Hey, I have a little leo, she's about 8 months old, got her when she was fine. Everything was fine until about a month ago i notice she wasn't opening her eyes as much as she use to, then she stopped opening them at all and stopped eating. I was bathing them with warm water every night but no luck. I got her to the vet and he said it was possibly an infection from old skin cells.
She was on some antibiotics and that's finished now. He eyes are open and pretty but she's extremely thin and her tail has lost a lot of bulk.

I'm just wondering if there are any hints, tips, methods or potions to try and feed her so she can survive. It's looking really touch and go and i'm feeling awful about it. So far i've tried her with some bio yogurt with mealies and some crickets mushed in with some calcium added. She was okay with that but she vomited a couple of times so i think the yogurt was a bit too much for her. I've bought some veggie baby food and mixed that with some calcium and she had some of that tonight, she seemed to think it was okay.

I just need some direction on how to make sure she'll bulk up okay. Like how many times to try and feed her, daily or more times a day with less?
And also other things that will boost her up. Any remedies?

Also, i've noticed her skin seems, kinda loose. That sounds horrible i know. Obviously it would be because she's lost weight, but i mean it's like a layer ready to shed, only it's not ready yet, and looks kind of oily, a bit of skin came off her head but the skin beneath looks off colour so i think it wasn't ready. That worries me cos she was on Baytril and i've seen on here some people don't agree with that.

I know people will ask, she's not on any loose substrate, just kitchen roll, she has a brand spanking new UVB bulb, it's a strip one, she's in a wooden / glass fronted viv, she has her hide and wet hide and all that, temperature is nearer 90 in the day, dropping to about 75 in night.

I'm sorry for the long message but i'm ever so worried.
Any information or replies would be greatly appreciated.
Hope you all had a merry christmas.

[SleepyDee]

hi ~
will try and help in sections ok....

i notice she wasn't opening her eyes as much as she use to, then she stopped opening them at all and stopped eating. I was bathing them with warm water every night but no luck. I got her to the vet and he said it was possibly an infection from old skin cells.
She was on some antibiotics and that's finished now. He eyes are open and pretty but she's extremely thin and her tail has lost a lot of bulk.

Also, i've noticed her skin seems, kinda loose. That sounds horrible i know. Obviously it would be because she's lost weight, but i mean it's like a layer ready to shed, only it's not ready yet, and looks kind of oily, a bit of skin came off her head but the skin beneath looks off colour so i think it wasn't ready. That worries me cos she was on Baytril and i've seen on here some people don't agree with that.

both of the symptoms you describe can also be attributed to the uv that you are using ~ it can not only affect their eye's causing them to become irritated but can also seriously affect their skin ~ think extreem sunburn.
Being nocturnal leo's don't need uv and I know that the use of it can be a contentious issue with some people advocating using a very low strength uv but using it at the wrong strength or mis-using it can cause serious health problems especially with a lot of the modern morphs with less pigmentation. I would seriously reconsider using uv in her viv and indeed would remove it .

With regards to her eating ~ as you've found yoghurt really is too rich (as well as being imo unsuitable) for her and I would class using baby-food in this as well.
Ask the vet (or look online) for CCF (critical care formula) or Carnivore care ~ both of which contain the vitamins, proteins etc and Avipro which can help stimulate the appetite as well as giving the gut flora a boost
Mix the recommended amount of either CCF or CC with mashed mealies, hoppers, crix etc and gently smear this round her mouth ~ do not try and force feed as this can cause a lot of stress ~ and let her lick it off. The avipro can either be made up in the water dish and/or dripped round the mouth for her to lick.
I would also get her to the vet and have her skin checked and if possible a cream to help it heal........... and as said I'd get rid of the uv

good luck

Thank you for the reply.

The uv is actually a new addition after the vet told me to add it, it didn't cause the eye problem so it's not that. There's plenty of places to hide. But i think it's daft to think just because they are nocturnal that no uv would be good for them. Some sun would still penetrate the rocks they hide in, and i think they emerge in dusk where some uv is still about. The vet strongly recommended it, no offence i'm just not sure which advice to take. She has plenty of places to hide away and it isn't a strong gauge.

