Edna and her eyes

[BethanyB]

So I was thinking, could it possibly be the astro turf bothering her feet that is causing them to swell? I noticed it's the prickly plastic kind, as opposed to the reptile carpet which is actual cloth carpet. Maybe it could be poking and irritating her feet?
It might be a good idea to just keep on her paper towels, or something nice and soft and gentle, until she's active and happy and eating on her own again.

 

[KrakenQueen]

I was thinking that too myself, but it's only that one front foot, not all four. However, I'll remove the turf now and put in the paper towels. I may also need to start stroking her belly twice daily to get her bowls moving while doing her soaks.

And that's good to know about the calcium pockets, I made the (brazen) assumption they had them, so my apologies to poor Edna for putting her through the indignity (though, I got a good look at her mouth and she's looking healthy there otherwise!). And like I said, I'm new to geckos, not new to reptiles, and the more I know the better- especially in a case like this where I have a desire to learn as much as possible.

Edna must be quite tired of me by now for sure!

 

[lepsforlife2009]

Hi,
I was just wondering what caused this to happen?? Is it something the previous owner did or did she catch some type of virus??
:main_robin:

 

[KrakenQueen]

Lepsforlife2009: If you're asking about the foot, that suddenly appeared a few days ago and at this time I have no idea what caused it to swell. I'll be going to the vet tomorrow evening around 5:30 for our re-check, so I'll really only know then. I can't tell if it's a shedding issue (constriction) or if there's a larger problem (gout/edema?), or if it's my own fault using the astro turf as a substrate causing irritation. As per Beth, I've removed the turf and replaced it with papertowels.

If it's about her eyes, the previous owner seems to have tried to care for her and aside from the massive eye plugs and sore, he did what he could by himself. I don't know when her eyes became so infected, how long she remained in that state, etc. All I know is what I've mentioned at the beginning of this thread.

----
UPDATE:
Changed out the UTH to a different one I have, more meant for people, but has various heating settings. The other was small (3x5) and wasn't pushing out enough heat. I noticed a very quick change in her color (brighter), so this may have been a big reason for her dull colors, lack of poop, and possible shed issue (still unconfirmed). Also removed the turf, put in paper towels as brought up by Beth, and kept an eye on her for a little while. I checked the heat off and on, and so far it seems right. The thermometer I have (sticky strip) doesn't seem to be functioning properly, so I'll need to get a new one (recommendations?). The heat was comfortable to the touch, nice and warm, but not hot enough to burn her if she sat long enough in that area (which, she promptly caked herself to the floor of her cage).

 

[KrakenQueen]

Yay! Poo! Well, Urates, but that shows her bowls are moving (correct?).

Thanks so much for the suggestions to change the turf, move the hide, and such :3

 

[Doubelminttwin]

Just wanted to say way to go for doing all fo this! I've learned a lot reading this thread so thanks for keeping it so updated, very interesting and you seem to be doing everything you can for this little gecko! I'll be glad when you finally get everything figured out!

 

[KrakenQueen]

Just wanted to say way to go for doing all fo this! I've learned a lot reading this thread so thanks for keeping it so updated, very interesting and you seem to be doing everything you can for this little gecko! I'll be glad when you finally get everything figured out!

Thanks I'm learning too, although I've had other reptiles, I've never had a gecko so it's a new experience for me and of course the more people correct me the more I'll get things right.

I'm trying what I can, I just hope things can be cleared up sooner than later!

 

[KrakenQueen]

Vet Appointment:
Edna weighs* (wow, spelling fail!) 55 grams, last week she was 61- Vet says she still looks healthy
Her left eye no longer needs the ofloxacin drops, Right eye continues on drops for a week, 4 times a day and shed-aid or mineral oil in the eye to help loosen the lens. The left eye lens looks "super" and doesn't need to be messed with.

