Urgent Weight Problems!

[panthergecko]

she is so small. did she hatch out like this?
you should probably put her down imo and feed your laying females better calcium with d3.
what type of calcium do you use.

 

[9AC5]

Well to be honest, the euthanasia idea makes me feel a bit sick. I don't understand how someone could do that without feeling incredibly guilty. I have to at least give it a shot. And yes, people may say its cruel to keep her alive, but at the end of the day, I see her every day and she seems to look happy most of the time. She can get around just fine, even if it does look a bit awkward. The main reason she looks very ill is because she is very lethargic during the day (when I take the photos), for her night feed, she becomes far more lively. And you have to bear in mind that she is 6 months old, at least 3.5 months of that has required intensive care from me to keep her alive. This is her looking far more healthy than she she has for months. I can't let all that work go by just killing her because someone says she looks ill. Since upping her calcium intake she has got stronger, if she keeps going at the rate she is, she'll be fighting fit in the next few months. I just hope to god she proves me right.

I'm sorry if I sound defensive, but I really care about that gecko, she was my first ever hatching (the rest went to other homes and are fine), she probably should have died ages ago, but I won't let that happen. That's why I can't do "euthanasia", which is just a posh way of saying hit it with a spade.

 

[sausage]

im sorry to say I agree with Katie, I think in this case to "try" and save her will just be prolonging the pain and suffering.

You've said you have been dusting the foods since it hatched, and if this is correct (not that im doubting you in any way ) then there must be something wrong with the geckos internal metabolism of calcium which it would have had since birth. this would explain why shes so slow to develop compared to the clutch mates.
So i think the kindest thing you can do for her is euthanasia, Please please please if you decided to do that take her to a vet, do NOT do it your self.
Im so sorry its not what you want to hear

 

[9AC5]

Guys, like I just said, the other hatchlings were fine and went to other homes and are thriving. I didn't post this thread to get told I'm not looking after my geckos properly. I fed the laying female dh3 dusted crickets, morio worms etc all through the laying season, plus she had a dish of calcium in her viv too, which she did use. So I can assure you I gave her enough calcium. As previously stated, the reason that this particular hatchling is so small and weak is probably due to the fact it was the females first ever egg. They are never perfect for the first egg because they don't know how to get the right balance.

 

[sausage]

If you want to try and save her thats fine. i wouldnt want to give up either.

you could try adding a 2% UVB light to her tank and have it set to come on for 3 hours a day. this will help the absorption of calcium.
apart from that feeding her slurry via syringe is the only other thing you can do to insure she is receiving food

 

[sausage]

Some times something just goes wrong, exactly the same reason humans and other animal have medical problems. there's nothing you could have done it just happens.

what is dh3 out of curiosity? or do you mean vitamin D3.

 

[9AC5]

I wouldn't do it myself, if I'm going to murder an animal, I'm not going to have it on my conscience that it was me. I'll get a vet to do it. But I'm going to at least give it another few weeks, she is getting stronger as I have said, so to KILL her now would be more cruel than prolonging the pain because at the end of the day its beginning to look like she has a chance.

I do not have have a problem that means I will not get an animal put down, I have had it done before. It breaks my heart but it is what is necessary. But in this case, I think she deserves a chance, and if any of you had brought her up, hand feeding her and helping her out for the past 6 months, I think you'd feel the same.

 

[9AC5]

D3, just getting confused whith another hobby where something is called dh3 sorry.

I'll try the uv light in her viv. And slurry. I'll do anything to keep her going. I'm convinced that in a few months there will be a photo on this thread of the end product, a 60g gorgeous little female.

 

[sausage]

I have been there and I know how you feel. I didn't give up on mine but in the end there was nothing more I could do.
She dose deserve to live, I wasn't saying she dosnt in any way atall. I wasn't trying to start an argument and im sorry if you think I was
And I hope for you she dose pull through.

The MBD has disfigured her bones pretty good though and that will never correct its self back to normal.

 

[sausage]

I look forward to hearing of her recovery and the end photos

 

[9AC5]

I didn't think you were trying to start an argument. I just got defensive, she's like my baby. I spend a lot of my time hand feeding her, helping her shed and just generally keeping her happy. I'm not doubting that she will never be a normal gecko. And odds are completely stacked against the poor thing, but if she can pull through, I'll feel so proud, and I just hope that she does.

