my leos got a stomach bug

[Clucky]

I bought an albino gecko from regal reptiles in providence RI AND IT APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH ALTHOUGH it was not housed properly and was propably stressed being on mulck with about 6-7 other leos without any hides. anyway ,after a couple days it ate but not much and about a few weeks later it was not eating at all and had diarreah . Now a few of my high yellows have stopped eating and they too have diarreah so i think that it may be a bacterial infection. My vet wont just do a fecal ,thhey need me to bring in the gecko for an exam then do the fecal. so what im going to do is take the stool samples from all the sick geckos and mix them and tell the vet the stool is from the albino because if i tell him the stool msamples are from other geckos he will me to bring them in as well for a 40.00$ examination fee before he does the fecal. I hate pet shops that do not house animals properly were someone like me takes an animal home and it infects all the other animals.

 

[xlb57]

That's why they say you should always quarantine any new animals when you bring them home and introduce them to other animals. Good luck with yours.

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

I bought an albino gecko from regal reptiles in providence RI AND IT APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH ALTHOUGH it was not housed properly and was propably stressed being on mulck with about 6-7 other leos without any hides. anyway ,after a couple days it ate but not much and about a few weeks later it was not eating at all and had diarreah . Now a few of my high yellows have stopped eating and they too have diarreah so i think that it may be a bacterial infection.

Diarreah is usually a sign of internal parasites. The geckos will contract them quite easily when placed in groups, and they may not show signs of it until they get really bad.

Many caresheets will recommend a quarantine period of anywhere from 60-90 days. This means seperate dishes, seperate food, seperate encloses, and sometimes seperate rooms. There is a reason that caresheets suggest this (Especially for pet-store bought animals), and your problem is a prime example. If you need some info on this, see:
http://www.milwaukeereptiles.com/leopardGeckoCare.php
the page contains links to over 10 caresheets, multiple pages on other Care issues, and even two books (including 'Understanding Reptile Parasites').

My vet wont just do a fecal ,thhey need me to bring in the gecko for an exam then do the fecal.

Maybe your vet won't but another might. The two vets closest to me are the same way, but I found one about 20 minutes away that will do it, and all they need is the weight of the animal. The best part is that it's only $14 each. You should call around and see if another vet will do it without a visit.

so what im going to do is take the stool samples from all the sick geckos and mix them and tell the vet the stool is from the albino because if i tell him the stool msamples are from other geckos he will me to bring them in as well for a 40.00$ examination fee before he does the fecal.

Bad idea... each one will be infected at a different rate. If the vet prescribes some meds, they do it based on the amount of parasites they find. Since each gecko will likely have varying amounts, you may give the dosage the vet recommends, but be giving some not enough meds (bad, cause they'll never get rid of them), or too much meds (Bad, cause some meds can do serious damage when overdosed). Of course that doesn't take into account the varying weights of an animal, and since dosage is usually based on weight, unless they all weigh the exact same amount, dosages will be off again.

I hate pet shops that do not house animals properly were someone like me takes an animal home and it infects all the other animals.

Don't we all. Almost as much as I dislike people who buy animals without having the financial resources to back it up, or without knowing all they can about their care... but I won't go there right now.

 

[Clucky]

I think it the two others got this parasite because when i purchased the albino the first week it seemed fine but then the second week it went downhill and i probably threw its leftover food into the others cage (bad thing).

 

[Clucky]

also why do i have to charged for each gecko exam which is 45.00 just to see it. They appear to be very healthy but they have the sqirts .Ill bring one in so the vet can tell that they appear healthy and pay the 45.00 plus the 18 .00 fecal not countin meds. So im not about to bring evrey one in 4 x 45.00 =180.00 just to look at healthy leos because its their crap is what im concered about.

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

I think it the two others got this parasite because when i purchased the albino the first week it seemed fine but then the second week it went downhill and i probably threw its leftover food into the others cage (bad thing).

That would do it. If the crickets ate a little bit of the parasite-infected poo, it's very feasible that the new ones got it from eating the crickets.

also why do i have to charged for each gecko exam which is 45.00 just to see it.

As I said, call around long enough and you're bound to find someone who will do a fecal without doing an entire exam.

They appear to be very healthy but they have the sqirts .