Foot: She said it looks more like Edna may have fallen from the top of her hide or the shading box (on the heating side) and so it swelled up and bruised. She said right now, it doesn't look like a shed issue, but, she said to do a salt water wrap on her foot to help with the swelling and fluid retention from the bruise.

She said to keep her on the force feeding the waxworms (IE, letting her lick the waxworm goo and then I sneakily drop it into her mouth!) and rept-aid to put on weight. We think the handling and bad heating pad attributed to her weight loss. She said to keep on doing what I've been doing!

So, so far so good. Aside from the weight loss the vet was pretty happy with her general improvements.

 

[lepsforlife2009]

Yeah I was referring to the eyes. Glad she is ok. Keep up the good work with her!! She's so cute!!

 

[KrakenQueen]

Well! Much to my (somewhat) surprise, Edna is shedding today. So either she's shedding from stress or just a healthy shed- only time shall tell.

I did order food for her and my beardie today so she doesn't become addicted to waxworms 9_9

mealworms
silkworms
butterworms
hornworms (more for Bobaface, the beardie, but tiny horns for Edna. I know to cut off the heads since they are biters.)

I'm hoping that a change in flavor may encourage her to eat on her own without me assisting/instigating. Shell be on the rept-aid till I'm sure she'll eat on her own.

Also, with the shedding today- what should I look for and how can I help her remove any leftover shed in her eye(s) ? Should I continue with the mineral oil in her eye afterward?

 

[KrakenQueen]

The shed went very well! She's all done and chilling out. She ate about 90% of the skin and I did have to help her out with her feet. The swollen foot shed too. She's all clear of shed, nothing in her eyes and no retained shed anywhere on her that I can see.

I changed the paper towels, cleaned the tank, cleaned the hide and basically did a full out restart on the cage. After that I gave her right eye a drop and that was that!

 

[KrakenQueen]

Fantastic news! Enda can see! I de-jumpered a cricket and put it in the cage with her, she saw it and darted towards it. After a little maneuvering things around, I got it in a place where she continued to watch it and try to eat it.

I am concerned though, she threw up all of her shed. Is this common? :S

--EDIT:
SHE JUST ate her first cricket, BY HERSELF. IE, she chased it down, and caught it herself!! SO HAPPY!
However, Beth said for me to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't puke it back up later.

Edit2-
Second crix devoured. That will be all for now till I see how she does with digestion.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Fantastic news! Enda can see! I de-jumpered a cricket and put it in the cage with her, she saw it and darted towards it. After a littler maneuvering things around, I got it in a place where she continued to watch it and try to eat it.

I am concerned though, she threw up all of her shed. Is this common? :S

--EDIT:
SHE JUST ate her first cricket, BY HERSELF. IE, she chased it down, and caught it herself!! SO HAPPY!
However, Beth said for me to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't puke it back up later.

Edit2-
Second crix devoured. That will be all for now till I see how she does with digestion.

I don't know from experience, but Tremper's book he says that vomited shed bundles are a sign of crypto. Don't mean to scare ya, but that's what I've read.

 

[KrakenQueen]

I don't know from experience, but Tremper's book he says that vomited shed bundles are a sign of crypto. Don't mean to scare ya, but that's what I've read.

That's why I'll be keeping an eye on her. Beth said it's possible her stomach just wasn't ready for it since she's been refusing food since tuesday, and all the handling from the last week could have also stressed her out big time.

Are there other signs of crypto that I should look for?

 

[BGalloway]

Hi, glad to hear Edna's still doing well. Congrats on getting her up and hunting.

Are you still looking for a good thermometer? Anything digital should work, personally I use Zilla but Zoomed works great, the important thing is that it's digital and accurate. Thermometers should have an "accurate to +/- X degrees" written on them somewhere. You've probably read this elsewhere but 97*F is a good temperature for a hot spot.

Throwing up shed isn't common. In my opinion its about the same as throwing up food, a sign of stress or illness; my guess would be she upset her stomach eating so much at once and being stressed. I wouldn't worry as long as she keeps those crickets down. If you're looking for stuck shed it'll look like a little "ring" or finger from a glove on one of their toes, or the skin will look paler if its just a patch on their body somewhere, usually there's an edge sticking up that's fairly obvious.

