Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Help! One of my male breeders is paralyzed! He's been fine up until now, he's ALWAYS had calcium available, food sources are good, all has been status quo. I went in to check on the "herd" and he was paralyzed from the back (waist) legs down. He's able to move around using his front legs, but when I try to pick him up, he tries to bite--he seems to be in a lot of pain. I think that in his attempts to "rearrange" his tank accessories, he either landed on a rock funny, or dislodged a rock that rolled over onto his back. I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary in his tank set-up--everything looks like it did last night, but that's what I think happened. So, now I have to make a decision--do I euthanize him or not? He's in pain, apparently, and I don't feel right about subjecting him to a mating in his condition, anyway. The only vet who will euthanize him will charge me $100 to do it--is there anything I can do myself? I hate to think of this, but I don't want him to suffer any more than he has already. Thank you for advice.

I would take him to a vet to see if he can be treated first. Someone on this forum had a leo that broke his back, and was paralyzed like yours. She took him to the vet and the vet made a little cast or something to immobilized the body, so the gecko looked like a burrito. The gecko recovered and regained full use of hind limbs.

There aren't any reptile vets in my area--Placerville, California. I'd like to help him, rather than euthanize him, so any more advice/help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I think it may have been someone named Crystal (???). The geckos name might have been Pancho (???). Or I could be totally wrong on the names. It was quite awhile ago.

I would try taking the animal to any exotics vet who at least can see reptiles, even if they do not specialize. The basics of doing a body cast may not be much different for a reptile than a small mammal.

Also Try searching this forum for broken back

paralyzed

etc...

most vets should be able to do that

There may not be a reptile vet up there in Placerville, but if you could make it to Citrus Heights there's one that's supposed to be great. It's a little bit of a drive, but not more than an hour. If you want to know the name of the doctor & clinic e-mail me at annabellee904@hotmail.com for the information.
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Anna Plaxco

Corns
1.0 Snow - Cornelius
1.1 Ghost (pastel) - Eek and Boo
0.1 Amel - Scarlet
Boas
0.1 Columbian - Bella
Lizards
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko - Leo
Rats
0.1 Dumbo - Dirt
Cats
1.0 Siamese - Blue
0.1 Grey - Dru
Horses
1.0 Thourghbred (Hunter/Jumper) - Morgan's Majesty aka Cody

-We have no right to distress any of God's creatures without a very good reason; we call them dumb animals, and so they are for they cannot tell us how they feel; but they do not suffer less because they have no words. -Anna Sewell

its kind of sad but the least expensive and least painful way to euthanize your gecko is to put it in a plastic baggy of some sort and then put it in your freezer

they dont have any pain that way.. they just fall asleep after a while
its kind of sad but thats what most zoos and places like that do and it works and theres no suffering

Freezing is definitely the most commonly used method of putting down reptiles... but some people claim that it is a painful way for the herp to be put down. If you happen to feel freezing is inhumane, then try using the method below.

You need three things: 1) A large tupperware container that will close airtight 2) A heavy glass filled 1/2 way with water 3) A small amount of dry ice

Place your gecko in the container with the water filled glass, drop the dry ice in the water, and close the lid. The dry ice will sublimate releasing CO2, which will put your gecko "to sleep".

I know many people put down feeder rodents this way, I'm sure it would work equally well on reptiles.

I'm really sorry to hear about your male.

Take care.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Ball Pythons, Red Striped Leos, and Screaming Fat-Tails

i think the best way to do it, is to put the gecko in a plastic bag, with NO holes, and fill it with car exhaust. its carbon minoxide, deadly to humans too, and it has no smell. make sure you don't breath too much in.
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your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it, and you'll ask yourself, "where is my mind"

if you have AIM, IM me at chichandoCONrosa (i changed my SN)

Carbon Monoxide by itself has no odour, but car exhaust certainly does. In addition, it comes out of the engine very HOT. Many many years ago, I took someone's similar advice and tried to euthanize some rodents in this way, and to my utter horror it was NOT humane at all. So from my experience only, I would advise not doing this.

I could never put a critter in the freezer to die. Why does it cost so much to euthanize a gecko anyway? It seems like it would take just a drop of whatever drug they use to get the job done.

My eight-year-old son dropped one of our leos a couple months ago. The leo hit the ground but when she tried to walk away, nothing past her mid back would work. Her back legs just dangled. I said, "Oh crap...her back is broken." My son started crying. I picked her up, put her back in the box and said, "It's ok. It was an accident." Then, about 2 hours later, I went to check on her and everything was working again. She climbed out of the box onto my hand. Whheeeww!!

$100 may be his standard fee for large dogs... but not for an 8 inch leopard gecko... heck a few years ago we had to put down a 150 pound dog and we were only charged 65 dollars... small reptiles should only cost about 6-20 dollars to put down depending on the weight and how much they have to use...now if this fee covers anesthesia as well so the Leo doesn't have to feel the needle prick that may be an all together different subject.. But for a regular euthanasia that is outrageous... I do hope it doesn't come down to this but I have safely put an reptile to sleep before by placing it in the freezer they fall asleep and then die it only takes a matter of mins and its over

Good luck: E
Alissa

Reptiles put in the freezer go into a hibernative state... It isn't quite like what happens with mammals. They don't shiver... so their body isn't trying to keep itself warm and prolonging anything. Non-essential organs shut down, heart rate and respiration slow to nearly non-existant very quickly... And thats followed by death at a freezing temperature... Some reptiles this wouldn't work on obviously, especially those that live in northern climes...and many turtles it doesn't work well on either especially Snappers, RED's and Painteds because they'll be active under the ice in the winter in northern climates. For a leopard gecko and other small reptiles though, its almost the perfect answer. There's no pain involved like we would feel as our extremeties obtained frostbite.