Major tail issue

[rubym]

a guy that worked with my husband gave him 3 geckos he needed to get rid of ASAP. One is a male albino giant and he has a SERIOUS tail issue. His tail ( 2/3 rds of it) is all dried up and black and hard. What should I do??? I called the vets office and she isn't scheduled at the clinic in Louisville until Thursday and noone there could really tell me what I should do. The guy said that he didn't really know what was wrong with it. Should I try and soak him in some warm shallow water to help him or what. I will try to get some pics of it. I got a new camera but can't get it to work with my computer. I have to go and get the pics on disk then download them to photobucket then onto here:main_no: . I am really worried about him. He did eat as soon as he got into his new tank. He also took lots of water and even was in his dish of calcium powder.

 

[paulnj]

Well that sounds like necrotic skin(dead). It sound to me like it needs it's tail amputated so it doesn't spread and kill him.

I hope I am wrong, so please post an image soon. Either way that gecko needs a vet or if you have a strong stomach...... crop if I am correct.

 

[rubym]

I made him an appointment for Friday. The herp vet that we usually go to is only in 2 days a week- Thursday and Sunday and she was booked so I was talking to our "bug" lady and she gave me the name of the one she uses for her reptiles. The earliest appointment was for Friday. It just p****es ( excuse my language) me off so bad that someone can just not notice something that aweful!!!! He gave us 3 of them and he had 7 more. He wants to find homes for 5 of those. It breaks my heart that they are still there. I just have no more room or I would have taken them. The ONLY up side is that the little guy is still eating. I took some pics but I am having trouble getting them posted. It looks horrible!!! It is still sort of raw up above the part that I am positive is dead. Should I put something on that? Can you use anything other then neosporin? Thanks
Ruby

 

[rubym]

Do you think that he will be ok to wait until Friday or is removing his tail something that needs to be done immediatly??? I mean if it is something that cannot wait 4 days, I will find someway to do it. My husbands issue is not knowing how to do it or at what point on the tail it should be done. This sounds sily but is there a possibility that if you tugged lightly on it that he would drop it like geckos are said to do ??? I called Dr. Waldo again and his receptionist once again told me that there was absolutly no way that they could see him sooner:main_no: . I am just really worried about him.
Thanks
Ruby

 

[paulnj]

I honestly can't advise you what to do beyond what I have said, sorry.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

If the end of the tail is black and shriveled up, it is most likely necrotic. The problem is that dry gangrene can set in, which is a serious infection... and if it's raw above the necrotic tissue, it could be from infection. It's very hard to say without any photos. Is there ANY vet locally that could perform a simple amputation sooner?

If either of you have the stomach for it, you may want to consider amputating the tail past the infected part yourselves using a sterile single-edge razor blade or exacto knife. I had to do this once myself, and it wasn't as unpleasant as I though it would be... although I wouldn't want to do it again unless absolutely necessary. There is always a possibility the stress of trying it may cause the gecko to autonomize the entire tail anyway.

 

[Sandra]

I was told that if you cut though their tail bones (and not through the joints, as they do when they drop their tails), the tail won't regenerate. I don't rely on this vet too much, though.

When my gecko's tail had to be amputated, the vet applied local anesthesia, and then cut only through the flesh. After that, she forced the gecko to drop the tail and it broke at the nearest joint to the cut. I think the procedure would be rather simple for any qualified vet, even if they're not specialized in reptiles. I would suggest them to talk to your reptile vet first for advice and dosages, though.

I cannot help you about the time it takes for the necrotic tissue to become life-threatening, sorry. I would just do it as soon as you can, as it is something that spreads fast.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I was told that if you cut though their tail bones (and not through the joints, as they do when they drop their tails), the tail won't regenerate. I don't rely on this vet too much, though.

I believe this is true, Sandra.

 

[rubym]

I wanted to let everyone know that the vet just called me back and they will see him tomorrow at 9:00 am instead of making him wait until Friday. I told him that I was told by alot of experts on the Gecko Forum that I belong to that he REALLY needed to be seen ASAP. He was really nice and said he would work him in first thing in the morning!!!!!! Now for the hard part- waiting till tomorrow to find out the out come. I already know the tail has to go. I am just worried about how far the infection may be that we can see. Wish us luck!!!
Ruby

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Good news! Please keep us posted on his condition.

 

[gothra]

I believe this is true, Sandra.

Oh, Marcia. I had been thinking about the same problem. My vet told me Lemsip will most likely not regenerate a new tail; I was sceptical about it, now you've solved my query! Next time I see my vet (this saturday), I can ask if they had cut through bones or the joint when they amputate the tail.

Ruby, I hope your gecko will do fine! Good luck!

 

[rubym]

Thank you Sandra.
UPDATE: My husband just called and said that Khayman is out of surgery!!! He came through it just fine. He has been awake for about 30 minutes. The vet said that his little heart rate was good the whole time. They are optomistic that some sort of stub will regenerate. I don't care if it is the ugliest little stub in the world as long as he stays healthy. They didn't have to put any stitches. It has a preasure wrap on it at the moment and I am waiting on a call back from the vet to tell me when to take it off. He said that he should be ok to eat in a few hours if he wants too!!!!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

YAY!!! Please keep us posted...

 

[rubym]

I will Marcia and thank you so much for all the advice and support. You are all wonderful. I hopw your SS is especially nice to you!!!!! He is HOme!!! hubby just came in the door. His poor little tail is all wrapped up in a bandage about the size of his head. I can't wait for him to get all big and healthy. My husband stopped at the bug store and got some silkies and some baby horn worms and phoenix worms for him. We will get him plumped ( not too plump though)up in no time.

Ruby

 

[paulnj]

Glad it went well for him.

I have two gecko girls born without tails that I adopted(temp spike?) and they are the cutest little devils I own:main_cool3:

 

[rubym]

AWWW. That is so sweet. I know he is going to be a big boy once he is healthy. This guy used to breed them and I guess he just got tired of it and instead of getting rid of his stock right away , he started to just give them very minimum care. Khaymen is a tremper Albino giant....tailess tremper albino now but He is 2 and i am hoping he has a long happy life ahead of him.

Ruby

 

[gothra]

Ruby, so happy to hear that everything went well for Khaymen!

 

[rubym]

Thanks Bonnie. He was drinking water last night and he ate a couple of mealies this morning. We are supposed to try and keep his preasure bandage on until tomaorrow afternoon. So far he doesn't seem to mess with it much. My husband has called twice from work today to see if he is ok. He is worse then I am .....and that is bad, LOL. The guy who we got him appologized today and offered to give us back the vet fees. He knows that what he did was wrong.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Absolutely take the guy up on his offer to pay the vet expenses!!!

As a advocate of veterinary care for geckos, I would like to commend you for caring enough about this gecko not only to adopt him, but to provide what is necessary for him to be healthy vy taking him to the vet! KUDOS!!!!

 

[rubym]

Thank you Marcia. I am just a sucker for most animals. I couldn't stand to see him suffer. My husband told him that he could pay. He is also sending the other 5 to our house and we are going to fatten them up and adopt them to good homes. They are normals and a couple of high yellows. They might not make for interesting breeders but I am sure that they will make wonderful pets after we get them fat and happy again!!!! He is sending them with their tanks because we just did not have the extra set ups right now. I am happy that he has decided to do the right thing and find homes for all of them.