Urgent - Am taking gecko to vets but any input appriciated.

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
I put this in the health and medications section, I hope you dont mind but Ive posted it here too.

Hi had an incident with my gecko, am taking her to the vets but just wanted opinionsand insights. I have filled in the form that it is requested we fill in. The details of what happened are below thankyou.

About your leo:
- Sex Female
- Age & Weight 4 1/2 years old, not sure about weight but large (but not fat)
- How long have you owned your leo just under 4 1/2 years
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend) Pet store (one that specialises in reptiles)

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo Whenever she "asks", which is quite frequently, stroked and talked to daily
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. Kinked tail, occasionally drags a foot
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. No
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal) Not been since incident
- When was the last time he/she went Yesterday
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on

When I returned Greedo to her tank last night she had a bit of a protest (this is usual, trying to show me whos boss!) but ended up jumping out of my hands and landing awkwardly in the tank. Not to far a fall but it was obvious she was distressed and hurt. She was twitching her tail violently and shuffling around the tank in an agitated way. I picked her up carefully and she came out as easily as usual, no fear or biting but she leaked a clear fluid on my hand. Not her normal feacal matter or urate. I put her on the bed and watched her walk. Her tail was still going and pointing up at the end. Also she was appearing to drag one foot. We stayed up with her to see if she worsened but she did seem to improve. We put her in the tank to let her rest but this morning the tail is still kinked. When she was put in the tank she walked around but struggled slightly with climbing over a branch. Im taking her to the vets but just wondered if this has happened to anyone elses gecko and was there permenant damage?? She is not a fragile gecko and regualry throws herself of things eg: climbing the polystyrene at the back of her tank and jumping off. Any insights into this appreciated.
Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size Not sure of size but said "suitable for 3 geckos" and only houses this one.
- Type (ex. glass tank) Glass. Front opening. Designed for reptiles by Exo terra.
- Type of substrate Bark, but paper towel at the mo.
- Hides, how many, what kind 2 hides, Exoterra, fake wood, curved half branch. One in "warm" side one in "cool"
B) Heating
- Heat source Heat Mat
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side) Should prob get a thermometre but room is always kept warm and Greedo sheds easily.
- Method of regulating heat source Our central heating
- What are you using to measure your temps As I said should prob get a thermometre
- Do you have any lights (describe) No
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females) None
- Describe health, or previous problems Very good, no issues, once ate some paper towel but was absolutely fine. Eats normally poops normally sheds normally. Friendly and bright eyed. Fat tail.

Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much) Locusts. About 3, 3 times a week. She loses interest after about 3 but is adult and big.
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect) Let her hunt, but occasinally hand feed because she likes it
B) Supplements (describe how often) Repton in dish and locusts dusted.
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands) Repton
- What are you gut loading food with lettuce, salad etc

Thankyou for your help x
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Russellm0704

Active Member
Messages
1,070
Location
Marietta, Ga
The temps are vital and do need to be measured as they need a good temperature gradient. The fact that she is dragging a foot worries me. Maybe a pic of her would help and let us know what the vet says
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
Hi, thanks for the reply, I am going to research temps and make sure Im doing everything possible for her. Ill get the proper equipment.
The vet said its a pelvic injury, not too severe luckily (as she was climbing on him and licking him) probably bruising, but I need to keep an eye on her for the next day or so. If she doesnt improve she needs to be brought in and x-rayed.
At present she is basking and looks happy, no strange behavior but she is being closely monitored. I will keep you updated xx
 

katie_

Wonder Reptiles
Messages
2,645
Location
Ontario
Her tail sounds damaged, it's a good idea to get her looked at by a vet. Keep us updated.
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
I thought the tail looked bad, but the vet seemed to think it was just a symptom of the pelvic imjury, that the base was set lower and the end just went higher accordingly.

About the pelvic injury. If it is badly damaged, is it fixable?

Will try and get a picture of her up tomorrow. But I am encouraged by the idea that if it was serious she wouldn't have been so happy and playful. There are no signs of pain
 

Laska

New Member
Messages
65
Location
Winona,MN
I wish ya the best man, gecko's fly and jump all the time in my book, simple accident that's all, I wish her a full recovery!
 

Dimidiata

New Member
Messages
1,943
Location
palmetto FL
I wonder if a warm soak wont help reduce. some swelling or pain if there is any. Would be up to her ankles, not deep and only lukewarm.
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
I wish ya the best man, gecko's fly and jump all the time in my book, simple accident that's all, I wish her a full recovery!

Yeah, she is a real kamikaze, knows no fear. We spent all night up with her...I went up to the Convenience store at 5.55 to get paper towel so it was easier for her to walk round her tank (she was struggling carrying the back end with the bark)

Bit pissed off...I have spen all evening trying to see her walk around...go and watch some TV and she has moved from house one to house two. lol

Me and the Mrs (and Greedo) are grateful for your support, and all feedback.

Like the idea of the water...anyone else got an opinion on that?

Oh, just to clarify, they think the base of the tail is too low, and the back end is high as a counter balance, don't think I was clear. They seem to think once the pelvis is OK it goes back to normal
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
Oh shes come out of her house for a wander, the tail looks a bit more normal, the end is going down and its not dragging so much which is encouraging.
She has also just managed to climb on her house, with a bit of difficulty, but she made it. Not what I would like her to be doing in these circumstances but she would never listen to me anyway! She is sat on top looking smug as anything. :)
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
However we are still monitoring and she is obviously not 100%, so more Greedo watching tonight and not ruling out an xray.
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
Just a quick update for those who are interested. She seems to be moving about her tank well. The back legs seem to extend fully when walking. We havn't taken her out to check her full mobility as we would like her to rest up as much as possible.

The very tip of the tail still sticks up a little bit, hopefully that will go. She can turn her tail though which maybe says that there will be no long term damage to her tail(if that is wrong plese let us know)

If she had suffered any internal bleeding I guess we would know by now (if that is wrong please let us know. It is 96 hours after the event)

We are just continuing to monito
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
OK, one question. She is still going, still looking strong. Still happy

We fed her a few days ago but she has yet to poo. Can a pelvic injury cause compaction??? Or am I just being neurotic?
 

Greedo

New Member
Messages
13
What did the vet say

Vet was happy that she was healthy, her whole demenour wasn't that of a Gecko who was ill. (bruised but not serious)

The tail is now perfectly down, and she has shed perfectly (full mobility to all parts of the body)

Hasn't pooed but hasn't eaten too much and she never poos that much going into a shed.

But apparently she has no symptoms of compaction...she is in a great mood. Would just love to see some poo, then we can sleep perfectly
 

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