Leopard Gecko Question

[baby_geek]

I know this is the beardie ER but my cat attempted to get at my leo. He was slightly successful, he grabbed her tail and made a small puncture. I took her to the vet and she is on Baytril once a day for probable infection as well as applying polysporin cream on 2-3 times a day. My question is this... her tail started to detach (very minor-ly) on the dorsal side of it. Will she completely lose her tail from that point or will it heal up? Unless her tail is angled down you cannot even tell it started to come off. Any help would be appreciated. Again I realize this is the beardie ER but it gets alot more traffic than the gecko threads.

 

[Dragoon]

Yes, I'm sure it does get more viewers. :wink:

Yes, leopard geckos' tails do grow back, so it doesn't matter if it falls off or not, it'll grow back anyways.

 

[baby_geek]

Lots of views (I know when I come on this is the section I look at if I'm rushed)

I know their tails will fall off and grow back - although never as nice as the original - I was just hoping there is something I could do to prevent her tail from coming right off. I don't know if there is enough blood flow to keep the distal 1/2 of her tail alive and well or if it will come off from there. I know if her tail is bent down I can see the underlying fat so I'm hoping it is just the skin that ripped and that it will heal and she will keep her nice fat tail (she is a little overweight to begin with)

 

[baby_geek]

Does anyone know Tracy's website? I want to get some sterrapeptase as quickly as I can. Unless you guys know of a human store that sells it!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is a good question. If it started to come off, it will just depend on how much tissue was detached as to whether or not the circulation will be affected. Unless you really probe at it to see, it will be hard to tell. Maybe as you said, it is just the skin that tore a little bit & the tail itself was left intact.
Does she appear to be in any pain right now?

Tracie

 

[Bellalee]

I had a gecko who tore her tail in shipping and it healed up perfectly.. it depends on the depth and how much you mess with her. If it falls off he will regenerate it will never be the same but it will come back. If you want I can show the picture of it.. it wasn't very deep at all.

 

[baby_geek]

Tracy - she doesn't seem to be in any pain per say but I'm sure there is some even though their tails are 'meant' to come off - which is why I would like to give her some sterrapeptase. I do have Metacam at home (for the dog) but I do not know the doses and I know it is hard on dog kidneys, I can only image what could happen to reptiles kidneys...

She even has had a BM since it has happened. I have used playsand with her since she was an adult (I know it is bad and I have been looking into getting linoleum or shelf liner but haven't found nice looking stuff an haven't had a chance yet) so I have her in her travel cage with paper towel so nothing sticks to it and when I got home tonight there was a poop in the corner.

Bellalee - I would love to see a picture of how deep your leo's tail ripped. I can compare it to mine then. I am hoping I will get a chance tomorrow to take some pics of her tail (and of her - it's been a while) and be able to assess if there is any colour change or hydration change in the last 1/2 of her tail.

 

[Bellalee]

All healed!

 

[baby_geek]

Thanks Bellalee!

My Bella's tail is not that open so I think she will be ok! It looks so much better this morning and I think the dried tissue fluid is holding it together, it was literally just the skin that had detached a bit on one side. Now my biggest fear is infection as she still has a little puncture from where the cat got her. She is on Baytril and getting Polysporin a few times a day so I'm hoping she will be able to fight off the nasty bacteria!

I'm trying to find my gram scale as the vet said she is 72 grams but that seems a little heavy to me. I know she is overweight but I don't think she is that overweight... I'm worried that she is getting overdosed with the Baytril. I think I may go out an buy another one today as we moved a year ago and I haven't seen it since! :roll:

 

[Bellalee]

Well it might now be that girl pictured was about 80. I had a female also get up to a 100.

 

[baby_geek]

That's large female! My fiance has a postal scale (that he hadn't told me about :roll: ) and I just weighed her. Our scale is showing her to be 52 grams... that is a pretty big difference! I'm going to adjust her Baytril dose to reflect that as I wouldn't want to od her. As far as I know it is 5mg/kg for the Baytril so I will take her from 0.007cc down to 0.005cc. Here's hoping she doesn't get any nasty infections! I'm hoping her appetite is still good. I'm heading out today to get her some feeders.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Kari,

What is the concentration of the Baytril you have? That dose looks good, & 5mg/kg is the standard dose for routine infections but for persistent infections you can give up to 10mg/kg.
If you need help with the Metacam, let me know. As I had said, it would be ok for short term use.
How is she doing this evening?

Tracie

 

[baby_geek]

Hi Tracy,

Sorry I didn't get back to you it's been a busy weekend. She is on 5mg/kg Baytril (25mg/ml) so she is getting about 0.01ml - which is good as she hates the stuff! I may bump her up to 8-10mg/kg if her tail starts to look swollen or infected but it looks pretty good now!

I've decided against the Metacam as she seems to be in little to no pain. I would hate to be giving her more medications than necessary. I will wait until the Sterrapeptase comes in.

She seems to be doing well. She only ate one cricket yesterday which is a little low for her but she has always had issues striking at feeders like her eye sight isn't what it used to be. I figure she's getting reasonably old now (at least 9) so I forgiver her and usually hand feed her. :wink:

I'll post a couple of pics when I get home from work - not enough time right now.

Cheers,
K

 

[Drache613]

Hello Kari,

Ok, that dose is fine. I think all reptiles hate Baytril! I guess you can't blame them though.
How is she doing today? Has she eaten much?
I hope she is feeling better soon. So she is almost 9 that is pretty good. Whatever you have to do to get her to eat is what you have to do.
So her tail is looking pretty good then?


Tracie

 

[baby_geek]

Well I found a way to get her Baytril into her without too much fuss... she is eating a little less than normal - only 1 cricket a day - but I inject the cricket with her dose and feed her right away. She's always been good about chewing her bugs and I am just hoping she won't spit it out if she gets a taste!

Her tail is looking ok. It has me a little concerned because where the bite/drop happened there seems to be a pocket under the skin. It makes me worry there is an abscess a-brewing. I will keep an eye on it and increase her dose of Baytril if necessary but I'm hoping it is that I am over reacting. Her tail still looks really good tho' there is no open wound of any sort. I think the tissue fluid dried and is holding the skin together which is great for healing!

Here are some pics I took of her yesterday...
Sitting on my knee (she has been missing the ends of most of her toes since before I got her) :

Her large tail, the drop started 2 rings below the large white band. (She has always had the crooked tail at the end)

The 'funny' looking part is where she got bit - kind of shiny and blacky/grey in the middle there.

And her chunky armpit fat pads... (and she is only 52 grams!)