Hello,
I have had Ari for about a year and a half now, feeding her on dusted crickets and mealworms, housed on carpet with an under the tank heat pad, moist hut with moss. They used to have vermiculite until I found it in their poop and switch it for moss. She shares a 20 gallon long tank with another female leopard gecko who is not exhibiting any of Ari's symptoms. The two are not aggressive toward one another.
One week ago, I noticed Ari was walking oddly because her two front legs and back right leg were slightly swollen. Plus she seemed lethargic and the bubbles under her armpits (which she has always had) seemed to be larger. Days prior she had started refusing food and was becoming less active. Concerned, I took her into the vet.
The vet found dried white residue around her vent. She asked if I had seen Ari poop, and as there were two lizards in the tank, I couldn't say for sure. She suggested Ari might be dehydrated and prescribed daily warm water soaking, antibiotics, hand-feeding carnivore care mix via syringe and medication for a parasite (which could be causing the armpit bubbles).
Ari still refuses live food, and spits it out when I put it into her mouth, but will accept the mix if fed from a syringe. Her poop is not solid, more like the consistency of diarrhea. However, the white part of the poop (uric acid?) is solid and intact. The bubbles seem to be getting larger and the leg swelling has gotten worse. Her activity level has not decreased and seems to perk up a little after a soak.
The vet has asked for a fecal sample, but I am having trouble getting a fresh deposit as she poops during the night and by the time I wake up, it is completely dried out.
I am hoping that someone out there has an idea of what is wrong with Ari. I have owned leopard geckos for about 15 years and have never seen something like this before and am very worried.
I have had Ari for about a year and a half now, feeding her on dusted crickets and mealworms, housed on carpet with an under the tank heat pad, moist hut with moss. They used to have vermiculite until I found it in their poop and switch it for moss. She shares a 20 gallon long tank with another female leopard gecko who is not exhibiting any of Ari's symptoms. The two are not aggressive toward one another.
One week ago, I noticed Ari was walking oddly because her two front legs and back right leg were slightly swollen. Plus she seemed lethargic and the bubbles under her armpits (which she has always had) seemed to be larger. Days prior she had started refusing food and was becoming less active. Concerned, I took her into the vet.
The vet found dried white residue around her vent. She asked if I had seen Ari poop, and as there were two lizards in the tank, I couldn't say for sure. She suggested Ari might be dehydrated and prescribed daily warm water soaking, antibiotics, hand-feeding carnivore care mix via syringe and medication for a parasite (which could be causing the armpit bubbles).
Ari still refuses live food, and spits it out when I put it into her mouth, but will accept the mix if fed from a syringe. Her poop is not solid, more like the consistency of diarrhea. However, the white part of the poop (uric acid?) is solid and intact. The bubbles seem to be getting larger and the leg swelling has gotten worse. Her activity level has not decreased and seems to perk up a little after a soak.
The vet has asked for a fecal sample, but I am having trouble getting a fresh deposit as she poops during the night and by the time I wake up, it is completely dried out.
I am hoping that someone out there has an idea of what is wrong with Ari. I have owned leopard geckos for about 15 years and have never seen something like this before and am very worried.
.