Neomycin,Baytril , Eye Infection, Lethargic,Not Eating, Blind, Twitching, Walking odd

[Fitnessa]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Hello![/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]I'mnew to the forum and any help would be appreciated [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Female Giant Leopard Gecko 7 years + house in 8 gallon deep aquarium (Shesnormally in a 5 gallon tank ,but considering she is ill I have herquarantined from my other Leo) with red lamp and heat mat (tempranges between 75-89 degrees), bedding is paper towels, she has amoist hide in the tank[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]LateOctober She started displaying eye problems (closed eyes, swelling,white cloud in one eye ) I started treating her with salinesolution and turtle drops and removed the sand bedding. I begannoticing she was walking funny and was having a difficult time seeingher food. Beginning November I took her to vet, who gave her a shotand prescribed with Neomycin /polymyxin ointment, and Baytril10c for two weeks. My Leo threw up two days later undigested mealworms . Called Vet who had me discontinue Baytril and advised me tocome in to get a different antibiotic. Because of the currentfinancial situation I am in I sought advise from my trusted localreptile shop who suggested to treat the eye topically for a few daysand if there was no improvement to continue to the Baytril becausemost likely was made the gecko ill was the shot at the vet's officewhich is usually a high dose of the antibiotic which can make theLeos quite queasy. I continued the the ointment as advised and thencontinued the Baytril after a few days. So far she was on the eyeointment for close to 3 weeks , and the Baytril for close two weeks.Her eyes now stay open, the white cloud has disappeared but now sheis not eating(nor pooping), shes lethargic , already shedded twice intwo weeks ,her tail is shrinking ,she still can't see well. and she has developed a twitch.Is it possible that her infection is gone but the onset of the laterproblems are a result from Baytril side effects? Perhaps I haveextended her treatment too long?[/FONT]

 

[sausage]

can you fill in the health sticky and re-post it here. http://geckoforums.net/f130-health-medications/70912.htm
there could be another underlying issue.

improper supplementation can give issues like twitching, lethargy and fits.
antibiotics combined with the stress of being given the medication can suppress the appetite. this should correct soon though.
one of my males had an eye issue (blocked tear duct) which took several weeks of meds and an op to improve but not completely fix. he didn't eat for a few months! he did loose a small amount of weight but bounced back once he started eating.

if you have a sensitive set of digital weighing scales, record her weight weekly to track loss. you can also try making a slurry just to try and get some nutrients into her.

 

[Fitnessa]

