Prolapse - Please Help!!!

[meaghani]

My male leopard gecko is about two years old. I was just going to head to bed when he came out of his cave to say hello, so I gave him two waxworms for a treat, which he happily gobbled up.

I noticed that something was under his tail, though, and became alarmed because I thought it was bloody stool. But I realized it was tissue if some sort. A quick Google search has lead me to believe it's a prolapse.

I read around and followed suggestions of a sugar bath and lots of moisture in his tank. Nothing has worked. It looks a bit inflamed and there's also a white bit on the end which I'm terrified is the beginnings of an infection already. After the bath, he did pass what appeared to be a large, undigested worm skin.

I'm going to call the vet tomorrow but I'm afraid they might not treat lizards. Is there anything else I can try to help him before I can find a vet? I read that you should never try and push the prolapse back in.

I just don't know how this happened because I DO NOT put him on sand. It's newspapers or paper towels ALWAYS.

I'm going to try and attach some photos. They're not great quality because I didn't want to pick him up.

 

[meaghani]

EDIT: Just had another look. Overall it looks more irritated but I think the white bit is just poop as it's getting longer.

Please, please, please help me to help my best friend in a strange new city.

 

[reps4life]

My male leopard gecko is about two years old. I was just going to head to bed when he came out of his cave to say hello, so I gave him two waxworms for a treat, which he happily gobbled up.

I noticed that something was under his tail, though, and became alarmed because I thought it was bloody stool. But I realized it was tissue if some sort. A quick Google search has lead me to believe it's a prolapse.

I read around and followed suggestions of a sugar bath and lots of moisture in his tank. Nothing has worked. It looks a bit inflamed and there's also a white bit on the end which I'm terrified is the beginnings of an infection already. After the bath, he did pass what appeared to be a large, undigested worm skin.

I'm going to call the vet tomorrow but I'm afraid they might not treat lizards. Is there anything else I can try to help him before I can find a vet? I read that you should never try and push the prolapse back in.

I just don't know how this happened because I DO NOT put him on sand. It's newspapers or paper towels ALWAYS.

I'm going to try and attach some photos. They're not great quality because I didn't want to pick him up.

The obvious cause is him pushing his lower intestines.
Causes: mating, parasites, impaction, egg binding.
The only thing you can do at home is continue the soaks to keep it moist until you get him to the vet. If it dries up it will need to be surgically removed. Get him to the vet asap.

hope everything goes well:worried:

 

[reps4life]

I have also seen this occur in leo's fed superworms. Keep him on clean wet paper towels until the vet visit. Do not attempt to push on it yourself.

 

[meaghani]

Well, I've done literally every remedy people have suggested to others with the same problem.

I lined the bottom of his tank with damp paper towels (particularly the one under his house, I put in a shallower water dish if he wants to soak for a bit, I've given him two baths, with and without sugar. I dabbed around the area gently with a q-tip covered in Vaseline. Someone suggested cornstarch instead of sugar. Apparently it's more effective. I'll give that a go.

The prolapse definitely hasn't dried out - it's dripping from the paper towels after an hour, so that's a good sign.

Any other ideas?

 

[reps4life]

Well, I've done literally every remedy people have suggested to others with the same problem.

I lined the bottom of his tank with damp paper towels (particularly the one under his house, I put in a shallower water dish if he wants to soak for a bit, I've given him two baths, with and without sugar. I dabbed around the area gently with a q-tip covered in Vaseline. Someone suggested cornstarch instead of sugar. Apparently it's more effective. I'll give that a go.

The prolapse definitely hasn't dried out - it's dripping from the paper towels after an hour, so that's a good sign.

Any other ideas?

Even if you are lucky enough for the tissue to invert itself a vet visit is still important to find the cause behind it. It can also become infected or necrotic.
It's a serious situation that must be addressed immediately by a vet. I would call around for a reptile vet, as a last resort I would even see a regular vet for an emergency situation. I would make sure he is seen today!

 

[meaghani]

Okay, so he has a vet appointment for tomorrow morning (it was the earliest I could get him in because the vet that specializes in reptiles isn't in on Mondays). I really hope it's not worms or something parasitic.

