical' break, or clean break, maybe this has contributed to the tail not healing as fast?

i am at work now, but leaving soon, i had separated her today in a fresh tank with food and everything she needs, i will see if she is eating when i get home, she didn't seem interested in food at all, if this doesn't change soon, i will be looking up reptile vet specialists here in the nyc area...

thanks again-
Duane

 

[gothra]

Hi Duane,

I don't know if this is of any use; but I had a gecko with tail problem (the tail tip died, then the whole tail became necrotic), perhaps you can take a look at my old thread (the whole tail did felt soft when the infection spread):

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=14018&highlight=lemsip

Good luck in saving your girl!

 

[tangerineman]

thanks
I am going to ask the vet tomorrow if her prognosis would be any different if she knew the gecko wasn't eating/hasn't eaten for over 1 week, because i am not sure when she last ate (she had a cagemate who is fine and eating no problems) and she is not eating now...

-Duane

 

[MSMD]

How is she Duane? I hope all is well......