Have you thought of making an excel file to use as a sort of daily log book? I have one for my leo and its great for checking when his last shed was, or his last poo, growth and weight gain, or when the last tank washing happened. Just a thought, people have fancy programs but for just one or two animals I'd stick with excel.

 

[KrakenQueen]

Hey BGalloway Thanks!

We got a thermometer/hygrometer from pet supermarket last night with the +/- recording for $20 (I should have mentioned this! oops). Her tank temps on the warm side show to be around 94, is this alright?

I'm guessing more along the same lines as you and Beth, that she just took on more than she could chew, so to speak.

Right after she was done with the major part of her shedding, body, legs, head and tail, I put her in a warm bath and gently massaged the feet to get all of the skin off. So I did a thorough check, and it looks like I got everything.

You know, it's funny you mention the excel file. I keep one for my garden and plantings, and I didn't even THINK to do it with Edna! My mind has been so backwards with all of what's going on recently between her and other things. Good idea!

Hi, glad to hear Edna's still doing well. Congrats on getting her up and hunting.

Are you still looking for a good thermometer? Anything digital should work, personally I use Zilla but Zoomed works great, the important thing is that it's digital and accurate. Thermometers should have an "accurate to +/- X degrees" written on them somewhere. You've probably read this elsewhere but 97*F is a good temperature for a hot spot.

Throwing up shed isn't common. In my opinion its about the same as throwing up food, a sign of stress or illness; my guess would be she upset her stomach eating so much at once and being stressed. I wouldn't worry as long as she keeps those crickets down. If you're looking for stuck shed it'll look like a little "ring" or finger from a glove on one of their toes, or the skin will look paler if its just a patch on their body somewhere, usually there's an edge sticking up that's fairly obvious.

Have you thought of making an excel file to use as a sort of daily log book? I have one for my leo and its great for checking when his last shed was, or his last poo, growth and weight gain, or when the last tank washing happened. Just a thought, people have fancy programs but for just one or two animals I'd stick with excel.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Quoted from The Herpetoculture of Leopard Geckos, p. 234:

"Typical steps in the progressions of "skinny tail"... (crypto)

Regurtitation of shed skin bundles
Appetite lessens
Regurgitation of undigested food items
Complete loss of appetite
diarrhea
loss of fat stores in tail
enlargement of the liver
death...

 

[KrakenQueen]

Quoted from The Herpetoculture of Leopard Geckos, p. 234:

"Typical steps in the progressions of "skinny tail"... (crypto)

Regurtitation of shed skin bundles
Appetite lessens
Regurgitation of undigested food items
Complete loss of appetite
diarrhea
loss of fat stores in tail
enlargement of the liver
death...

Thanks so much! I will definitely keep my out for these if it continues to worsen.

 

[Stomlin35]

My oldest regurgitated her shed once (the temperature had dropped because the undertank heater malfunctioned)... so I wouldn't start worrying about crypto just yet.

 

[KrakenQueen]

So, after perusing the search, it looks like Edna has gout in the swollen leg. We will take her in as soon as we can to get this verified. :S

I saw the thread of the pair of rescues with the necropsy of a gek with gout and it looks eerily similar.

She hasn't shown discomfort or pain and her appetite has skyrocketted in the last week - Her eyes are absolutely clear now and she's able to hunt food on her own. I've switched to freshly molted mealworms, two-three a day for the last few days with no regurgitation. Also to note, she's ghosting tonight so I am expecting her to shed overnight or tomorrow.

Edit:
After doing more searching I am almost positive it's gout. I found a thread elsewhere suggesting that yellowish urates which are crystaline are also symptoms of gout :\ She'd been passing yellowish urates (though her most recent poo had white urates).. Could it have been an overload of calcium?