Injured leg

[mtnsurfr]

This leopard gecko has an injured front left leg. It appears to be useless (numb, paralyzed or something) below the elbow and has some open injury and a dark hardened scab. There seems to be some swelling on the lower leg and foot.
Can anyone tell me what's wrong and if there's anything I can do for her.
She's about 3 or 4 years old. Lives with one other smaller female. Seems to otherwise be healthy, alert and hungry.
Thanks


Here's the questionnaire filled out:
About your leo:
- Sex Female
- Age & Weight 3-4 years. no idea of weight
- How long have you owned your leo 1.5 years
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend) pet store

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo weekly
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. no different
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. NO
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal)
- When was the last time he/she went Can't tell.
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on Please see above

Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size 50 gal
- Type (ex. glass tank) glass tank
- Type of substrate reptile sand
- Hides, how many, what kind 4 to 5, a coconut shell, and 4 caves
B) Heating
- Heat source under-sand heater and heat lamp above
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side) 78-90 degrees F
- Method of regulating heat source dimmer on heat lamp
- What are you using to measure your temps digital thermometer
- Do you have any lights (describe) full-spectrum fluorescent on timer
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females) 1 female, sometimes 2
- Describe health, or previous problems none

Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet crickets and superworms
- What you're feeding (how often, how much) random access
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect) crickets run wild in terrarium, worms by hand
B) Supplements (describe how often) calcium vitamin powder on worms
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands)
- What are you gut loading food with fruit and some grainy feed

 

[acpart]

Here are my recommendations:
--get the injured gecko off the sand (it wouldn't hurt to get them both off the sand)
--separate the injured gecko
--soak her leg in warm water and try to get the sand, scab and whatever else is on her leg off
--take her to a vet
Good luck with her.

Aliza

 

[Ryder5406]

Appears to have a wound that has stopped up keeping the infection inside the leg. It's swelling up cutting the circulation off to the lower leg. If you can't do this you need to take it to a vet immediately. The would needs to be cleaned out. Soaking it in warm water while trying to clean it with q-tips may get the job done. First the fella needs to be taken off the sand and the leg soaked until the wound is clean. Then if you can drain the wound of the infection. Either with a needle or lancing. Also antibiotics need to be started immediately. If you don't know how to get and give the correct dose of the right meds than it again needs to go to a vet ASAP. If you don't correct this immediately it's going to die. You also,need to keep it hydrated and fed. If you have to force feed it.

 

[cowana]

To add to what has already been said...

I would remove any crickets that haven't been ate within a few hours and stop letting them run wild in the tank. They are know for bullying reptiles including biting them, or picking at already existing open wounds. If crickets haven't been ate within 2-4 hours they need to be removed. This should become a regular practice.

You should also include a humid hide in your terrarium. It will help your geckos to shed and keep stuck shed from restricting digits and limbs which will cut off circulation.

Follow Aliza's directions above and get this Leo to a vet ASAP. Do NOT try to lance any wounds or prescribe meds yourself. You will surely kill your pet as quickly as if you had not sought treatment, if not sooner

Good luck!
Amy.

 

[mtnsurfr]

Thank you for your responses.
I took her to the vet. The vet was not sure what happened, maybe the leg was bitten by the other gecko or maybe it was a shedding issue. I don't think it was a shedding issue, because I think I would have noticed the problem developing. In any case, I'm giving the gecko antibiotics, washing the wound and applying ointment. I passed on getting x-rays. That just got too expensive. I'll also be keeping her out of the sand until this heals. The vet peeled off the dead skin and scabs but did not lance anything.

In regard to a couple of the other suggestions or questions: Removing any crickets from the terrarium is not an option. This is a 75-gallon somewhat natural-looking setup, not a sterile box. Once the crickets are released, there's no way to capture them. They run around and have hundreds of hiding places. They even lay eggs and reproduce. I realize this may be different from many setups but I like the natural arrangement and the food chain aspect that goes on. The crickets sometimes escape being eaten for weeks and the geckos have to actually hunt for them. In general, the lizards seem to do quite well and the crickets eventually always get eaten.
Also, there is a damp hide. It's a mossy pit with a water-proof base. They seem to like laying in it when they're shedding.

I'll post again as healing progresses. Thanks again for you suggestions.

 

[cowana]

Glad that you were able to get her to the vet! I hope sensation comes back to her leg for you.

I imagine that would make catching the crickets difficult.

I'm glad to see you have a moist area for the geckos to lay while shedding. I must've missed that when reading your questionnaire. [emoji4]

 

[mtnsurfr]

Ok, it's been a little over a month.
We finished the antibiotics, washes and cream application. She's doing well and back with the other lizards. The leg is still somewhat discolored but working well. She had some trouble shedding on that leg recently. That leads me to suspect it was a shedding issue and not some other injury.
Thanks again for the suggestions.