Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been very busy as of late with work and havent been home much and havent been able to care for my 3 female leopard geckos. So I asked my mother to take care of them while I was away and gave her the run down on all the basics. Ive had the ladies for some time now and she has become familiar with the ins and outs of gecko care. Well I returned and she told me that the oldest of my geckos had become rather reclusive and she hadnt seen her out as they normally come to the edge of the tank when someone walks in (they like to be taken out to rumble around the room). So I went looking for my lizards in the tank and I was startled by what i found I found her in a hide with her eyes almost glued shut with skin a rather large lump behind each eye (a puss abcess I presume). I immediately got a dish with about shoulder high warm saline solution and began to try to coax the skin with a Q-Tip. I managed to get her eyes somewhat open but im not sure how to go about removing the skin and draining the abcess'. Does anyone have any advice she is very thin and I am very worried there are no herp vets in my area so im gonna have to go at this myself if possible. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks

If it actually is an eye infection, you will need antibiotics... which you need a vet for.
Since I hate excuses, and I'm such a nice guy... I'll help out.

You posted from an IP Address which shows up as 6 minutes from Pell City (actually in cropwell), and about 40 min driving distance to Birmingham, AL.

This puts you clode to:
Dr Alvin Atlas
Riverview Animal Clinic
4640 Highway 280 S
Birmingham, AL 35242-5028

Dr. Robert Baker
Animal Resource Program
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1717 7th Ave South Volker Hall
Birmingham, AL 35294

Dr. Shane West
1471 Montgomery Hwy.
Birmingham, AL 35216

It may be a little bit of a drive, but an eye infection is not a problem that will go away without antibiotics and a vet check.
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
WYSIWYG

I appreciate the way you handled that advice. It is nice to see someone make a correction to someone without slamming them or degrading them. Being mean does not help the leos and if someone won't listen to a kind response, like Brian gave, given with obvious concern and love for leos... Well they won't listen to rudeness either. A kind response may help many not even involved though, whereas a mean one just turns people away from the forum, So Brian thanks again for a mature, knowledgable response.
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Cheryl

Hi, I hope you didnt assume I was unwilling to find a vet, because that isnt the case at all. The vets around my area that I contacted did not deal with reptiles and advised me to find information to remedy the situation myself because there wasnt any herp vets in the area. BUT luckily my girlfriend called a vet today to inquire about getting her cat spayed and she mentioned my situation to him and he does indeed handle herps and is familiar with this condition and as such I have an appointment tomorrow. So before anyone assumes im a neglectfull keeper who is trying to sacrafice my pets care to save a buck and make up excuses think again.

I do thank you for the info you provided after reading my own post I came off a little harsh and thats not what I intended. Can you point me toward the resource you used to find those numbers.
Thank you,
Jason Guy

It didn't come off harsh at all. And I didn't intend to attack you at all. For the record (and anyone else looking for a vet) the vets I listed were listed from the Association of Reptile & Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) http://www.arav.org/, so they should all handle herps. I'm glad to hear you found one close to you, and good luck with the leo!
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
WYSIWYG

The vet said it was indeed an eye infection and removed the dead skin from her eyes. She also gave me antibiotics, an ointment to apply to the eyes and a liquid to apply orally. I hope to get things back to normal with her soon.

I'm glad you were able to get it worked out. I'm sure with the meds that your leo will be back to normal within a few days/weeks (I haven't had a leo with an eye infection so I don't know how long treatment times are exactly). Sounds like you're on the right path.
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
www.MilwaukeeReptiles.com
Leopard Gecko Care Sheet