The fact that they appeared healthy has nothing to do with actually being healthy. Leopard Geckos (like many wild animals), have to hide their weaknesses for fear of becoming prey, and this is something still seen in their instinct. Most geckos are pretty far along by the time they start showing symptoms.

Ill bring one in so the vet can tell that they appear healthy and pay the 45.00 plus the 18 .00 fecal not countin meds. So im not about to bring evrey one in 4 x 45.00 =180.00 just to look at healthy leos because its their crap is what im concered about.

I'm not so much against only taking in a few in at a time to see what's wrong, but I am against mixing their poop when doing a fecal. And again, look around. Surely there is more than one vet (even if you have to drive a little bit). If that won''t do, maybe you could take one in, get the exam and the fecal, and mention that you have a few that are displaying similar symptoms, and were hoping that they could do just a fecal. Bring photos and weights with you to show them. Surely they'd be more open to a paying customer. The point is you don't have to spend a fortune, but you DO have to get the leos the care they need, and that includes proper diagnosis/dosage.

I still stand by my statement about not buying animals you can't afford to take care of. I'm not saying that you should have to spend the full $180, but you should be prepared to spend whatever is necessary to help the little guys/girls. If you can't afford to keep them healthy, you should save the money you're spending buying/breeding leopard geckos. I'm not saying you can't, but you can stop ranting about the cost anytime. There are plenty of other people who would give them the care they need.

 

[Clucky]

what is not getting through to you is that the vets are out sqeeze that last buck out of your pocket plus the vet visit isnt till next friday and is the only one my area that deals with exotics. I love my geckos and I will everything possible to see them thrive. I just hope this vet will give me break so I dont have to bring in every leo for the same parasite .

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

I agree, call around, my vet is a part time science teacher and does my fecals for $10 if I take in only a few and when I do random testing every few months I take in 30 and she does them for $4 each by letting students do them and her checking them.

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

You obviously don't have a high view of vets... kinda sad really. How about Doctors? You think it costs them $2000 for an x-ray and a cast? I found vets to be pretty reasonable if you call, explain the situation, and try to work something out.

You can try calling local vet schools or universities... the point is that there are options, but you have to look for it. I don't want to hear complaining about the cost when you refuse to spend a little effort and look around. Now it really sounds like you're just looking to complain about the cost. Guess what, if it's too expensive send them to me and I'll make sure they get the care they need, regardless of the cost.

 

[Clucky]

no need to be all tensed up about the situation , it seems that its something other than my post that is pickin at ya little fella

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Mitch, I think whats "pickin" at Brian is your asking for advise, getting it and basically saying that if its going to cost you money, then screw it. There is not way to know whats up with your leos without a fecal, if you care about them, find a way to get it done. There are alternatives as I and Brian have suggested, just pick up the phone book and call around, try the local community college sciene teachers if you don't have a vet school near by. Where there is a will, there is a way!

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

Mitch, I think whats "pickin" at Brian is your asking for advise, getting it and basically saying that if its going to cost you money, then screw it. There is not way to know whats up with your leos without a fecal, if you care about them, find a way to get it done. There are alternatives as I and Brian have suggested, just pick up the phone book and call around, try the local community college sciene teachers if you don't have a vet school near by. Where there is a will, there is a way!

Exactly. I get frustrated when I see/hear people talk about the animals I love like they are just commodities. I really care for the animals and it upsets me when I see/hear them being mistreated because someone doesn't feel like caring for them, or spending the money. I've seen cases a lot worse, but it's that general attitude that really gets under my skin.

 

[Clucky]

hey bozo like i said before im gona have to get done snapperhead but i can also be a little pissed off as well since if the vet really cares about the animals than he shouldnt rape me on getting a physical examination of each and every leo just to do the fecal

 

[Valerie]

I never post here, but this post is getting a little crazy. There is NO need for the name calling..you asked for advice and you were given the right thing to do. If you're very sick, do you not spend the money to go to the doctor? How is it fair to the animals under your care suffer with a parasite that can be easily treated? If you're not willing to take care of them or make the effort to find a place that will do the fecals without an exam than you have absolutely no reason for this post to continue. What Brian said was 100% correct, and I just hope you follow his advice or I'm going to feel very sorry for the animals in your care.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Mitch, if you CALL AROUND you may find someone who will do the fecal without the exams, but if you talk to the prospective vet offices they way you do here, Im sure none of them will be willing to help you out. SO go on being a smart mouth and see how far that gets you when you are asking for a break on getting fecals instead of full exams.

