House Gecko With swollen leg

Rebecca · 09-11-03, 08:08 PM

I just noticed today that my house geckos leg is REALLY swollen (happened today while I was at work, was fine yesterday) I tried to get a pic but the digital does not do closups very well. I had my mom look at it (kudos to her because she freaks when I bring my leo's up stairs) and she thinks it might be broken. The leg in question is the bottem one. I know take it to the vet. But the vets close know nothing. I know because my one leo could not be helped by them. So anyway any ideas at all?? The leg seems limp as well but that might be because it can't use the sticky pads on it because it swollen. I don't know if it's bothering it or not right now. Temps are about 75 day and about 65 night. They do have heat/cool sides (well top heated bottem cool). I don't have UVB for them because the care sheets I have found care sheets said they don't need it.

Rebecca · 09-12-03, 12:46 PM

Come on someone has to have an idea how I can help this little thing.

eyespy · 09-12-03, 01:04 PM

Even if a vet doesn't have reptile experience, they should be able to xray a limb and set it if necessary. If s/he's ever worked with small birds or pocket pets like hamsters the same basic principles are involved. If the bone marrow is exposed the gecko needs an antibiotic shot to prevent sepsis and infection of the bone so it's not something most folks can treat by themselves.

Swelling can also be caused by infection, in which case the vet usually lances it and draws out the fluid, stains it to see if the bacteria involved is gram negative or gram positive and then prescribes an appropriate antibiotic.

Good luck and let us know how your gecko fares.

Rebecca · 09-12-03, 11:58 PM

I phoned the vet's today. Man are they stupid when it comes to lizards. I told them everything, and the one out right refused to help because they don't know anything. I tried saying you know you don't have to know about lizards just small animals just check and see if it broken. They said no, I said fine f&*$ you. The other it's machine is broken. So that's a no go. I'm phoning on monday to Grande Prarie (had to go to work before I could phone them) to see if the vet can see it there. I hope so.