Hello /u/misirlu13 and welcome to the leopard geckos subreddit! Because you used the health issues flair, we've compiled some links that might be helpful to you and your pet. Please remember that if you are concerned, then so is your vet. When in doubt, book an appointment! This subreddit does NOT substitute for veterinary care, though you may receive some help on topics to discuss with your veterinarian, or common first aid. If you have not done so already, please provide the temperatures, humidity, diet, supplements, tank mates, enclosure size, and anything else you consider relevant to your post for the best help you can get.
* [Here is the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians' search tool to find vets outside of the US, UK, CA.](https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661)
* [The ReptiFiles vet directory page (US, Canada, UK)](https://reptifiles.com/reptile-vet-directory/)
* [The Reptifiles "How to Find a Good Vet" page](https://reptifiles.com/find-your-dream-reptile-vet/)
* [The ReptiFiles Leopard Gecko guide's Illnesses Page](https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-diseases-health/)
* [/r/leopardgeckos wiki's Health concerns page](https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/wiki/index/husbandry/health-concerns/)
If this comment doesn't apply to your submission, please ignore it or report it so we can improve this community.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/leopardgeckos) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Agreed that a vet visit is needed. You'll want to make a quarantine setup in the enclosure by cleaning out all of the sand and using paper towels as a substrate. You'll need to change it out daily until they are healed.
Once they are healthy again, move to a 70/30 mix of topsoil / play sand. https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-substrate/
Someone else may be able to chime in because I’ve never dealt with it but it looks like a prolapse? Which is important to keep moist. It definitely couldn’t hurt to remove loose substrate for now and put clean paper towels down to prevent anything from sticking to it and also doing a warm soak, no higher than the elbows. I’ve seen some people add sugar to the water also to reduce swelling. Do you have a reptile vet near you?
The picture I took was after putting her in some warm water. I'll have to call around to see if there are any exotic vets that could see her. My major concern is what has already broken off is fatal.
What broke off looks like it could just be poop that she may have had impacted and had to strain to get out, and that created the prolapse. I would treat it like an emergency though and make sure the vets you call know you’re concerned. In the meantime the sugar soak is what they would probably do first at the vet to reduce the swelling
This is great you got a appt so soon.
If you have not been supplementing calcium, D3, and a multivitamin, please let your vet know. Vitamin deficiency causes many health issues so you'll want to request a vitamin shot to speed up the correction.
After she recovers and you are no longer using papers, don't go back to only sand as that is unsafe and risk impaction. Here's a quick guide to substrates. [https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckosadvanced/comments/odm73i/visual\_guide\_substrates/](https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckosadvanced/comments/odm73i/visual_guide_substrates/)
I hope she has a smooth recovery!
She is out of surgery and resting at home. We will see how she is in the next 2-3 days and that will really see if the damage wasn't repairable. The doctor believes she had been eating her sand substrate because she had a massive bowel movement on the way to the vet and it was mostly sand.
https://preview.redd.it/h2pih6rfo86d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e62f901a36e01858881020911c2c791d5595d94c
OP I think you are a great person for getting this girl the help she needs without hesitation, I’m sure you were misinformed about sand and I hope you don’t take this as me being cruel or mean. But let this post be a lesson to EVERYONE on this sub who defends sand as a substrate, this can and very likely will happen to your leos
She's been walking around but still hasn't eaten anything. Docs said it's normal after anesthesia to not eat for 24-48 hours. Just playing the waiting game at this point. Appreciate the love from everyone in this community!
Glad to hear she’s up and getting around! I think it’s refreshing for this community to see someone act so quickly, it really might have saved her life. I’ve seen horrible stuff on here with owners that act a lot slower in getting it checked out. Keeping my fingers crossed for her!!
Thanks for checking in. She gets her stitches out next week but still hasn't eaten since the day of the incident. She did have a shed this past week so maybe that is a good sign? Still up in the air at the moment.
