Just rescued a leo, in BAD BAD shape

[brothaT]

I was browsing around animal ark today and noticed this gecko, who at first I thought was dead but then twitched a little bit. I told them I raised leopard geckos and could try and nurse it back to health for them, but they just gave it to me. They said that he had looked like this for about a month and they had been force-feeding it the entire time. What is the best way to go about trying to help it recover? I currently have it in a heated plastic tub with a hide, water, and vitamin calcium mixture.

 

[Lena]

Oh my god. Vet. A.S.A.P.

VET!

herpvetconnection.com

 

[LeapinLizards]

Definitely vet, that gecko has something very serious going on.

That, and be sure that geckos is far away from any others you have, and do not let them come into contact with anything this little one has touched...including you!

 

[Lena]

I'm afraid it's crypto.

 

[animalhouse27]

OMG that poor thing! OMG!

 

[rawson5084]

That poor little thing

 

[Halley]

I'd get a fecal sample done by the vet, it almost has to have parasites. I'd be afraid to draw blood right now...

But try crickets to trigger the feeding response, rather than mealworms.

 

[brothaT]

I mushed up some superworm guts and just fed the little guy by placing them on his nose. I also added some vitamins and calcium powder as he was licking it off. I'll give him some more tonight and see if I can get him to a vet tomorrow.

 

[snowgyre]

I'm worried about dehydration too. If you have pedialyte you could use a spoon and let it drink by capillary action at the jawline. Good luck, I'm not sure if you can save him though.

 

[brothaT]

I just called the vet and she said to put him in a container with warm water and the lid on. Is that a good way to rehydrate a gecko?

 

[snowgyre]

Um... I doubt it. When he's that weak, if he lowers his head and gets a single drop of water in his nostrils he could die of drowning, suffocation, or later die of pneumonia. I'm skeptical. Is your vet used to working with reptiles? I've had a lot of bad advice from a lot of mammal-only vets.

If you don't have pedialyte (it's available at the grocery store in the baby section), then you can use gatoraide. I like pedialyte better because it doesn't have as much sugar, but gatoraide will work. You're not forcing the gecko to drink though. You're merely holding the spoon to the side or front of his mouth, letting the liquid seep in by itself. He won't need a whole lot to feel better. Sometimes all it takes is a drop.

 

[brothaT]

Sorry, I said that wrong in the last post. It wasn't actually the vet, but the front desk lady. I suppose they are notorious for giving very generic and unhelpful answers, so I will try out your method tonight after feeding him a little more. I have some Gatorade so I'll dilute it a little and let him have a sip.

 

[shawn119]

horrible condition. Vet ASAP.

 

[leonut]

I just called the vet and she said to put him in a container with warm water and the lid on. Is that a good way to rehydrate a gecko?

Rather than do that, I would put him on damp paper towels rinsed with warm water. That way he gets water but can't drown. Definetly call the vet.

 

[JordanAng420]

That is so heartbreaking. I hate to see that.

And don't listen to receptionists. They have no medical training at all. I'd agree with larry and put him on the damp paper towels...in the incubator if you have one.

 

[brothaT]

You know what, it looks like death itself but he is one feisty maniac. I actually had a fun time trying to get it a little liquid.

If he/she lives I hope it's a female because her name will either be Paris Hilton or Mary-Kate Olson. :main_laugh:

 

[thestack510]

How about Kate Moss?, lol.

 

[hybrid]

^ thats funny..

Now for the gecko, from experience, i had one in the same condition. She didnt make it but i did try it all. Lookup "the Slurry" it works wonders from what i hear from people.

I would try the damp papers towels as well. That gecko is bad dehydrated im sure. But the vet needs to take a look at this gecko's fecal matter to see if its parasites!

Good luck.

 

[Gregg M]

Casey,
Honestly, that leo needs to be put down... Sorry, but that is way beyond warm baths and a vet visit...

Also, to say it has crypto without being tested for the parasite is just plain silly... Not every gecko that lookis like that has cryptosporidium... Thats seems to be the generic answer lately...

 

[paulnj]

reduce suffering by ending it please.