Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

Anyone who could offer me advice, I would appreciate it.

I have 3 pictus geckos, all housed separately. One of my females (a sickly-looking one I rescued from Petco) has a broken jaw. Please read my details below...

Since we rescued her from Petco where she was very skinny and was protecting 2 eggs. We have had her about 3 months now and have turned her around considerably. With proper supplementation, feeding and very little handling she has put on a lot of weight, one evening my husband was providing oral calcium (he applies it to their noses a drop at a time and lets them lick it off), when he attempted to give it to her she got defensive and bit the syringe, we both heard a sickening crunch and her whole head was out of alignment. My husband picked her up and set it back into place, we were sure she was going to die from this, but she has been doing very well for about a week now since the incident, she is alert and coming out at night. She has eaten every night and continues to gain weight, she is currently shedding, her bones went back as they should when my husband re-set them.
**My concern is there seems to be some swelling around the area that was not there the first few days after this happened. Our reptile vet is very expensive and we were hoping to treat this with oral calcium, but I am afraid of a possible infection. Can anyone give me advice of how I should handle this?**
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Greg 'n' Jenee
^1 Frilled Dragon *Pat*
^2 Chameleons *Captain & Commando, The Chameleon Squad*
^2 Mali Uromastyx *Mr Pink & Chica*
^3 Pictus Geckos *Beastie Boy & His Harem*
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Unfortunately, only a vet will be able to accurately diagnose the situation and a treatment protocol.

Here's the issue, I just started a new job and can't even pay my bills at this time, my vet requires payment up front even though I have spent thousands of dollars with him for my 8 other animals. It's a little too late to search for a new vet, I was hoping that there was something I can do immediately. I don't get my first check for another week still and then I still don't know if I can afford a $250 bill. Is there any type of antibiotic or antiseptic I can administer until then to help fight infection? I really don't want to lose her.
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Greg 'n' Jenee
^1 Frilled Dragon *Pat*
^2 Chameleons *Captain & Commando, The Chameleon Squad*
^2 Mali Uromastyx *Mr Pink & Chica*
^3 Pictus Geckos *Beastie Boy & His Harem*
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You don't know for sure if there is infection there. so it's definately not a good idea to treat for it. If there isn't any then you could be doing a whole lot more harm them good.

However trust me I am in your boat with my cresty. I know how fustrating this can be. My post is a little further down. I can't take him to the vet either. Though I'd really like to. But I'm on maternity leave and my husband is going to school. no money....

Wow, I'm surprised at the price, my reptile vet is great and only charges $40 for an exam!
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Lisa

1.0.0 P.m. grandis (Linus)
4.3.0 P. standingi (Toby & Kona and their 5 babies)

Hello--
It is encouraging that your little girl is eating, and the jaw went back into place with your husband's help. Still, she has sustained trauma to the area, and swelling is not uncommon when bones and flesh are traumatized. I would watch the swelling closely, and give it a few days to see if it begins to go down. If it doesn't or gets worse, she really should be seen by a reptile vet.

Since you have a well-established relationship with your vet, perhaps you could explain the circumstances and work something out. Another option is to find a cheaper vet by going through the phone book.

When you purchased her, did Petco tell you about their "well animal" exam? Most don't, but when you purchase a pet at Petco, there is a vet who will do the exam at no expense to you within the first 72 hours of purchase. You only pay for meds. I've found that these vets will often charge less to treat the animals subsequently. If you can find out who the vets are who do these checks, then explain the cirumstances, it might be a good place to start looking for treatment for your pictus.

I kept picti for many years, and absolutely love the little devils! By far the most entertaining antics of any gecko's I've ever kept. My first pictus, Gizzy, had a stroke and was paralyzed on one side. We thought she'd die. But, we assist fed her, gave her suplements, and she pulled through. At first
she dragged the front right leg and shoulder, but eventually recovered fully to live almost six years. They are a hardy species, although they seem delicate.
Best of luck with yours--please keep us posted on her progress!
regards,
althea

Thanks Althea,

An exam is reasonable at my vet, it's the x-rays, etc that he will need to do to assess the broken bone that are going to make it a $250 trip. Your words are very encouraging, especially since she has remained "herself" in spite of the injury.

I have 3 pictus and am hoping to start breeding them soon, I have bought from Petco before but never heard of that check up. The first gecko I bought there was so parasite-ridden that the vet couldn't save her, this was about a month after I got her. The vet assured me that it wasn't any fault of mine. I wasn't going to buy another from them after that, but had been watching the replacement that they got for the first one I bought, she went from fat to terribly skinny and dehydrated looking in about 2 months time, I felt so bad that I bought her and started working with her, she has done really well until this happened.

I'm going to post some pics of my huge male after I finish this, check them out and let me know what you think of him. I've not seen one quite as fat as him, ever.

Thanks again,
Jenee

Well she laid 2 eggs yesterday, one fairly soft, the other fairly hard. She is still eating and comes out at night. Crickets seem to be disappearing from her habitat, I can only assume she is hunting, I also see her eating the dusted mealies I am hand feeding her. I will keep hoping for the best.

Thanks everyone who replied!