HELP!! sick leopard

[Mike177]

I just recently rescued a leopard gecko and it is in discusting condition. I feel terible for the animal its two hind feet are swolen it has lost its tale at least once and there is a cut on the end of it it isnt very active and it hasnt eaten but I just got it Please help!!! thank you

[Samba]

Mike,

I commend you for rescuing this little guy but the absolute first thing you need to do is get it to a vet!!!! Ask for a fecal (check for parasites), a calcium injection (to prevent/delay Metabolic Bone Disease), and perhaps a vitamin B injection (unfounded, but is said to increase appetite... has worked for me in the past.) You need to make sure this gecko has ready access to water, a hide and heat. DO NOT leave crickets, mealworms, etc. inside the tank, as this could stress the animal further and they also have been known to gang up and injury, even kill sick reptiles. Make sure you keep it's tank absolutely clean (clean about every other day... just to make sure.) To encourage feeding, you can put some mealworms in the freezer for about a minute (it kinda puts them to sleep for a little while... they will wake up eventually.) Very, very gently pry open the gecko's mouth by pulling down at it's lips... when the gecko opens it's mouth pop the mealworm in. The gecko may spit it out the first couple of times (Hey, it doesn't know you're trying to help) but once they start getting regular meals in them their energy increases and they may be able to begin eating on their own again. You really need to consult a vet for the specifics, and perhaps you will need someone to help you assist-feed it (believe me... it IS a two person job!) If you need anything else you can e-mail me anytime at: ReDcAmArODuStU@AOL.COM or SambasReptileRescue@Hotmail.Com

Good luck with the Leopard, and please keep us updated on it's progress!!!!!

P.S. I was going to include of a pic of my rescued Leo with MBD, but I can't figure it out! Maybe you can get pix of your little one up here when it's feeling better?

[Mike177]

Thanks i will probly be takeing him to a vet tomaro and have all that done. i would like to thank you and everyone elese for that matter for helping me and other people with sick anamal. when i saw him i knew i had to get it out of there. he was at a petco, someone had relesed it to them because they didnt want them anymore. that just goes to show how many stupid erisponsiable people there are out there.

........................................Mike...... .................................................. .

P.S. I know one geco who would apprecate it more than any of us

[Samba]

Dear Mike,

Please let us all know how the Leo's vet visit goes tomorrow. Please don't cut any corners on his/her care, I know from experience that vet costs, tests and etc. can rise well above the actual 'value' of the gecko. I ask of you that it not play a role in your dedication to him/her. If you ever need help you can e-mail me. Heck I'll even give you my number! If you've never rehabilitated an animal before do not hesistate to call your vet, or ask us here. I really hope your new friend pulls through and makes as complete a recovery as possible! Don't forget to tell us how it goes tomorrow!

[Alicewave]

Samba pretty much covered it. If you ever feel you need to syringe feed your little guy, let me know I can help you with that. Big time kudos to you for doing a rescue, it's the greatest feeling in the world especially when they get better. You *might* want to consider have a crypto test done in addition to the fecal. Certain Petco branches are notorious for carrying animals infected with this parasite. Anyhow, good luck with him. Post pictures if you can that will help us help you figure out what he needs. Also if you can, tell us how his setup is so we can make sure everything is setup for his speedy recovery (ie no sand for substrate).

[GECKOMAN]

sorry

[Mike177]

I want to first thank all of you for your detecation to anamals i can clearly see that all of you have a grat compation for any living thing. second i had no maney to take him to the vet but i didnt give up and i had some freinds help me out and i would also like to thank those of you who put the health of your anamals in front of your own persanal pleasher that is something that i realy admire. well enoph of that, lets get down to the gecko now. i took him to the vet early this morning and his condition was not AS bad as we thought. he had several scars on his tail and one very bad open wound on his foot. the vet said that his condition wasent too bad so he sould make a farily quick recovory. he was 49 oz. when i took him in . i have him in a pretty good size cage( by the way i was going to give him to a freind but i have decited to keep him as my own) but i am going to get her in a nice big cage when she recovers and i have a little more cash. i have paper towels as substrate a bowl of mealworms and dryed chrickets and a bowl of water on one side of the cage with a bowl of water next to it and a 2 hide spots one on each side of the cage. i am putting a cream on all the open woonds on his tail and foot untill they complely heal. he dose not mind beaing heald but i am reframing doing so untill he is back to tip-top shape (with the exception of applying the cream) i predict he will have a long happy healthy life.

.......................................Mike....... ................................................

P.S. if i ever refer to him as a her i dont mean that. its a male

[Alicewave]

What size cage have you got him in now? A 10 gallon take will be fine his whole life. He probably wont eat the dried crickets as leos like their meals to be alive. Make sure you dust the mealworms with calcium powder. Glad to hear he will be ok, please do keep posting questions as you need to. Wish him luck for us.

[Samba]

Dear Mike,

We're all very glad you did the right thing and took this little guy to the vet! It's good to hear that he'll be ok! Has he been eating on his own? If not you may need to 'help' him eat for a little while until his strength builds up! One thing I use for *very* sick leopard geckos is baby food mixed with Rep-Cal. (Ok, ok, ok, I also use it as an occasional treat too!) Make sure the calcium you give to the gecko is phosphoruous-free (they get enough of that in the insects). Keep updating us on him and don't forget to follow up with your vet in a few weeks. Definatly take him back if he loses weight or refuses to eat. Get all the tests done now so you won't have to worry about it later! Now, the most important question... What are you going to name him? LOL =)