I have a problem...

[sumsolusfleo]

Ok, Clapton, my male leopard gecko is sick. I was wondering if any of you could help me.

Here is the deal, about 3 or 4 months ago Clapton's eye started looking really bad, so I took him to the vet. He said he still had his eye, but had a major eye infection, but not sure how he could have gotten it. He gave me something to flush his eye out with and some medicated drops, but after using all of it, it is still no better. He is started to get thinner and I'm not sure he is catching much food. I've tried hand feeding him, but sometimes he takes it and sometimes he doesn't. Any ideas? Should I just keep hand feeding him?

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

As long as he has one good eye he shoud be able to eat OK, waht are you feeding him? Crix or mealies?

 

[sumsolusfleo]

Crix, mealies once in a while for treats. Neither of the two in the same cage have a problem, just him.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Mealies are easier to catch I keep a dish filled in the tanks at all times and crix once in while.

If he is losing weight you may want to get a fecal done just to rule out parasites too.

 

[sumsolusfleo]

Ok, I will, thank you so much! And I will switch to mealies all the time and crix once in a while.

 

[Emma318]

I would also separate him from the others until you get the problem resolved. He's probably not eating well because the other fully-sighted geckos are getting to the food before him! Also, you wouldn't want the infection to spread. If you can get him to eat by hand-feeding by all means do! You want to keep him as fat and healthy as possible until the eye infection clears up. Have you called the doc back? He may need another treatment - how long have you been treating/when was the original visit?

 

[sumsolusfleo]

The original vet visit was early Aug. The treatment went for about 3 weeks and at first he seemed to be getting better, but then it just stopped looking better. I will separate him from his girls. He's never been a biter, but I guess he doesn't like me shoving food down his mouth cause now he will nip a little.

 

[MichaelJ]

I'd definitely separate him ASAP so he's doesn't have to deal with competition for food. I'd also try mealies and even some wax worms which are easier to catch and fatty so he can gain some of the lost weight.

I'd also get him back on treatment, and stay on it until he's completely healed and back in business.

We've had this happen before and usually it's because of shed skin issues in the eye that get infected from food stuff, calcium powder etc.. the flush and careful monitoring should get it taken care of..

Good Luck and keep up updated!

 

[GeckoGathering]

The Eyes Have It!

I'm going to just run threw my problems with Gecko Eyes and steps taken. I hope something I have done right or wrong will help you. So far of 3 problem eyes two are full time recovered, but I am still concerned about one snow that I thought had recovered also. I've been to my Vet and I've been the Vet, so I'll see if I can hit on something for you that may not have been mentioned. First I know what caused my problems.......it may not be what cause yours. I saw and removed bedding material by flushing the eyes of two females. When they SHARE a lay box they sometimes kick bedding into each others eyes......most of the time it gets licked out, but not always.........(if it is possible) Set her up alone in a hid of moist plain white paper towels. Take her to a sink. Adjust water temp. to slightly warm. Flush both eyes even if only one looks to be a problem. You can gently use a soaked Q-Tip, or with CLEAN hands flow the water down your fingers to her eyes, or even with a MILD GENTLE flow from the tap directly into her eyes.
Even if you have eye drops from the vet. I think oral infection medication is best. I have used both and the oral worked quicker and best. Ask the vet for it or try to get it elsewhere. BUT : Never use sterile
eye ointment..............Spray not only the inside of her hide but each day mist
a few shots into the air of her habitat....don't overdo it, especially if she is in close quarters...... If the eye becomes scummed over.........don't hesitate.
Get her to the Vet for another look. I had one scummed over and she could not close her eyelids............My vet took tweezers and removed two small eye caps
that looked like 1/2 of a tiny ball......keeping her from closing her lids.Eyes were clear after removal. Lids worked fine. I've used sterile drops, moisture drops, infection drops, and even OINTMENT. YES, I SAID NOT TO USE OINTMENT. My use of it caused a problem
.... Tweezers $4.95...... Vet. $65 ......Gecko priceless.
Good luck. and you take care.

 

[GeckoGathering]

EYE PROBLEM

Tried different drops, etc.. to flush.............city chlorine water in my honest opinion worked best in these particular cases. + the oral infection stuff.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Not Eating.....Guess there's no poop to clean out.

Stress from the infection or whatever it is is why he's not eating probably.
Learn from my wound......use forceps, wooden tongs, or tweezers to hold the MEAL WORMS........they are easiest to force feed. Trust me on this.......I hand fed a stressed out 120 gram large male for EIGHT MONTHS before he decided he liked me as much as Mike his previous owner. That's right 8 MONTHS. Conan dropped from 123 grams to about 106. I feed him by hand at first. Ron Tremper told me to tap the side of the mouth to get him to open it. It worked. In fact it irritated him. He grabbed that worm + my thumb and shook both. I thought I had an gator bite........Took the longest time to stop bleeding but we both went for wooden tongs the next day...............Oh yeah, when he finally decided to start eating.
He ate 30 wax worms before he had his fill..................Tricks to getting the mealworms down. Scissors.......Cut the heads off about 3 or 4 mealworms. + cut one end off a meal or wax worm. Push the inners out on a paper plate. Rub it on the Gecko's lips. Meal worm in tongs close to the end thats going in the mouth so to be a stiff straight motion into the mouth. When he starts "lickin his chops...........get the rhythm and timing down of his lip licking......worm ready....just get the tip in and he'll not let it go. Once in a while he will spit it back at you......just cuss and get him licking again. By the time you get him eating from you.......you may want to feed him all the time..[F](.NOT.).[/FONT].....
Take care.......May the worm force be with you.

 

[sumsolusfleo]

thank you for all of the info. GeckoGathering - it is actually the male that has the eye problem. This is what I've had to do for him so far: I have to pry his eyelids apart (he can't open them well on his own) and this puss comes out (but the vet assures me they eye is still intact) then I flush it with Saline (but am almost out so I will switch to water) and then put one eyedrop in the eye. I was told to force a pinky mouse down him to help him gain some weight. He is still very active and looks like he wants to hunt, but once the food is on that side of him he cannot see it anymore. I've forced mealworms, I will get waxworms today and try some of those. I pry his mouth open with one of my fingernails and shove the worm in and put my finger in the way so while he is forced to swallow the worm, he is somewhat chewing on the tip of my finger (if he wants to draw blood, I don't care, his life means more than me loosing a little blood).

What kind of oral meds did you use so I can try to get it? Thank you again for the help! (and he is alone now)

 

[GeckoGathering]

Eye Problem

BACTRIM .1 ml once per day orally ( think it was an antibiotic)
remember reptiles can transfer disease. Please use tongs.
All the best to you. Take care.