Comming back to life??

Rebecca · 03-05-04, 12:51 AM

First thing I want to put out there is I'm not crazy and I have tried calling the vet but there they won't see her. Ok this is odd. I have a leopard gecko that has been sick and I thought she have finally died today, she was not breathing for like 10 min, was limp everything. I didn't have time to do anything with she because I have to go to work. Now here's the creepy thing, she's alive. I put her on her favorite rock ( dont know why just thought it'd be nice for her) When I came home from work she had moved across the cage and had climbed into her humid hide. I got her out she was/is breathing. It's not regular but she's breathing on her own. I know she's not going to make it through the night but anyone have any ideas?? I know she was dead when I first checked her. I know she was, and yes I know she's alive now, not just the after death twitch thing (she is twitching) I know it's breathing I can hear the air being sucked in and she opens her mouth and takes a deep breath. You know how sometimes you wake up from a bad dream and realized your holding your breath and take a deep breath that's what she's doing. I also want to add that it looked as if she had been eating the moss in her hide?? She is also limp as if she does not have the energy to move. When I tried to look in her mouth ( to see if I could get the dirt out for her) she locked her jaws shut??

Linds · 03-05-04, 01:09 AM

Sorry to hear about your little girl

Reptiles are funny that way. I don't know the reason, but they seem to "come back to life". Once at work, a "dead" water dragon was garbaged, and half hour later the little guy was sitting perched on the side very much alive

The locked jaws are normal... the little girl isn't dead yet, and their mouth is one of the last things they let go. Until the moment they are dead, a lizard will typically be resisting you opening their mouth.

Rebecca · 03-05-04, 01:22 AM

Thanks. At least I know once I can open her mouth then she should be save to be put away for burial in spring.

DragnDrop · 03-05-04, 08:18 AM

Yup, that would be a scary type of experience for you.

Reptiles can hold their breaths for ages. Being cold blooded, they don't need as much oxygen as warmblooded animals who need the extra to burn calories for body heat. It's amazing how long they can go without a breath - ask anyone who's had a snake attached to a body part, and tried to encouraging it to let go by submerging it under water. It's also a reason why gas anesthesia is tricky to use on reptiles - sometimes they get one whiff of the gas and stop breathing after an insufficient dose of the drugs, then wake up later, partway through surgery.

I tend to wait at least 12 hours before pronouncing a reptile dead, or wait for rigor mortis to set in. After that, I'm sure they've moved on to the next plane.

Rebecca · 03-05-04, 02:12 PM

It was something I never want to experience agian as long as I live. I spent most of last night going over all the other lizards I have burried over time and questioned if they were actually dead or not. I'm thankful that I left them (in hopes they were't dead) in their cages until rigor mortis set in. I still feel every death like it's the first one. It really sucks. As for beauty I just checked on her and she seem to be actually dead now. I'm going to wait though just in case.

Sunrunner · 03-05-04, 02:46 PM

I have had this happen to me as well, best advice is do not bury them untill they are stiff I usually leave them in the habitat untill then or a smaller rubbermaid but always kept them warm. I am sorry you had to go through that I did the same thing wonder about the other one that died.
Again I am sorry.
Kim

sketchy4 · 03-05-04, 04:45 PM

maybe she was cold? like when you put a fly in the freezer they tend to be paralyzed or dead then come back to life when they are warm again. weird. i hope she gets better!

Rebecca · 03-05-04, 05:44 PM

No she was warm. I have a UTH as well as a space heater so it's impossible to get cold, cool yes cold no.