I will deffinately look into the formula though, thank you. Just with it being the chritmas season and so many bank holidays it has been impossible to take her to a vet yet, which is annoying when she needs it.

Thank you again though.

[Jools]

I use a very low level uv in some of my Leo vivs if any have been unwell- but SleepyD is quite right (always is) that anything over a 5% is going to cause major problems. Are her hides completely dark - some ppls hides are so "open" that imo they dont qualify as hides. Use the CCF and Avipro and crushed livefood - both good. Lay off any babyfood or yoghurt - both bad imo. I would definately increase the temperature at night using a heatmat under the substrate (what substrate are you using btw?) The temp should be 90F, measured on the floor at the warm side of the viv. Once she is eating again properly then make sure all her food is well gut loaded and dusted (calcium 5 times per week, Nutrobal 2 times per week).

[SleepyDee]

Originally Posted by Casual Villain

The uv is actually a new addition after the vet told me to add it, it didn't cause the eye problem so it's not that. There's plenty of places to hide. But i think it's daft to think just because they are nocturnal that no uv would be good for them. Some sun would still penetrate the rocks they hide in, and i think they emerge in dusk where some uv is still about. The vet strongly recommended it, no offence i'm just not sure which advice to take. She has plenty of places to hide away and it isn't a strong gauge.

ah well your choice hun ~ as I said I know it's a contentious issue with deferring opinions and even qualified herp vets disagree on it's use ~ but the problems she's having skin wise are definately more reminiscent of uv burns and really should be looked at.

examples of untreated and later diagnosed uv burns

[deanser]

Hi casual villain, really sad to hear about your ghecko.
I have about half a 'tub' of critical care formula I could send you if your happy to share your address. I only offer as its quite expensive stuff ( 12.49, and I dont need it). My ghecko was extremely poorly for ages. I adopted her with serious eye problems and she became blind. I hand fed her for ages and then a reptile shop suggested CCF. She wasnt able to eat so I dripped it on to her lower 'lip' and let her lick it off. I think it kept her hydrated for considerably longer than would have been possible otherwise.
Anyway if you want it and think it would help I would happily send you it tomorrow. It comes with mixing insructions/ measuring spoon etc . Hope your leo gets better soon, sounds like the people on this site have some very good information to share.

I'm so chuffed of the replies, i'm extremely grateful.

Firstly, those burns look awful, those poor things. I'm not sure if it is that, but the oily texture under the skin is worrying sign that it might be, i've turned the uv off now incase, but i hope she'll be okay. I have some eye and skin ointment that i was using on her eyes, hopefully that'll soothe her a little.

As for sending that formula, i seriously cannot thank you enough, are you sure that's okay? I'll PM you my address, if you can do that on here, hopefully. That is amazing though!

Honestly guys i cannot thank you all enough for this, i'll keep you posted on progress, which i hope she will make. With any luck a vet visit is around the corner with them opening again.

Take care all!

[SleepyDee]

best of luck hun and let us know how she gets on

[steviesdad]

Hi Casual Villain, I'm no expert, but I wanted to draw your attention to a point Jools made earlier, because I didn't see a reference to one in your posts - do you have a heatmat installed? Because as I understand it, Leos need underbelly heat to enable them to digest their food and absorb heat. While it may not be the original cause of her problems, it may be hindering her recovery if you don't have one.

Oh, sorry, yeah there is a heat mat. I'm fairly confident that the set up a problem. It all came from a purely reptile focused shop and i know the guy helping was very experienced, he made sure everything was there and went through why it was and everything.

Although the uv light has scared me a little if it is burns, it's off at the moment to see if her head looks any better in a few days.

She was nice and active last night! I've been attempting to feed her bug mush every night to make sure there's at least something in her tummy. And after her bath to get her clean, since the majority of it went on her chin, she was off exploring into my mums new cardigan to find a nice warm hide. I think she was upset when i had to take her out. Haha.