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That's for all the help. I appreciate everything.
The little gecko died this morning.
I have kept your posts for future reference,
however. This is the second spider I lost to sand, I think. The first one died
from the prolapse.
Thanks again,
Mike
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 1:31
AM
Subject: Re: [gecko]Sand
impaction---substrate ingestion
Hi Mike---
I think Jurassic
Reptile Sand is 100% quartz granuales. It can be ordered by mail in 20
and 50 pound bags from Jerry Bergosh in Utah. He has a toll-free number.
It is a good sign that your wee spider gecko is passing some
sand. I do hope that this continues! I am unaware of any other
ways to relieve the impaction, and you may have caught this before her
blockage became total. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and your
Ap. I know how difficult it is to lose a beloved gecko, even one not
reared by our own hands. Perhaps it is not too late for her. I
believe in keeping to try. Soft food, no bugs, is a must since you say
she regurgitated the last cricket you fed her. You seem to be doing all
the things my vet recommended: soft baby food, tepid water soaks, and
oil. My gecko seemed to like licking the CatLax off her lips.
(With felines CatLax is used to treat furballs.) Don't overdue any
of these treatments. More is not always better. Patience is often
the key.
You might prepare yourself for some prolapse should she pass
more sand and some rectal tissue after a tepid water soak as mine once did.
You may be able to reinsert such tissue by gently using a q-tip [I say
that knowing that my Oc is 15 gm to your Ap 5 gm---but you might need much
smaller instruments like the "probes" in a vet's eye kit] generously
lubricated with Artificial Tears Ointment by Phoenix Pharmaceuticals in
Missouri. Of course, lubricate the prolapse as well. Artificial
Tears Ointment can be obtained/ordered at your local pharmacy for about $3.45
US dollars per 3.5 gram tube. [Don't use K-Y jelly as the lubricant.
It is too drying.] Major prolapses should receive immediate first
aid of an extended soak in 50% dextrose solution and veterinary assistance
immediately. Granulated sugar can actually be applied directly to the
prolapse with your finger. In my case the "swelling" did not seem to be
reduced by that treatment, but what I saw were the actual tissues. I
hope that my soaks prevented swelling.
Mike, do keep us informed about
her continued health.
Elizabeth
Pacific Northwest Regional GGA Rep
Subj: Re: [gecko]Sand impaction---substrate ingestion
Date: 3/24/04 2:53:59 PM Pacific Standard Time
From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (maleldil)
Sender:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I switched to Repti-Sand.
It is made of quartz and is very soft. I have no
clue what Jurassic sand
is made of. I wish I did. Something you said piqued
an interest:
"Jurassic Reptile Sand has smooth granules. As we note even
JRS has caused
problems when accidentally ingested. Be certain to
check out any potential
sand you wish to use under a microscope.
Sand often contains silica
crystals which have pointy edges.
Silica sand will accumulate in the gut.
By the time problems are
discovered it is too late to rectify them. "
This would lead me to
believe my little gecko is now doomed. She has
ingested silica sand and
I think a lot of it (relative to her size). I
already mentioned that she
passed a small quantity today. I hope she does it
again.
I guess
all I can do now is wait. I will keep feeding her soft foods and
I'll
oil her up and give warm baths. It's one thing to lose a gecko
purchased
from a store but to lose one raised by my own little hands makes
me a
little more sad. (When I sell them, I don't know what happens to them
so
I just assume they are happy and healthy.) I hope she pulls through.
As for the other spider geckos, I might just move to a feeding dish
and save
myself all the worry.
Mike
I'm so confused.
Don't spider geckos LIVE on sand?
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