Vet appointment

[BRANDY WYNE kENNELS]

I brought my only gecko to the vet today because a breeder I sent a picture to said that she looked thin and I had been noticing she was not eating well. The vet said other than being thin she was in good health. He wormed her just to make sure and gave me liquid calcium to give everyday for a while. He said to go out in the yard and get different types of insects to see what she will eat. The only problem is, the insects will hide in the tank and I won't be able to tell if she has eaten any or not. Any suggestions? The vet said that the crickets aren't giving her enough nutrition and she won't eat meal worms.

Donna and Titan

 

[Ccrashca069]

You need to dust feeder insects that you buy from the store like crickets with a reptive vitiam such as Rep-Cal Herptive and Rept-Cal Calcium with D3. Dusting is when you put some of the powder nutrients in a bag or container, put your feeder insects in it and shake them untill they are coated with the powder.

I would not feed insects from your yard. The insects might have poison or something and not worth the risk of killing your leo.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Using insects from your yard is not a good idea. There are too many pesticides used in people's gardens and landscaping that could build up in the bug's bodies. Feeding domestically grown crickets and worms supplemented with calcium and vitamins will provide your gecko with all the nutrients they need.

 

[BRANDY WYNE kENNELS]

Thank you for reaffirming my thoughts. I thought it was strange that a reptile vet would recommend getting insects from the yard, but I thought he knew more than I did. I'm glad you disagree as well. I'm not going to do it. If she continues to not eat after being de-wormed today I might have to force feed her until she gains some weight. Do you think that is a good idea? I'm new with geckos and don't want to make a mistake. Thank you.

 

[Ccrashca069]

If she doesn't eat, you can always try Marcia's slurry recipe. But if she doesn't eat for more then a week I would make the slurry. Right now she might not eat because of the deworming and stress.

 

[fallen_angel]

My first thought was, "that doesn't sound like something a herp vet should be recommending" because wild-caught bugs from outside can carry anything, from pesticides to parasites, whatever, you name it! I would recommend buying some crickets from a pet store before you try to hand feed her. To confirm that she is eating, you just have to count how many crickets you put in, and see how many are left the next day (you may have to remove some of the cage furnishing), and you will also notice fresh poo

 

[BRANDY WYNE kENNELS]

Hi:

I totally agree with you about the bugs and didn't do it. I am giving her the liquid calcium and went to the reptile store and they recommended a paste to give her that will stimulate her appetite and give her system a boost. I figured I'd try anything. She is only 12 grams and she seems to be an older adolescent, not an adult yet. She is still changing color a little on her back and tail so if I'm correct, means that she's not an adult yet, right. I can't even sleep worrying about her, I would be extremely upset if I lost my first gecko. Thank you for replying back. Donna and Titan

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I do not recommend force-feeding. This will only stress the gecko more, which can be a factor in not eating. You can use my slurry by putting a drop on the gecko's nose, and as it licks squeeze out a little at a time... giving the gecko breaks to swallow.

You can also use a mealworm and 'tickle' the side of the gecko's mouth with it, which will usually make them open their mouths. Then, put the end of the worm in the gecko's mouth and it will chomp down on it. Sometimes they wait with the worm hanging out of their mouth before deciding if they want to eat it or spit it out.

This way, you are not forcing anything... you are allowing the gecko to eat on it's own accord.

Good luck...

 

[BRANDY WYNE kENNELS]

The reptile vet told me that if she doesn't start eating by friday he would teach me how to force feed. I'm going to look for another reptile vet as everything he has told me seems to be wrong. I did take the appetite stimulant and put a drop on his nose and he licks it off. I kept putting about 4 drops all together followed by a little water on his nose as the directions said to do that. All I can do now is try and monitor her to see if she is eating. I tried doing the meal worm on her mouth method and she only opened her mouth twice and both times she swung her head and threw the mealworm away. She is feisty even being so thin. I think she is going to be the death of me. I am a canine and wildlife behaviorist and work with all types of agressive dogs, and demonstrate birds of prey, snakes, mammals etc for audubon here in Massachusetts and no problem whatsoever. This little gecko is making me a nervous wreck that I am going to lose her. I guess being my first gecko I seem to be out of my comfort zone. I feel I'm doing all the right things and she's still not eating. Not knowing any better I bought her from Petsmart, never in a million years will I do that again. I'm 58 and feel 80 today over this. Thanks for your advise I appreciate it and everyone else's help from this forum, I would be lost without it.

Donna and Titan (female but brother named her before we knew she was a girl)

 

[Bling_my_leo]

Not eating *sigh*

.

 

[fallen_angel]

Just be patient, the fact that the gecko is licking the appetite stimulant is GREAT! It may be a few days of giving the stimulant before she eats on her own, but you are doing an awesome job!

**post 2000, woot woot!