Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My daughter and I took on a couple of adult female gecko rescues. They are skeltons, and have shed upon shed on them. The one was doing better, starting to eat, but died Sunday. This last girl was worse off, I thought, but hanging in there. She shows no interest in food, even a cricket held in front of her, but I think it is because of the old shed caked on her head. I've been soaking her, and have coaxed off most of the shed on her head, clearing her eyes to see, but her nostrils are still pretty covered. Also, he mouth has some discolored caking which I hope is just from the age of the layers of shed and not a sign of infection. She tends to stand with her head in the air.
When I soak her, I noticed she'd lick the drops of water I put on the tip of her snout and drink them, so today I ran out and got some Ensure with extra calcium. She took 4 drops worth, then I stopped, as I'm afraid to overload her poor system. Is this a good sign that she took them? She has an appointment with a reptile vet today, but I'm so worried. My daughter and I are very attached to her - she's so patient with all our fussing.
Any encouragement or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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0.1.0 Boa, Elsa
1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa, Bruce
1.0.0 Mexican Kingsnake, Vincent
1.0.0 Graybanded Kingsnak, Boris
1.1.0 Ball Pythons, Pete & Sweetie-Darling
2.3.0 Bearded Dragons, Bela, Sally, Marigold, Phoenix & Spook
1.2.0 Fattailed Geckos, Sahein, Beltaine & Soltice
2.4.0 Leopard Geckos, Ian, Wicca, Rune, Ursla, Ostara & Pagan
2.0.0 Rats, Captian Howdy & Despero
0.0.1 Hermit Crab, Kraken
0.0.1 Pom-pom Goldfish, Jester
1.0.0 Pushy Lovebird Baxter

That Gecko sounds pretty bad. I think the ensure will help. The vet visit is the best thing, she is probably loaded with parasites. Make sure she stays warm and has easy access to her humid hide. Keep her on papertowel and not sand or any other loose substrate
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Cheryl

I agree.. You sound like you're doing the right thing with her - especially with the Vet visit!

I'm just curious, but where did you find these poor babies??? I wish that authorities would apply the pet abuse laws to reptile abusers.

~~Dusty Windom
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So Many Alleles, So Little Time...!
@
~~The Gecko Barn~~

Hello - took our rescue to the vet, who said she believes this gecko's problems are mostly of poor care, and fairly easily turned around. She had a piece of shed that stuck to the roof of her mouth inside, and that was why her head was always up, and she couldn't eat. They snipped it off her (it was that old and dried hard), and treated her topically for a small surface bit of mouth infection caused by the stuck shed. She also helped with the shed on the tail, face, and feet I've been working with and told me I was doing a good job of soaking her.
We're not treating her except swabbing her mouth and soaking her right now, but I'm to keep an eye on her and if she doesn't respond as quickly as hoped bring her back. She's still not eating on her own today, but I think that was a bit too much for me to hope for. She's much more relaxed today, and seems so happy to be able to lie down and smile up at me (I didn't realize how distorted and tense her little face was before till I see her now). I fed her a couple drops of ensure with her morning soak, and for the first time she put her head down and drank on her own for me!!!
The vet said we're still not positive she'll make it, but with the mouth problem corrected, and her drinking and feistness, she's got a good shot.
Thanks for the advice and encouragement!
Oh, I got her from someone I'd seen at a show with geckos last summer. My daughter had instantly bonded with this one, and I offered to buy her if he ever sold her. He called me this last weekend and said I could have her and her cagemate if I could save them. I figured that was honest enough, as I'm paying for her in vet bills and intensive care. But it'll be worth every penny and worry if she pulls through. She's only 3 years old, and although a normal leopard, her personality makes her a gem to my daughter.
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0.1.0 Boa, Elsa
1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa, Bruce
1.0.0 Mexican Kingsnake, Vincent
1.0.0 Graybanded Kingsnak, Boris
1.1.0 Ball Pythons, Pete & Sweetie-Darling
2.3.0 Bearded Dragons, Bela, Sally, Marigold, Phoenix & Spook
1.2.0 Fattailed Geckos, Sahein, Beltaine & Soltice
2.4.0 Leopard Geckos, Ian, Wicca, Rune, Ursla, Ostara & Pagan
2.0.0 Rats, Captian Howdy & Despero
0.0.1 Hermit Crab, Kraken
0.0.1 Pom-pom Goldfish, Jester
1.0.0 Pushy Lovebird Baxter

Congrats and good 4 you for taking this girl on. I just wanted to share that I have sucessfully rescued a gecko in a very similar position. I'm not sure about the skin inside the mouth thing. Never heard that one before, but.... anyway, my girl had so many stuck sheds she could not open her eyes and it took everyday soaks, lots of gentle pulling, etc. She even had a skin infection that went septic. Good news is, she is now short half a toe, but a very healthy 70 gram girl now. There is hope, and it sounds like yours in very well on her way. You may want to get a second opinion on the vet visit, or a blood test for infection, but you are doing GREAT with the supportive care! I kept mine on damp paer towels, and it worked very well. Give her some time b4 she starts eating on her own, she's been through a lot.
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1.0 Blizzard Bill
1.0 Hypo stripe, Het Rainwater from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino (Cloud)
0.2 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Pepper, Goldie-now w/SD)
0.1 Normal (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.1 Tremper Albino (Leucy)
RIP Peaches, Ghost
9 eggs a-cookin'