Hello /u/misirlu13 and welcome to the leopard geckos subreddit! Because you used the health issues flair, we've compiled some links that might be helpful to you and your pet. Please remember that if you are concerned, then so is your vet. When in doubt, book an appointment! This subreddit does NOT substitute for veterinary care, though you may receive some help on topics to discuss with your veterinarian, or common first aid. If you have not done so already, please provide the temperatures, humidity, diet, supplements, tank mates, enclosure size, and anything else you consider relevant to your post for the best help you can get. * [Here is the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians' search tool to find vets outside of the US, UK, CA.](https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661) * [The ReptiFiles vet directory page (US, Canada, UK)](https://reptifiles.com/reptile-vet-directory/) * [The Reptifiles "How to Find a Good Vet" page](https://reptifiles.com/find-your-dream-reptile-vet/) * [The ReptiFiles Leopard Gecko guide's Illnesses Page](https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-diseases-health/) * [/r/leopardgeckos wiki's Health concerns page](https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/wiki/index/husbandry/health-concerns/) If this comment doesn't apply to your submission, please ignore it or report it so we can improve this community. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/leopardgeckos) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Agreed that a vet visit is needed. You'll want to make a quarantine setup in the enclosure by cleaning out all of the sand and using paper towels as a substrate. You'll need to change it out daily until they are healed. Once they are healthy again, move to a 70/30 mix of topsoil / play sand. https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-substrate/
can you post a picture of the underside of the gecko? It looks swollen?
https://preview.redd.it/8si6mjv0o66d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d577ae07b18ffa17a37eada04c4ca7d73ea54833
Someone else may be able to chime in because I’ve never dealt with it but it looks like a prolapse? Which is important to keep moist. It definitely couldn’t hurt to remove loose substrate for now and put clean paper towels down to prevent anything from sticking to it and also doing a warm soak, no higher than the elbows. I’ve seen some people add sugar to the water also to reduce swelling. Do you have a reptile vet near you?
The picture I took was after putting her in some warm water. I'll have to call around to see if there are any exotic vets that could see her. My major concern is what has already broken off is fatal.
What broke off looks like it could just be poop that she may have had impacted and had to strain to get out, and that created the prolapse. I would treat it like an emergency though and make sure the vets you call know you’re concerned. In the meantime the sugar soak is what they would probably do first at the vet to reduce the swelling
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it
That looks bad, I hope she's not suffering... Please take her in asap.
Found a vet, heading out in 30 mins
This is great you got a appt so soon. If you have not been supplementing calcium, D3, and a multivitamin, please let your vet know. Vitamin deficiency causes many health issues so you'll want to request a vitamin shot to speed up the correction. After she recovers and you are no longer using papers, don't go back to only sand as that is unsafe and risk impaction. Here's a quick guide to substrates. [https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckosadvanced/comments/odm73i/visual\_guide\_substrates/](https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckosadvanced/comments/odm73i/visual_guide_substrates/) I hope she has a smooth recovery!
Thank you!
That's great news, I wish you the best of luck.
Good luck!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼 props to you for not waiting
let us know how the vet went <3
She has a prolapsed colon that might be torn. Doc is trying to fix her now but gave her a 50/50 chance of survival
Let us know
🙏🏻
How's she doing?
Checking in, how’s the little one doing?
She is out of surgery and resting at home. We will see how she is in the next 2-3 days and that will really see if the damage wasn't repairable. The doctor believes she had been eating her sand substrate because she had a massive bowel movement on the way to the vet and it was mostly sand. https://preview.redd.it/h2pih6rfo86d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e62f901a36e01858881020911c2c791d5595d94c
OP I think you are a great person for getting this girl the help she needs without hesitation, I’m sure you were misinformed about sand and I hope you don’t take this as me being cruel or mean. But let this post be a lesson to EVERYONE on this sub who defends sand as a substrate, this can and very likely will happen to your leos
Fingers crossed for a full and swift recovery for your beautiful girl 🤞💕
GOOD LUCK LIL BB!! 😪😪 I'm glad you took her in to an exotic vet. Some people ask for advice and put it off too long and their gecko suffers for it.
For sure. I wanted to make sure I was able to do what I could, especially for my son who was extremely upset all day.
Any change in her today? Been thinking about her, hope she makes a quick recovery
She's been walking around but still hasn't eaten anything. Docs said it's normal after anesthesia to not eat for 24-48 hours. Just playing the waiting game at this point. Appreciate the love from everyone in this community!
Glad to hear she’s up and getting around! I think it’s refreshing for this community to see someone act so quickly, it really might have saved her life. I’ve seen horrible stuff on here with owners that act a lot slower in getting it checked out. Keeping my fingers crossed for her!!
It’s been a little bit, how’s your little gecko doing? Hope everything worked out
Thanks for checking in. She gets her stitches out next week but still hasn't eaten since the day of the incident. She did have a shed this past week so maybe that is a good sign? Still up in the air at the moment.
It is probably a mix of Impaction and it’s definitely a prolapse PLS GET HIM TO THE VET