Bubbly-looking thing?? *weird pic*

[fallen_angel]

Thanks so much Mel. It was crazy, I was literally talking on the phone, telling my parents about the conjoined twins, and I just walked into the reptile room and looked in the incubator, and there this one was, totally healthy looking! We were so thrilled.. but once I had her in my hands to transfer her to a bin, I noticed that bubble and it really made our hearts drop. We do believe that it most likely isn't anything too serious and are staying positive, though.


John - I honestly think he looks better today, but I guess those pics are way different from the other ones I was taking last night. What's weird is that it hatched out this way, and she was only incubating for 84-86 degrees.




Just want to add that it really doesn't look as bad in person. When the gecko is held up in the light, you can see straight through that thing, and everything else looks good underneath.. I think it's filled with air..not sure. I touched it again today to see if it bothered him, and he gave no reaction :heart:

 

[fallen_angel]

We got our first response from the herp doc, and he said that it looks like an outpocketing off the cloaca and that there could possibly be a ureter from the kidney not emptying into the cloaca. We are definitely going to take him in as soon as we can, but we can't do anything today (will hopefully see the doc tomorrow).

I totally forgot about putting Peroxide in his warm water soak, so I gave him another soak with a teaspoon of Peroxide in it, which disinfected everything and made us feel a lot better! I'm going to give him more soaks in the mean time today. I wonder if the whole thing will just come off with his first shed? That would be nice.

We'll keep you updated.

 

[Kristi23]

I hope that the doctor will be able to help with it.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Please keep us all posted with the vet's info so we all can learn about this! I hope the little one will do OK...

 

[fallen_angel]

Thank you for the support, we'll definitely make this a learning experience for all of us!

 

[PacHerp]

It is great news that the vet seems familiar with the situation. I hope you and the vet will be able to work together to help this little one! Please keep us updated on his progress!

 

[fallen_angel]

We haven't gotten to make an appointment yet, but I am calling first thing in the morning and am going to try to get in the same day. He said it would be $50 for an exam, and that he may or may not be able to help us, depending on what is really happening here *keeping our fingers crossed*

I can say that the peroxide/warm water soaks seem to really be helping a lot, I gave him one last night, and two so far today. I'm going to give him one more in a bit, and hope that maybe he has his first shed and that huge bubble thing disappears by morning.. at least that would certainly be nice!

Thanks for the support Britt, I will definitely have another update by tomorrow evening

 

[Kristi23]

Hey Jess! How is he doing today so far? Is it looking any better?

 

[fallen_angel]

Hey Kirsti, he actually looks a lot better today, the bubble at least looks smaller. I JUST called to make an appointment and came to find that they aren't even open on Thursdays!

We couldn't go yesterday no matter what, but I also didn't even have the correct number (the business card we have is apparently outdated!) until after 5pm yesterday. I call today to make the appointment and I got a voice mail saying that they aren't even open today.. So, it will be at least one more day before we get in to see the vet (I can't believe he didn't mention the fact that he wasn't even open on Thursdays). We got his card from the local Arizona Reptile Center, and he's the only herp vet we know of, so I suppose we'll wait until Friday for the appointment.

But anyway, at least the bubble does look a lot better today. The soaks with peroxide seem to really be making a big difference. Whatever the bubble is, disinfecting it a few times a day has really seemed to make it shrink. We really couldn't make any appointment, but I wonder if this extra day will give us the time she needs to get rid of that thing...I don't know. She hasn't had her first shed yet, so I'm still keeping the hopes of it coming off when she does. She seems to be doing just fine for the time being, I will keep ya'll updated as more happens!!

Thanks so much for the support everyone!!

 

[fallen_angel]

I have officially confirmed that this gecko can at least use the bathroom. I saw some white stuff oozing out of the bubble, and I grabbed it with some really small tweezers, and it all came out in one big blob (urate!!!!) So WOO HOO he can dispose of waste!!

 

[Kristi23]

I'm so glad he's able to potty! That would have been one of my biggest fears with the blister being where it is.

 

[fallen_angel]

Thanks Kristi :heart:

We just got back from the vet!! Dr. Johnson took a look at him and said that this problem could be a few different things:

1) One of the ureters is blocked on one end, causing a backup of urates, and the strange bubble

2) there is an actual probelm with the cloaca

or 3) this is just a bubble that once removed, won't be a problem ever again

He said that there was quite a bit of urates blocked up, despite the fact that I took some out of him last night. There was a pretty big vein/membrane inside of the bubble, and he said that it could either be nothing significant, or a major membrane.. So the only option was to cut it off, but the gecko may or may not survive. We obviously chose for the bubble to be removed.

So the bubble has been removed, and the gecko's vent is now visible so he can properly dispose of waste. We have been given a diluted amount of Enrofloxacin (antibiotic) that needs to be given to him orally ever day for two weeks. We need to monitor the area, its urination/defecation, and return for a checkup only if problems return or if the gecko loses weight.

"Nabal" is the name given to this gecko because it means "fortune, luck" and we think she will pull through just fine. The doctor didn't say anything about the procedure going badly, and Nabal looks like she's doing pretty good. She was a very good girl, she didn't squirm too much or anything! Although, she must have done quite a bit of squirming during the procedure because her front left leg is now fractured. However, we'll take a fractured limb instead of a lost tail any day!! (we've already been through a broken limb on another baby - at least that type of injury is something that just heals on its own).

So all in all, Nabal is doing great!! Thanks for the support everyone! :heart: I took a few pics of her once we got back, but the area is still very red and I would rather show updated pics when it's healed more

 

[Ccrashca069]

It sounds like she is going to be recovering good and she is going to be a keeper for you

 

[Kristi23]

I hope she recovers quickly.

 

[fallen_angel]

Thanks John and Kristi!

 

[fallen_angel]

There was a normal poo today and she seems to be doing okay. Her leg isn't broken at all, I guess it was just twisted or something yesterday. There was a bit more ooze and stuff coming from the area just now. I wiped it all away, and it stopped oozing.. ?? Should we continue the warm water soaks with Peroxide? She is on antibiotics, and hasn't eaten due to all of the stress I'm sure. When should I start feeding with a dropper?

The only thing about the Doctor visit is that we didn't get any feedback about the procedure or anything afterwards.. we didn't even see the Doctor again. So I sent him an e-mail with some questions, but still haven't heard from him. Any advice would be great!

 

[PacHerp]

I'm glad to hear that she is doing better! I would continue with the warm water soaks... I don't think they would hurt.

Keep us updated, and post some updated photos when you get the chance.

 

[Ccrashca069]

I would still do the soaks. Give her a few days before worrying about the eating. She been stressed.

 

[fallen_angel]

I guess I'm just worried that the Peroxide may help the bubble heal and grow back.. what do you guys think? Or just do regular soaks with no Peroxide?

thanks for your help Britt and John I got a few photos of her transferring from the camera to the pc now

 

[Ccrashca069]

Thanks for the reminder about all my pics I took lol. I think your just worried because you are gifted or cursed for being a very caring person. Its always a pleasure to help