help! tail rot or just broken?

[Shanley]

Hi im new here, my geckos name is buddy, he just recently jumped from my hands and landed on the floor. His tail started wiggling like it was about to fall off. And a few days later this is the result. Should I remove this part of his tail? I'm worried because I'm flying across the country tomorrow and leaving the gecko under my reptile novice mothers care. What do I do? I'll be gone for 10 days...

 

[tb144050]

I'd go to a vet. I wouldn't try to doctor that at home. Your gecko's tail is it's source of nutrition. (Yes, I know they will regrow it, but a damaged tail is severely stressful) So if not for the fact that its stored nutrition is endangered,...infection is another problem. Amputation might be required to save it??

 

[Shanley]

Can't afford the vet right now. I have taken him in before and know how much my vet costs. He is fat and healthy and eating like a monster. He was overweight as it was, so I'm not too worried about lack of nutrition.

 

[Shanley]

I have had to amputate the very tip of his tail before I just am not sure how or if I could amputate this large of a section? Advice? PS I'm a vet in training

 

[tb144050]

I'm no vet. What does your manual say? Or you can consult with other vets on a "vet-forum" for professional advice.

From your photos, he looks like he has lost almost 40% of the weight that matters...tail-weight.

 

[tb144050]

I've googled "tail rot" and read several forums and the general consensus is that most reptile breeders would take it to the vet and let the vet decide if corrective action is needed or just antibiotics to help prevent infection.

------------------------------------

I always consult my vet when in doubt. Even if you spend $50 on an office visit for a qualified herp vet and are told it can be treated without amputation, you would have a professional opinion based on a a physical examination, degree in veterinary medicine, and detailed instructions on the routine. As mentioned, the biggest concern is a spreading infection. Experienced gecko colony keepers have often dealt with a number of issues, and have learned how to handle many specific situations, but also can recognize when an animal needs to get to the vet quickly. We aren't vets here.

It might fall off and be fine with what you're doing. Please do keep a vet in mind, and locate one experienced with reptiles in case it is needed.

http://geckoforums.net/f162-general-discussion/77232.htm

 

[sausage]

I had the same thing last year. before i separated my females one grabbed hold of the others tail.
geckos tails have fracture points that separate and fall off when attacked or aggravated. My girls tail did the same thing as yours, it wiggled but the skin on the outside did not disconnect.
feel your geckos tail, if it has separated on the inside you should feel a weird gap inside the skin. if this is the case the tail will fall off itself soon.

My girl peanut went into shed a few days after her tail accident and i think it fell off or she pulled it off herself (i found the crunchy end bit in the cage).

If you are going away make sure his cage has paper towels as substrate because once it dose fall off you dont want any substrate sticking to the open end.

I was told that it is quite unusual for them to lose their tails half way down which both ours have done. peanuts tail grew back really nicely, hardly even looks like a regrow atall

 

[Shanley]

Buddy shed and his tail did not fall off, it began to rot and so I was forced to remove it myself. It came off easy enough after a little work and it didn't seem to bother him at all. I rinsed him off and covered the stump in neosporin. Seems to be doing alright here's what it looks like now (Sry forgot to take pics before the neosporin)

 

[Shanley]

 

[sausage]

he will be okay. just keep the open end clean. it will seal and regrow in time. how did you remove it? pull or cut it off?