Hi All,
Rather morbid tale but I would like to see if anyone has an inkling of
what caused the death of a leopard gecko. PLEASE! remember that not
everyone is as caring of the geckos sold to them as we tend to be. That
said....
I friend of a friend brought a dead leo to me (not that I collect
them). He wanted to know if I could "figure out" what happened. The
leo was freshly dead (less than 12 hours). It was emaciated, but the
stomach region was like a water balloon. The under side had turned
green in some areas. He told me the leo was "sick" for about two or
three months. Watery feces (said it was like clear slime) and reduced
appetite but it did eat, except for the last few weeks. Stomach began
to "sag" a few weeks before death and was fluid filled. He said the
"water" slowly built up in the abdominal region and the stomach sagged
more and more. [No he never took it to a vet nor did he ask my opinion
while it was alive.]
He was not about to have a necropsy done but was willing to cut it
open. When this was done, there were virtually no internal organs (is
12 hours too long?) and the body cavity was full of clear liquid and
some red mush (maybe what was left of the organs. The intestines were
there but the stomach and liver were goo (presuming that is what the goo
was). Just before it died he treated it with 50 mg/kg panacur once a
week, three times. No improvement at all. He had it from two months
old and kept it under typical leo conditions. Fed it a cricket diet with
proper supplements. I think he just got a "loaded" leo and his failure
was not going to the vet or asking questions until it was too late.
I chastised him some for not getting a fecal early in the game (he will
next time) when it was losing weight and "shot gunning" with panacur. I
told him he likely needed another drug but without specific diagnosis he
was shooting in the dark.
I assume a parasitic load. I did not do a float or smear as my
microscope was at work and I did not want the animal in my house. The
underside of the leo also looked thin (transparent). I hate to ask for
opinions without anyone actually seeing the animal and with little
helpful clinical data but maybe others have seen similar symptoms and
can give me some generalities. This won't help this leo but if someone
asks me next time (hopefully before the animal is dead) I can direct
them better. I have never seen a leo this far gone. I have seen worms
and thin leos but this one was way gone. I was amazed it lived a day
looking like it did. Unfortunately most people don't recognize
something is a miss until the leo is pencil thin. Has anyone ever
brought a leo back from such poor condition? My standard advice is see
a vet! but sometimes the best I can get people to do is pay $10 - $25
for a fecal. Better than nothing, I guess.
BTW, I get to see so many ill leos because of my position in a local
herp club. Everyone sends the trouble to me : ( 99.9% of what I see
is improper care and I can "fix" the problems and save the leo. Wish I
could help them all.
Regards,
John
###########################################################################
THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV
WebSite: www.gekkota.com Archive: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/
The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings.
###########################################################################
