Please help!

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
I've had my leopard gecko for seven years & just last night my mother discovered that his left testicle area is swollen & red. It also has a scab in the middle. We immediately cleaned out the whole cage & put in a towel instead of the sand we usually use. He's never had any problems before so we're pretty unsure of what to do exactly. We put Neosporin on it last night & again this morning & we also just got done soaking him in a warm water bath for 15 minutes. We plan to do this again later. While he was in the warm bath, I massaged his abdomen and even his swollen area for a little while. I'm at a loss for what else we should do. I just don't want him to get any worse. His tail is bigger than ever before, and it scares me because I don't want an infection to spread throughout his little body. He seems to have lost his appetite, but he's still drinking. I called a DVM reptile specialist this morning & left a message. Below are some pictures of the poor guy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Butterfly_babe4200

New Member
Messages
44
Location
Miami
Sounds like you have done great so far just have to wait for the vet now. It could be infected so the vet would be able to figure out your best plan. Good luck. Please keep us updated.
 

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
I will definitely keep you guys updated. I hope I have enough money to get him treated. I only have $100.
 

Adinar

New Member
Messages
1,275
Location
Elizabethville, PA
Well, so far you have done everything you can. Just wait to hear back from the vet is all you can really do at this point.

The infection can be a number of things. Sand could've gotten in some not so nice places and caused irritation, random infection that you could've prevent regardless, who knows.

Just hang tight.

As for the money aspect, explain this to the vet that you are on a very fixed budget and you only have a certain amount. Chances are it'll just be an exam with some antibiotics anyway for this guy. (hopefully)
 
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Beans

New Member
Messages
10
Okay, so I called again & made an appointment for Tuesday, it was the soonest time available with the memorial day weekend. Hopefully, we'll get all of this sorted out soon. Anybody know of any warning signs that I should look out for? Any advice of what to do in the meantime?
 

Stimpy

New Member
Messages
58
I will definitely keep you guys updated. I hope I have enough money to get him treated. I only have $100.

Haha, i thought the same thing... mine was only 43$ and i got meds with it. Yours prolly shouldnt be that much higher. I thought mine was gonna be some hefty 500$ bill haha. Nothing to worry about
 

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
Haha, i thought the same thing... mine was only 43$ and i got meds with it. Yours prolly shouldnt be that much higher. I thought mine was gonna be some hefty 500$ bill haha. Nothing to worry about
My appointment is going to be $52. Do you think that will include treatment?

Also, I'm seriously considering buying reptile carpet. Gizmo's had sand his entire life, but I don't want to risk this happening again. What do you guys suggest?
 

OnlineGeckos

New Member
Messages
1,407
Location
SoCal
During his rehab it would be best to use paper towel. It can easily be monitored and changed frequently.

Sand is just bad, you can literally watch them take big mouth fulls of sand when they try to eat. But I second the post above, use paper towels for now until you know what's going on. Easy to clean and monitor.

You can switch to something different later on when your leo get better.
 

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
Sand is just bad, you can literally watch them take big mouth fulls of sand when they try to eat. But I second the post above, use paper towels for now until you know what's going on. Easy to clean and monitor.

You can switch to something different later on when your leo get better.

Well, I have a towel in there right now. Definitely wasn't going to put any carpeting in there until he was better anyway. But my question is, do you think carpet is the best option?
 

OnlineGeckos

New Member
Messages
1,407
Location
SoCal
Slate tile is cheap, looks good, and absolutely no impaction problems or their toes getting suck problems. I'd say slate tile is the best option.

But I'm currently using repti carpet and my 5 leos do just fine on them. I'm switching to slate tile when I get the time though, possibly when I need to clean their tanks next.
 

geckogirl3

New Member
Messages
833
I think it is infected because the sand scraped his parts and it got infected some how .
SAND IS THE WORST SUBSTRATE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Try reptile rug. e-z to clean, looks good, and doesn't get them sick.
 

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
I'm really worried. He's not eating and if he is drinking, it isn't much. My next door neighbor can get me some Baytril, but I'm not sure if I should give it to him without knowing for sure what it is. Please help!
 

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
I just put him in for another bath & it seems like it's turning black to the right of the scab. Is it necrosis? I'm so scared!
 

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
I just got off the phone with another vet who will take him in tomorrow morning at 8:30. He seems to really know what he's doing. He says it sounds like an abscess & that his own leopard geckos have had this before & he treated them & they're okay now. This visit is going to be about $56 & he said the antibiotics will be about $4. Hopefully, poor Gizmo will heal soon! Wish him luck, please.
 

Euphillia

New Member
Messages
164
Location
Colorado
Good luck Beans, glad you can get him in so soon. I would say just let him rest and don't do anything extra to irritate it.
 

Beans

New Member
Messages
10
Good luck Beans, glad you can get him in so soon. I would say just let him rest and don't do anything extra to irritate it.

Thank you! He's resting right now. The doctor says that he'll most likely be fine. I feel relieved that we don't have to wait until Tuesday. I'll feel even more relieved when we get him all fixed up!
 

fuzzylogix

Carpe Diem
Messages
2,115
Location
Dallas, TX
Try reptile rug. e-z to clean, looks good, and doesn't get them sick.

but they get their teeth and toe nails stuck in it...



Beans, you absolutely did the right thing by contacting a vet immediately. This is just another prime example of why sand is a bad substrate. I'm going to take a shot at this and say he everted one of his hemipenes and sand stuck to it. That caused irritation which lead to the infection. I would suggest tile, butchers paper, or paper towels for substrate going forward. All three are a good choice and you will also rule out any chances of impaction. I'm sure with the right treatment and care that this guy will be just fine. :main_thumbsup:
 

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