I'm sorry if I sounded angry, I just didn't like the way that this thread turned from trying to find out what was wrong with an ill underweight gecko, and changed to someone trying to imply that it was due to me not looking after the female parent, (who incidentally is a gorgeous tremper eclipse who looks fat but is just small anyway at 52g). The offspring are never going to be giant.

 

[sausage]

like I said before it sounds like you've been doing every thing right but some things just happen.
I used to have a small breeding business supplying my local pet shops and private buyers and iv had lots of experience. Iv had one or two deformed or sick geckos, its nothing I did wrong, its just nature.

I wish you all the luck with her and keep us posted

 

[katie_]

Euthanasia is far from cruel. Euthanasia actually means "good death". It in no way means hit the gecko with a spade. Its an injection of barbituates that puts the gecko into a fast "sleep".
I'm not a vet, but I would highly recommend you go see one.
If your gecko is infact that sick and suffering, euthanasia would be not be more cruel than keeping her alive. If a vet thinks you can try treatments, than thats great. My experience in a clinic for several years gives me a gut feeling that this gecko is too far gone.
Unfortunately animals have a funny way of hiding their pain, and we cant always see it. Geckos cannot look happy. I never feel quilty when an animal is put out of its misery via euthanasia. I feel guilty when they die at home. Good luck.

 

[katie_]

You also mentioned in a different post that your female showed signs of MDB but not severe. Is that female the mother of this offspring? Possibly the cause, but we may never know.

 

[9AC5]

well I'm sorry, but I have just finished studying euthanasia and know precisely what it is. But I have a conscience and imo, its still cruel. Fair enough if she was paralysed and couldn't move, or I would even agree if you'd said that after seeing the sane photo, but she wasn't making improvements. However she is making improvements.
I have never taken a gecko to a vet, and I don't mind if I have to. But I do have a fair understanding of how to look after them.

after all, one of my other hatchlings came back to me from the person I gave it to (for free as a present), it had a 1mm thick tail, 3 broken legs and its mouth was glued together with saliva. That same gecko left me to go to another owner at 30g, fit as a fiddle no vet help whatsoever. I'm not bad at this stuff

 

[9AC5]

And yes, same mother. But the other offspring were fine. I assume it is genetic, but personally I think she still has a chance

 

[katie_]

You need to a see a vet. This gecko has severe MBD, and should not be treated at home.

Euthanasia is not cruel, you need to do a bit more research. Saying you think euthanasia is "cruel" makes you look like a noob.
If you plan on breeding in the future, you will need to be okay with the fact that some hatchlings need to be culled. Its the nature of the business my friend.

I have witnessed many euthanasias, and it makes me sick to my stomache when people wait until the last grusome minute to end their pets suffering. This is my professional opinion.

I am not saying that is your only option. Only a VET can tell you that.

 

[katie_]

http://exoticpets.about.com/gi/o.ht...t=1&bts=1&zu=http://www.anapsid.org/mbd2.html

 

[9AC5]

I really don't like the way that you talk around the subject, as if the animals are nothing other than business to you. The only point in which I agree with you is that I need to see a vet. Other than that I think you should keep your views about hatchling geniside to yourself. My opinions may make you feel sick, but yours, I can assure you, make me feel worse. It's almost like a verbal attack every time you reply. I'm sorry that I didn't breed a perfect reptile, maybe its me that should be culled hey?

 

[katie_]

Listen buddy, I'm trying to help you.
In no way are animals a business to me, and I have waited a full two years before Ive even decided to breed my geckos next season. Breeding isnt as easy and putting two geckos together and getting healthy babies. Sometimes, they need to be euthanized due to a multitude of different reasons.
I work at a vet clinic, and I am giving you advice. If you didnt want other peoples opinions, you may not want to use forums for help.
I have never once attacked you or said you have done anything wrong. Please re-read my statements, and not let your emotions cloud your judgement.
I am telling you your options. Option 1. Take your gecko a vet ASAP and see if extensive, expensive vet care can possibly bring her around. You MAY have limited success, but it is not IMPOSSIBLE. Option 2. Take your gecko to a vet and have it humanely euthanized. A vet will be able to tell you best what option might work for your gecko.
If a vet tells you there is little hope, I hope you can put your feelings aside and do whats best for your gecko.
Saying ricidulous things like "hatchling geniside" will make others not want to help you. We are adults here, and I'd prefer if you did'nt start making accusations, all because the advice I gave you may be hard to hear.