Really need your input on rescued Leo

[T&KBrouse]

So heres the scoop:

Sunday night, we ended up taking in 5 new snakes, 5 taratulas, and 2 leopard geckos.
The one leo is young and seems to be okay. It even growled at me tonight. (Its kinda cute!)
The other has MBD to the point its crippled. It can barely move and it has retained sheds so bad its little eyes look swollen. I've started trying to get it to take some liquid calcium, and it seemed to work tonight, so I'm not going to give up on the little guy.
The snakes aren't emaciated, but they are WAY thinner than I'm comfortable with. The T's, while its obvious the tanks haven't been cleaned, well... ever, seem to be doing alright.

So I'm in a real dilema here, guys, and I could use some advice. The leo with MBD. What would you do? He can't eat. But that could also be because he's been abandon for 2 weeks. He took the liquid calcium. I know MBD is irreversible. Should I continue to try to save him?

 

[T&KBrouse]

Okay, maybe I should rephrase that:
What can I do to try and save him? And when is it time to just let him go?
I want to give this little guy every chance in the world, but I don't want to prolong his suffering if nothing can be done. How do you know when treatment is working or just delaying the inevitable?

 

[Alusdra]

A gecko can get to be a relatively normal animal from MBD. Even with the legs all curled up in the front and severe mouth deviation they may be able to grab and eat smaller prey items and climb and get around surprisingly well.

For this gecko- it's going to be a judgment call, but give him a chance. I would get a vet on board since he may require more calcium supplementation than can be done just with the liquid calcium etc., plus a good herp vet will be a second opinion on if he is too far gone or not and if he is, can humanely euthanize (freezing is NOT humane!) I would give him a shot until the bones have re-solidified and then see how he is.

 

[T&KBrouse]

Thank you for your input. I've been giving him calcium drops and helping him with his shed. He's moving around a little better today and he gave me a very runny poop. I've been in contact with our vet and I'll get him ASAP.
So if treatment works, he'll still be deformed, but he won't be in pain, will he?

 

[ajveachster]

My opinion is that if you are able to get the animal to eat and shed on its own without showing signs of sensitivity in the affected limbs then continue to work with it. I'm sure the vet will be able to give an expert opinion on the potential for recovery. If recovery to a semi-normal life is not possible, then I would understand euthanasia as a better alternative. There is no sense in prolonging suffering.

 

[JordanAng420]

I'd go ahead and have a set of XRays done to get an idea of how serious the MBD situation is. At the same time, I would have the stool analyzed & sent out to a lab (because it's very easy to miss something when it's done in-house, and the staff is rushed). If you are able to rehabilitate this gecko, he might still be deformed and obviously should never be bred, but no, after treatment is complete, he shouldn't be in pain.

He doesn't sound like he's suffering at this point. When animals are ready to go, they have a funny way of letting us know, and for some reason the majority of us can almost always pick up on it. He'll let you know if it's time. :main_yes:

When you say he can't eat, do you mean it's because of his flimsy jaw bones? Or is he just refusing food? Does he have stomatitis (mouth rot) on top of the other problems? If this becomes a permanent problem with the anorexia, then you will have to make a decision regarding weather or not you're willing to force feed him for the rest of his life. Hopefully it won't come to that point, though. Let us know what the vet has to say. Good luck!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

My opinion is that if you are able to get the animal to eat and shed on its own without showing signs of sensitivity in the affected limbs then continue to work with it.

I think the little gecko deserves a chance. Don't give up yet.

 

[T&KBrouse]

Sad news, guys.

I just checked on the little guy and he's gone. He looked to be fine an hour ago. He went quickly.

Thanks for all the help. I guess the old sayings true. "You win some. You loose some. And some just get rained out."

Sleep peacefully in God's arms, little one.

 

[JordanAng420]

I am sorry for the loss. I guess he made the decision for you. RIP.

 

[Alusdra]

Poor kid. You did the best you could for him.

 

[T&KBrouse]

Thanks. I wish I could have saved him. The poor darling must have just been too far gone when he got here. I know it was a blessing for him to go so quickly, but its still just breaks my heart that he suffered for so long and his fragile, little body just couldn't do it any more.
I hope the people that had him get exactly what they deserve, and if its what I think it is, all the better.

 

[JordanAng420]

K, karma has a funny way of getting around to the right people

 

[T&KBrouse]

I know it will, Maia. I only wish I could be there to see it happen.
Seems petty, I know. But on behalf of this precious little boy, I'd really like to know they'd be held for some type of accountability, you know?

 

[Misstasha]

it makes me soo angry ... how could someone let an animal get to that point!!! Some people just shouldn't have animals!! It's soo irritating, I see it all the time and it's sick!