Leopard Gecko, swollen jaw

[Nis]

Hey Geckoforum!

Our leopard gecko has, over the past 3-4 month had a swollen part on her left side of the jaw. It doesn't seem to be increasing in size nor getting smaller. We have not contacted a vet since it doesn't look "sick" or doesnt smell or anything which could indicate an infection and it doesn't look like she's ill. She eats normally.

We dont know if to go to a vet with her, cause they are very expensive here in Denmark, and we dont have the money a consultation requires . So we hope that you guys could give us maybe a hint/idea of what it could be. To this i want to add that, when she was very little, she lost her tail and thats why my GF wanted her, to see if she could save her. She did, against most odds, and she (milah) has grown a lot the past year, and her tail haven't lost size or anything. She shets noramlly aswell. Milah also fell from the table once when she was very little and i dont know if that might have been the cause of her jaw to look like it does?

We feed her live crikets.

Pictures:

Pictures as link:
http://img100.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=image0893.jpg

Best regards.
Teddy and Nis

 

[sausage]

is the jaw soft and squidgy or is it solid and hard.
If the jaw is soft then its most likely the start of MBD however if its hard it could well be the result of the fall misshaping the bone.

 

[katie_]

Could be mouth rot?
I know it sucks, but you need to go to the vets. If you just cant go without, you may need to consider giving her up to a shelter who can afford to treat her.
That does not look like it will get any better on its own, and if her mouth gets very sore she will stop eating.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

i agree with katie either vet or shelter (dont be selfish, put the animal first)

 

[Nis]

Calling the vet tomorrow.
Just to be clear, it has nothing to do with beeing selfish, i just dont have 420 kr. (40£). I apreciate the replayes, the jaw is not soft.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

i didnt mean to be rude i was just emphasizing what it will look like to most of us if you dont do either, sorry

 

[Nis]

Hey again.

We went to the vet to day. He had good news, it wasn't anything bad at all
Before we got her, she was mistreated (the resaon why we got her). She didnt get enough calcium and light at her previous place (she lost her tail when she got bourn), so her jaw got soft at that time, thats the reason why it looks like it does today. The vet said that its a little bit short compared to the normal size (the jaw), but it doesn't hurt her, or gives any discomfort.

She is very heatly and her size is perfect. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Visionist]

I question that vet a bit.. leos do not need light...
What is your tank setup and do you use calcium and a multivitamin powder?


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[Cesar_Da_KIng]

Thats great news!

 

[sausage]

thats great news. congrats and now your mind is at rest. its a fab sign that the jaw is solid and not squishy as it shows her calcium levels in the bone are back to normal but shell have that disfigurement as a constant reminder for the rest of her life, but at least shes happy now.

 

[Nis]

Yeah its super news.

Her tank setup is perfect, we "ran it over" with the vet aswell to make sure she was living in perfect conditions. The vet has 25 years of experience in dealing with reptiles, so i wouldnt question his explination at all. The missing light (UV) was related to her early weeks, where her tail fell off and she didnt get either calsium or food (why we adopted her). The UV rays in some way is needed to restructure the jaw when it tursn soft, how the physiology works i cant explain you, but his description made sence to me. The gecko itself doesn't need it as far as im aware, aswell.

The vet's response to her health and tank setup was: "If other geckos, i see here, just had it half as good as she does, i would be happy"