My newest rescue

[Phoenix1115]

I was at a high school this afternoon to pick up some old tanks there were donating to my rescue. Well while I was there I saw this little one in such poor condition that I couldn't just walk away. The teacher let me take her saying that "it just didn't eat."

Do you know how many times I've gotten that excuse and the the first time I go to feed they gobble everything up? Well same thing happened to this one. I gave her 10 mealworms and they didn't even leave my tongs and make it into the bowl before she snagged them. I only gave her 10 to start because I don't want her to eat too much and then throw up. I left 6 more in a bowl in her tank. She is so skinny that I can't even tell what sex she is. She weighs 23g after being fed. Good news is her eyes are nice and clear and bright so I have hope that this is strictly a neglect case, and there's not an underlying cause for the emaciation. I've rescued 3 other Leos from the same place with malnutrition, so this isn't a first.

 

[perfectsoldier23]

Oh my god. She looks insanely emaciated.
I'm so happy you took her and are rehab-ing. I've never seen a leo that skinny and still alive.
I wonder what they were feeding her [or not feeding her] at the school or if perhaps she was stressed with the ringing bells and kids crowding around her cage?

So glad you got her. <3 Keep us posted on her progress please!!

 

[KTyne]

Oh my goodness, she looks horrible! So glad you took her in! I'd love to see her progress as you re-hab her.

 

[Akari_32]

I can't believe how "good" she looks for being so skinny! Her colors aren't really dull and her eyes are bright. She's one tough little girl! She should turn around very quickly. Good luck with her Pics as she progresses are a must!

 

[Phoenix1115]

Her colors actually make her look like a Snow since she's pretty much white. But yes her eyes are very nice and clear. The poor thing had been staring in her bowl all night. I don't want to overdo it with the food though. She also lapped up a ton of the calcium in the dish. It's funny how they know what resources they need and are lacking. She really enjoyed her warm bath as well. She seems to have something strange going on with her "tail" nub. It either had some crap stuck to it or it's necrotic. I really hope it's the first rather than the latter. I'll take a better look at it when she's settle in a bit better. She'll get another bath and I'll put some honey on it in case it's an infection. Then it's off to the vet if it doesn't look better.

Thanks for the support! I'll definitely keep you updated.

 

[Akari_32]

I was looking on my phone. I'm on the computer now, and she does look an icky grey. I can just barely make out some faint stripes now that I've got a larger screen. Hope her nubby just needs some love and to be clean! She doesn't need to be toted all over and medicated after whats she's been though.

 

[Dragoon Gecko]

poor little thing.. best of luck and glad she's in better hands now..

 

[NikkiC223]

Oh my goodness! Poor little thing So glad you took her in and are taking care of her now! Best of luck to her!

 

[Sprogog]

Ah I saw your tumblr post of this! I hope all goes well!

 

[Phoenix1115]

Quick update
She shed yesterday and then pounded down some mealies. Well, looks like she went a little crazy because they were regurged in her tank this morning :/ however she pooped twice so some must have been digested before the rest came back up. I offered more today but she was very uninterested. I'll try to offer again tomorrow. I'd have an aversion to the food I just threw up too! I will try crickets if she continues to turn her nose up. I don't want her to miss too many meals now that she has access to food

 

[Akari_32]

Its good that she's eating. I'm sure she just had too much for her little tummy to handle, and she'll eat tomorrow. As tempting as it is to shove as much food as possible down her throat, remember to take it slow!

 

[Poppy243]

Oh my goodness she is in a heartbreaking state! I'm so glad I've never seen a Leo in such poor condition. My teacher who had a Leo took excellent care of him. Yoshi was also a pig and LOVED his crickets lol. I'm so happy you rescued her! She will definitely improve under proper care. Her eyes are so bright and inquisitive!

 

[Leogal]

Thank Gawd for people like you!

 

[Phoenix1115]

Regrettably, she hasn't been able to keep much down the past few days. I even stopped trying to feed her and just give water to give her belly a break but I think it's been empty for so long that it doesn't know how to hold anything! Any suggestions on a new way to approach the situation? I should I take all the food out if the tank (she doesn't seem to eat from a bowl anyways) and just offer a few worms a day until she can keep it down? She's been avoiding the worms though, so maybe crickets?

 

[LepoInc]

Maybe she needs some electrolytes. Try giving her some Pedialyte and one or two mealies/one cricket a day until she is holding them down well

 

[Leogal]

I read this on another site about another sick Leo, might help:
As an emergency measure, you can run to the pet store. They usually will have liquid food drops for reptiles that you can buy to treat sick ones. You will have to hold her and put the dropper in her mouth. Another forum said that meat-based baby food might work, as well as mashing up crickets or worms and force-feeding.

You can also get liquid calcium supplements that you can put in her water, which she obviously has been drinking or she would not still be alive.

 

[Leogal]

Sorry, the link didn't copy correctly. It basically said that you could feed liquid drops and babyfood (meat) for protein.

 

[Phoenix1115]

I tried chicken baby food with her and she threw it up. I have used it with great success with other rescues in the past. I gave her yesterday off and am going to try again tonight

 

[Phoenix1115]

Good news! She was interested in movement stimuli so I placed a mealie in front of her and she ate it! I gave her two more and she ate those too. I'm going to stop there and see if she keeps them down. I put a few drops of water on her nose too which she licked up just to make sure she was drinking. She was starting to get a little shrively. I'll keep you all updated

 

[Amster06]

Awww. Poor little thing. I've been coming back to this thread every time I see its been updated, just to check to see how she's doing! I keep hoping to see good news. Well, maybe she can keep something down tonight. Poor thing.