Leopard gecko not eating. Vet didn't help. Advice?

[ballpythoncrazy]

I have a baby leopard gecko that my friend got from +++++. After quite literally a week she didn't want it anymore and gave it to me. When I got it it weighed 13 grams. It didn't eat for a while and I thought it was just settling into its new home, but then I realized it was losing weight quickly. He now weighs 8 grams and has no fat reserves left in his tail.

So I took him to the nearest "reptile vet". This guy said he's a reptile vet but honestly, he didn't really seem to know much. Obviously I told him about my geckos set up and I ASKED him to run a test for parasites, bacteria, and a third one that I can't remember, and all he said was "uhmm... Yeah, we're just going to start treating him for parasites". So he didn't do any tests and just sent me home with 2 medications, one for parasites and one for crypto specifically. I got 3 syringes for each medication (6 total) and was told to give them to him orally every other day. The doses in the syringes were tiny though. Only 0.1 ml, and I understand that is just a baby gecko, but that seems like an extremely small dose. So when I tried to give the medication to him almost nothing came out of the syringe because it all got stuck in the straw. So my gecko wasn't getting the full doses.

Ok so OBVIOUSLY I haven't seen any improvement and it's been a little over 2 weeks since we've seen the vet. I'm VERY reluctant to take him back to that vet, but it's the only reptile vet within a 5 hour radius of my location. I want to try getting my gecko better on his own.

My gecko just REFUSES TO EAT ANYTHING. Even when I assist feed him, and stick the end of a meal worm in his mouth, he just spits it out. Even if I put the whole worm in his mouth, he just spits it out. We did this for a solid 2 hours before I started putting the meal worms allll the way in the back of his throat, where he has no choice but to swallow it. So for about a month now I've been assist feeding him a variety of bugs. I've tried superworms, mealworms, and waxworms. I think that's the only thing that's keeping him from starving to death. But I'm thinking I should make some sort of slurry for him? But I don't know how, so a slurry recipe would be super helpful. He's probably very dehydrated as well, so I started giving him short, warm baths to help.

Any advice is helpful, thank you!

(Here is a before and after picture. First picture is the day I got him, second picture is how he looked when we were at the vet, and how he still looks)

 

[cowana]

Sorry your vet, wasn't very helpful. The dose actually sounds right, but depending on the syringe he used that would make it very difficult to administer.

Here is the sticky to the Golden Gate Slurry: http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=54742

It is a bit of a mess and the recipe spread out so I will see if I can find the recipe on the GGG website for you.

 

[cowana]

Here is the direct link:
http://www.goldengategeckos.com/info.html

I have also been told that if you can't get A/D or Carnivore Care you can use Repti-Boost... +++++ sells it. Also you can add 1 or 2 capsules of the probiotic acidophilus to the mixture.

As far as why he is so skinny, I'm not sure. I would guess parasites. What has he been fed by your friend? What size syringe did the vet use for the medication?

 

[ballpythoncrazy]

Thank you!

My friend just had meal worms in a dish for him, but of course he didn't eat while he was with her. The only time he's ever eaten is when I assist feed him.

The syringes aren't very big. Here's a photo of them

 

[indyana]

Just a note, the syringes are designed so that you don't need to empty out everything in the tip. 0.01 mL is just a little droplet, basically from the flat edge above the tip to the first black line. Sometimes, it helps if you can get them licking something like slurry or water first to get them licking and then drip the medicine on the edge of their lips so they lick it off.

I think slurry and the medications your vet prescribed are your only hope at this point. If he does have Crypto and is going down hill, there isn't much you can do for him.

 

[cowana]

Those are the types of syringes I would expect to see. Thought maybe he had given ones with the tapered feeding tip or something.

Parasites could still be a possibility but much less likely without crickets being in the mix. Keep up with the meds and start the slurry.

In case of Crypto, if you haven't already put him in a strict quarantine. Place his tank in a separate room away from all other herps. Hand wash before and after handling him. Always handle, feed, clean his enclosure, etc. last. Take care of all your other herps before you do anything to take care of him. You want to take every step to eliminate any possible chance of passing this to any of your other reptiles or amphibians.

I'm wishing you the best of luck with this and that the slurry will help!

 

[ballpythoncrazy]

In case of Crypto, if you haven't already put him in a strict quarantine. Place his tank in a separate room away from all other herps. Hand wash before and after handling him. Always handle, feed, clean his enclosure, etc. last. Take care of all your other herps before you do anything to take care of him. You want to take every step to eliminate any possible chance of passing this to any of your other reptiles or amphibians

Yes he is currently in quarantine! I hope the slurry helps.