 

[reps4life]

Okay, so he has a vet appointment for tomorrow morning (it was the earliest I could get him in because the vet that specializes in reptiles isn't in on Mondays). I really hope it's not worms or something parasitic.

I am really glad to hear he has an appt. Continue what your doing to keep it moist. I might be a good idea to write down all the questions and concerns you have and test the vets knowledge.

Well good luck and keep us informed of the findings.

 

[meaghani]

I am really glad to hear he has an appt. Continue what your doing to keep it moist. I might be a good idea to write down all the questions and concerns you have and test the vets knowledge.

Well good luck and keep us informed of the findings.

Thanks for your knowledge and your concern.

He was just fine. Turned out he had an inflamed hemipenes. The vet tried to reduce the swelling to pop it back in but wasn't successful, so he ended up amputating. I'm not worried about it. He wasn't using it or anything, haha. I'm happy that it wasn't anything rectal so I don't have to worry overly about it happening again. He's doing great - we had a bit of a cuddle today and he was totally normal albeit a bit dopey after the anesthesia. Plus I know definitively that he's a male now.

 

[reps4life]

Thanks for your knowledge and your concern.

He was just fine. Turned out he had an inflamed hemipenes. The vet tried to reduce the swelling to pop it back in but wasn't successful, so he ended up amputating. I'm not worried about it. He wasn't using it or anything, haha. I'm happy that it wasn't anything rectal so I don't have to worry overly about it happening again. He's doing great - we had a bit of a cuddle today and he was totally normal albeit a bit dopey after the anesthesia. Plus I know definitively that he's a male now.

:sunny: thanks for updating me. So did the vet tell you what caused it?

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Glad he's doing better. If he ever gives you the stink-eye, you'll know why

 

[meaghani]

:sunny: thanks for updating me. So did the vet tell you what caused it?

Vet said either either an erection (which is unlikely since he's never been around a female and the temperature of his tank isn't really ideal for mating anyway) somewhat akin to people who have a bad reaction to Viagra and have to get a steroid shot. The other cause is some sort of freak infection that worked its way in somehow. I'm going to change his substrate again just in case.

 

[meaghani]

Glad he's doing better. If he ever gives you the stink-eye, you'll know why

Haha, he can't get too mad at me! He has another one. The other vets and receptionists called him "less of a man." Well, he lives in a house of only women so he was bound to be emasculated one way or another.

 

[reps4life]

Vet said either either an erection (which is unlikely since he's never been around a female and the temperature of his tank isn't really ideal for mating anyway) somewhat akin to people who have a bad reaction to Viagra and have to get a steroid shot. The other cause is some sort of freak infection that worked its way in somehow. I'm going to change his substrate again just in case.

yeah, use something very easy to clean. prevents headaches and vet bills!

 

[meaghani]

yeah, use something very easy to clean. prevents headaches and vet bills!

I'm experimenting with a newspaper/garbage bag combination. garbage bag on the bottom, newspaper over top. It was really easy when I changed it just now, despite the fact that everything was pretty wet from all the wet paper towels I was sticking in to keep the prolapse damp. No mushy poo which is always a bonus. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Destiny]

I just had this same thing happen to my Keystone.. (a super snow bell!!) Needless to say, after stuffing BOTH Hemis back in and stiching it up we still amputated one and the other is looking like a loss too.... its TERRIFIYING to see inside bits on the outside! I am glad things worked out! He is just closer to neutered... And STOP giving him the blue pills would ya?!

 

[meaghani]

I just had this same thing happen to my Keystone.. (a super snow bell!!) Needless to say, after stuffing BOTH Hemis back in and stiching it up we still amputated one and the other is looking like a loss too.... its TERRIFIYING to see inside bits on the outside! I am glad things worked out! He is just closer to neutered... And STOP giving him the blue pills would ya?!

I'm sorry to hear that!

Yeah, it's very alarming because if it happened to a human, it would probably be very fatal very quickly. I guess geckos are just made of stronger stuff.

Hahaha, neutered geckos. Lawl.

 

[greedo11]

I just read all this now, Im so glad your Leo has been helped and he isnt stressed in any way x