Special Needs leopard gecko (help appreciated!)

[spyderk]

We visited a pet store yesterday and there was a "special needs" leopard gecko for sale for a small amount. It was dropped off by its owner because it had something wrong with its eyes. The per store owner told us that it had been kept on pine chips and the pine had gotten into its eyes, causing infection, and the leo was probably blind. The eyes have a crispy gunk over them, and one side has a puffy looking bulge behind the eye. The leo looked fine otherwise, and the owner told me he felt it was a shame to put it down because it's friendly, eats well, just has this issue. He had taken it to a vet and been prescribed ointment for its eyes.

My son has a leopard gecko that is doing really well, and we had caging/supplies for another, and this leopard gecko was really tugging at his heart (mine too!) and so after Dad's permission, we got it. I didn't feel like buying it would support a bad situation for other leos, as the pet store owner seemed just as unhappy that someone had housed the leo incorrectly and caused the issue.

The medication Neo-Polycin. It was filled 2/20/13, and he said they discontinued it 2 weeks ago but I could have the meds and was welcome to keep using it. I took it so that I could show our vet when I brought her in.

The pictures aren't great (taken with cell, 2 in bad lighting) but you can see the eye issue in at least 1. It shows the bad eye with the bulge. The other eye has the crusty stuff but no bulge or anything surrounding the eye. I weighed her when I got home and she was 50 g. I don't know my leo morphs, but I'm thinking she's patternless?

I plan to call the vet today to see about bringing her in. If anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated! We want this girl to get the home that she deserves. She seems pretty friendly, and my son named her Sweetie.

 

[Kokopelli]

I hope the eyes can be saved... I don't know how long this condition has been allowed to continue.

I'd simply listen to the vet... some form of antibiotics will have to be applied I imagine, as well as cleaning the gunk on the eye.

I don't think that the usual solutions practiced by keepers are substantial enough to make the necessary change in this situation.

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Getting a reptile vet to look at her is the best option, she needs to go ASAP.

Those eyes look pretty rough and are well past the point of simple at home care.

 

[spyderk]

Yes, for sure. I just wondered if anyone here had seen it.

I also wonder if I should call the vet she visited.

 

[Kokopelli]

From what friends of mine experience, eye infections are not uncommon... and at the early stages you can use an over the counter ointment called Cintomitzin... I have kept Leos for around 2 years in total(I took a break and got back to it 6 or so months ago)... never had it happen to a Leo of mine but I am probably just lucky.

 

[BloodyBaroness]

Yes, for sure. I just wondered if anyone here had seen it.

I also wonder if I should call the vet she visited.

Do you have a regular reptile vet?

I would consider taking her to a different one, kinda like a second opinion type thing.

 

[Alicia P]

She's adorable!! Sweetie is a great name for her.

Do you have a regular reptile vet?

I would consider taking her to a different one, kinda like a second opinion type thing.

I agree, taking her to a different vet would be a good idea. Even if she is blind the crusty gunk should have cleared up with treatment. Maybe a different vet would know of a better ointment or something??

 

[spyderk]

Do you have a regular reptile vet?

I would consider taking her to a different one, kinda like a second opinion type thing.

Yeah, I wouldn't be taking her to that vet as it's too far away, but I wondered if maybe they had a transcript on her care that they could send to me and I could bring with to the vet. I have a regular vet that sees some reptiles, though I have yet to bring any of mine in for anything. Does she specialize in them, probably not. I thought my first stop would be the my regular vet, and then ask for her recommendation if she feels the issue needs more specialized care.

Calls/messages have been made to my vet and the vet that treated her. I know getting her was risky, and I am hoping it doesn't end in heartbreak for my kids. They already feel such responsibility to smaller creatures, as in taking care of them properly and not just buying a creature and tossing it in a tank. I'd love for this to be a success story for all of us, especially Sweetie.

 

[spyderk]

I brought her in today. Her original vet also called me shortly before I left so I was able to get more history on the problem. My vet removed one crust (the smaller one from the left eye) fairly easily with a swab, but used saline to rinse and help take out the other crust from the right eye. She told me to rinse her eyes with saline to prevent crusting and also apply the antibiotic ointment twice a day and to also raise her humidity. I added a humid hide to her cage.

I forgot to take a picture of her before I put her back (and now she's in the humid hide so I don't want to disturb her) but here is a picture of the crusts. The vet thinks the right eye has atrophied (she couldn't even see it) and the left has corneal scarring but she can visualize the globe.

 

[EmmyGee]

Good thing that gunk has gone now! Im sure Sweetie has the best home she can get!