Smiley getting fatter but not eating. Worried!

[tomcatguy74]

Hey all,

My little girl is in her stage where she is not eating. I guess this is her hibernation time as they call it. Anyway she acts normal. She just finish shedding and I have noticed that she keeps getting bigger around her belly. I have flipped her over from time to time to look at her belly and I have noticed that what used to be a dark vein looking shape in her belly has now gotten much bigger.
As far as poop the only thing she has pooped out lately is some urate.
She has not pooped out anything Brown for quite some time. I hope everything is okay with her but I need you guys to tell me whether she's okay or not.

The website is not allowing me to upload my pics.
I will have to figure this out.

 

[tomcatguy74]

Ok maybe they are posting. Lol

 

[tomcatguy74]

 

[Music City Geckos]

Sounds like she is starting to get ready for breeding. It's not uncommon for female Leo's to kinda shy away from eating while they are ovulating and especially gravid. She could be gravid and that would explain her getting what looks the be larger in the belly area. Even though you may not have bred her she could still throw out a couple of clutches. Of course they would be slugs if you hadn't bred her.

 

[cowana]

It has the appearance of internal bleeding to me. Is she kept with a male by chance? It kinda looks like she may have had an ovum or ovary rupture. You'd need to take her to the vet ASAP to confirm.

 

[tomcatguy74]

No she is all by herself and always has been. Only leo I have ever adopted. She acts completely normal. I am wondering if she is constipated and needs to be soaked in some warm water to loosen anything.
She just shed so she may be full.

 

[cowana]

You can try soaking her. It won't hurt anything. Do that 3 times a day until she has a bowel movement. You can also put a few drops of vegetable oil on her nose to help her have an easier BM.

Female Leos can ovulate, develop eggs and then either absorb them or lay them without a male present. So a rupture is still a real possibility. It is more likely with a male present, but not totally uncommon without one.

 

[geckolabs]

What substrate is she on? I would say, by the looks of her abdomen (slightly distended), you're looking at a moderate case of impaction.

Like Amy mentioned, warm soaks will hopefully help pass this, but depending on the substrate/extensiveness of buildup, a vet very well could be the best course of action.

The preparation for breeding is also a possibility, as I have a few females who's abdomen will distend slightly, but given the lack of fecals in combination with the lack of appetite, I lean toward impaction.

 

[cowana]

I agree that a vet is probably your best bet at this point, whether it be impaction or other.

If you want to try the soaks first I would do it for 2-3 days at 3x a day with a few drops of veggie oil on her nose to lick and lubricate her GI Tract. You will only need to do the veggie oil once. If she hasn't passed any bowel movements in that time then she really should see a reptile vet. Also, if at anytime (even if the 2-3 days aren't up) she becomes lethargic, shows signs of pain, stops drinking or at all acts out of the normal she needs to go to the vet ASAP.

Only a vet can truly diagnose what is going on with her. We are just giving our best guesses. Best of luck!

 

[tomcatguy74]

She is on a reptile carpet type substrate. The only other substrate that she has is 's spagnhum Moss that is inside of her humid hide.
The good news is that when I checked on her this morning she had a bowel movement and pooped brown along with urate.
Like I said she acts normal and everything.
You could be right about the impaction but I don't believe that there's anything for her to impact on. Also you could be right about her preparing for breeding except the only males that she sees is my son and I. It could be love!

 

[Music City Geckos]

Even if you don't breed her or even have a male, changes in light and temperature changes are what starts their ovulation

 

[cowana]

Smiley getting fatter but not eating. Worried!

Also, it has been known for Leos to eat the moss in their humid hides. Not sure why they do it but it becomes an impaction problem. I have seen a few cases of it at school (I'm going to be a vet tech). IMO Eco-Earth (coco fiber) makes a better and safer humid hide medium.

This thread shows a moss impacted Leo

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=77558