Gecko not eating, eyes closed

[Kevin147]

Hi guys,

So I have a leopard gecko, 1 1/2 years old roughly, and she seems lately to not be feeling well. From what I've read, she has a eye infection I'm assuming.

She started out with one eye open, one eye closed. I thought, maybe she just hit that eye and is keeping it shut. Then now, it seems like a film is covering one eye. She was kind of off on capturing her mealworms - I thought nothing of it. Its been about a week now and she is now keeping both eyes closed. I'm very worried about her, and I'm thinking its a eye infection because she keeps to try to (when her eyes are close) I tap on the glass and she tries to open them (I think) and her eyelids kind of like go in, then she licks her eyes and slowly opens them.

I have a vet appointment Friday, today is Tuesday. I put a worm in front of her, and she just acts like its not even there. How do I feed her? The soonest the vet can get me in is Friday, and I'm worried on whether or not she's going to be okay because she hasn't really eaten well already for about a week now. Is there anything I can do to help her eat? I've also given her two baths tonight in lukewarm water, but she seems weak and I'm afraid of leaving her in for a long time because I don't want her to breathe water.

Let me know what to do Friday is quite a long time from now and I'm not sure on what to do! This is my first gecko.

Thanks, Kevin.

 

[LepardGeckosRock]

You can feed her by rubbing the side of her mouth, and sticking the metalwork a little farther then half way. She will either spit it out or eat it.

 

[Kevin147]

You can feed her by rubbing the side of her mouth, and sticking the metalwork a little farther then half way. She will either spit it out or eat it.

I tried that, she wouldn't budge. I guess I'll leave her alone for tonight. Her tail is still pretty fat and I think I've stressed her out enough for one day. Two lukewarm water baths and holding her quite a bit since every time shes in my hand she lays down and closes her eyes.

 

[acpart]

Remember that if she has an infection, she isn't going to be hungry. She will not die before Friday from lack of eating. If the infection gets very bad very quckly that may be a different story.

Aliza

 

[Kevin147]

Alright, thanks guys! Tomorrow is vet day, she seems to be doing alright right now, hasn't gotten any worse from what I can tell. I think the couple of baths I gave her helped her out quite a bit.

One question I have though, what color should their tongue be? I've noticed hers is kinda pinkish but mostly white... is she dehydrated?

 

[indyana]

I'm not sure whether the tongue color is significant, but I hope you made out all right at the vet.

 

[Kevin147]

I'm not sure whether the tongue color is significant, but I hope you made out all right at the vet.

Yes, vet went well. She has stomotitis, which the vet gave me a antibiotic for her and a pain reliever to help assist her. For her eye, they gave me an ointment I put on twice a day. Shedding was to blame for the eye not opening - I'm going to be now misting and a couple times a month soaking her to help her with shedding.

I learned quite a bit from this experience. Today is the third day on the medication - she still is not eating but she's getting more active as each day goes, thus I assume she's starting to feel better little by little.

Hoping shes better soon and eating again soon! Thank you all for your advice and help

 

[indyana]

So glad that you took her to see a vet! Sounds like you're taking good care of her. Get well soon, little gecko!

 

[courtney.lynne]

I'm glad all went well with the vet I have seen this happen multiple times (I'm an exotic veterinary technician) and they always recover quite nicely ! Just keep up the good work and she will be back to eating in no time