Thank you for your reply, here is the repost

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Aboutyour Leo[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Sex: Female[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Age & Weight : 7 years I believe, 64 grams[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-How long have you owned your Leo 5 Years[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught,friend) :Breeder[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]A) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Health/History[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-How often do you handle your Leo: Before sickness once a week, noweveryday[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Is your Leo acting any different today? If so how does he/shenormally act which differs from now. She is lethargic, not eating,twitches, walks funny, and possibly blind, not pooping[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]B) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Fecals[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Describe (look any different than normal) not existent, but when shewas pooping this past month it was once a week and little watery[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-When was the last time he/she went: two ago[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]C) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Problem[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been goingon: Late October She started displaying eye problems (closed eyes,swelling,white cloud in one eye ) I started treating her with salinesolution and turtle drops and removed the sand bedding. I begannoticing she was walking funny and was having a difficult time seeingher food. Beginning November I took her to vet, who gave her a shotand prescribed with Neomycin /polymyxin ointment, and Baytril10c fortwo weeks. My Leo threw up two days later undigested meal worms .Called Vet who had me discontinue Baytril and advised me to come into get a different antibiotic. Because of the current financialsituation I am in I sought advise from my trusted local reptile shopwho suggested to treat the eye topically for a few days and if therewas no improvement to continue to the Baytril because most likely wasmade the gecko ill was the shot at the vet's office which is usuallya high dose of the antibiotic which can make the Leos quite queasy. Icontinued the the ointment as advised and then continued the Baytrilafter a few days. So far she was on the eye ointment for close to 3weeks , and the Baytril for close two weeks. Superficially the eyehas improved, but she still cant see, shes extremely lethargic , notpooping, not eating, she walks odd and now has developed a twitch[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Housing[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]A) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Enclosure[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Size 8 gallon tall aquarium(shes in quarantine , usually shes in a 5gallon tank[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Type (ex. glass tank) Glass[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Type of substrate She is now on paper towels, she was on sand 1 1/2months ago when eye problems started[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Hides, how many, what kind , Two Hides 1 is moist hide with fake mossin an old plastic coffee container, the other is a rockden[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]B) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Heating[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Heat source mat and lamp[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Cage temps (hot side, cool side) (75-85)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Method of regulating heat source: Lamp is pointed towards side ofcage that has the heat mat on it[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-What are you using to measure your temps: digital thermometer [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Do you have any lights (describe) Red Light 75 watt because its deeptank[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]C) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Cagemates[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-How many (males, females) She shared her previous tank with a malebut now shes by herself[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-Describe health, or previous problems The male had an eye problem butafter a weeks treatment he was fine[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]DescribeDie[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]t:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]A) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Typicaldiet[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-What you're feeding (how often, how much) Crickets,Meal-worms andsometimes they get silk worms, previously female gecko used to eatpinkies when I first got her because the breeder instructed me to doso.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, etc) I move them into aseparate feeding area where I drop the meal worms in and they canhunt them selves, About 2 months prior when I feed crickets to themthe crickets would go straight into the cage but thats when the eyeproblems started developed . I possibly believe it was from theunhygienic state of cage or the sand substrate [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]B) [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Supplements[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif](describehow often)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands) : Cal-Stron ReptileCalcium with Strontium with D3 I would shaken-bake the insect [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]-What are you gut loading food with I barely started gut loading thefood the past month . I feed them apples or carrots [/FONT]

 

[sausage]

is that the temp of the floor because it could do with being a little higher.

also does the vits contain vit A as thats good for health skin shedding and eye functioning.

try making a slurry mix and dot it on her lips so she can lick it off at her own rate. that way shes getting some nutrients.

 

[Fitnessa]

The temp is located mid way on cage , I relocated the thermometer towards the floor that has it reading 97.9 in the early morning on a chilly day...is that bit to high? The vitamin does NOT contain A. I will go out and get that, any recommend brands?

I will try the slurry mix , thanks for your help

 

[Olympus]

Baytril causes anorexia as one of its side effects. Nothing serious, but usually once off the antibiotic for a few days they will regain their appetite. It's a typical side effect of human antibiotics as well.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

In my experience, using heat lamps on anything smaller than a 20 gallon tank raises the heat far too much, making a heat gradient (the leo should have a cool side around 70) impossible, lowering humidity far too much, and causing all sorts of side effects, mainly shedding and eye issues. 98 degrees is very warm for a leos cage. Most of mine hang out mid-temp range and seem to prefer keeping their body temp around 85 except for when they are digesting and move into their warm hide during this time. I would only use a lamp if the temperature in your home is below 65 degrees for the majority of the day. Even my gecko room gets to about 65 on days when its 20 or colder outside and mine suffer no ill effects. I would also double check you're using a quality vitamin supplement in addition to calcium. Vitamin deficiencies can cause eye and shedding issues.

Olympus' advice about the antibiotics sounds reasonable as well. I had a leo with an eye infection a couple years ago and he was on injectable antibiotics for about 8 weeks and eye drops for anther month or two before I saw real results. I did not notice a decrease in appetite though. Remember as you treat them that the metabolism and recovery of reptiles can be much slower than that of mammals. I would make sure you're consulting a vet that specializes in reptiles and follow their advice. Also ask them about husbandry issues. A good vet will look at how you're keeping your animal in order to help you solve future problems as well as address the symptoms at hand.

Good luck and let us know how he does!

 

[Poppy243]

Repashy Calcium Plus is a great supplement from what I understand. I ordered like three 3oz bottles of it from Pet Mountain and it was pretty inexpensive, and that's going to last me a while with only two geckos. Last I saw they were having a sale with free shipping for orders over $25 or something, that may still be going on...