Ive never had a problem getting the fecals only, but then again I have used the same vet since I was a teenager and always explain what I need.

I once had a dog I rescued need $500 in treatments that I could not afford and the vet let me pay $50 a month and treated the dog with no hesitance at all.

Good luck to you and your leos, I feel sorry for them and for you if you think talking to people the way you do will get you to where you need to be.

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

if the vet really cares about the animals than he shouldnt rape me on getting a physical examination of each and every leo just to do the fecal

Maybe they force an examination so they can ensure that they properly diagnose the problem... or maybe it's because people would only get fecals, the animal would die from something else that the vet couldn't find in just a fecal (since the animal was never brought in), and they got sued... I'm sure they have their reasons.

For the third (and final) time, you HAVE options. They may not be as convienent as the vet who's two blocks away, but you certainly have options. Have you called local universities, other vets, or local schools as we have suggested? I'm guessing not since it's only been 2.5 hours since you last post and you're still complaining about the vet. All the time you're sitting here complaining about it you could be looking for other options. Did you even read my caresheet? I have four lookup websites which list vets that work with reptiles, but again, you'd obviously rather not because it's more fun complaining about your vet. No one feels sorry for you. Everyone else here sucks it up and pay for it because we know it comes with the cost of caring for another life.

hey bozo like i said before im gona have to get done snapperhead

You asked for advice, you got it. You can stop the name calling, really it's not necessary, it doesn't get your point across any better, it doesn't help your credibility, and your intention of making me feel bad hasn't worked.

but i can also be a little pissed

You have no reason to be pissed. Sure the vet is expensive, but $40 for a half hour, a professional opinion, and a diagnosis ISN'T that expensive. I'm pretty sure you'd take your kid to the doctor if they were sick, and they're definitly making more than a vet. Ask your doctor how much they charge your insurance for a half hour exam...

I'm done with this thread. We're walking towards a cliff that is the HELL forum, and I'm turning around. I've said all I can to try to help. Hope everything with the animals turns out well.

 

[DeVackHerps]

hmmm what to think

im not bashing regal, they have many fine looking animals, but this would be the 3rd time ive heard of a leo getting the same thing as you said. my freind and i went to the white planes show in NY and he bought a patty. and it was fine the frist week and then 2 weeks later it had diareah, and had a green looking dot forming in its stomach. the dot progressed. and it stopped eating. and basicly wasted away. we tried para zap, and nothing. it choudnt of been compacted because it was on paper towels. so i really dont know whats going on.. well i hope every thing turns out. also we called and emailed regal several times with very little susscess with reaching them, but we saved the leo and froze it after it has passed. and one day we got in touch with them and they said bring it to the next show. so we did and we got a new patty. they didnt seem to happy about giving my freind a new one but they did. well good luck with yours.

 

[ShannanD25]

Clucky,
Try having a parent call the vet and explain the situation. Perhaps the vet, or tech you are talking to isn't taking you serious if you are as young as your posts lead me to believe. My vet tried the same thing, to charge me PER Leo when I had hookworm last year from a Leo I had gotten elsewhere and did not properly quarantine....I nicely explained that he was asking me to bring in $30 animals (he did not need to know the actualy values) to charge me $35 per animal....he was quick to realize the goofiness of that and only charged me for ONE vet visit even though I brought in more then one.
But when you talk to the professionals you need to be just that. Seeing as you were so quick to name call Brian, I wonder how you dealt with the vet? Again, let your mom or dad call.
And if you already have a few Leos, why did you not know about quarentining?

DeVack-
Did ya ever think to maybe, oh I don't know, take that patty to the vet when it started wasting away? Regal may be responsible for replacing the animal if it were sick, but replacing an animal that a buyer refuses to care for properly or give proper medical attention to is just condeming that animal to the same fate...no wonder they weren't too happy...

As always- if you are going to buy an animal, First know how to care for it, second, be sure you can afford proper food and emergency care. If you can't then you shouldn't own anything live.

 

[DeVackHerps]

the thing is when we where going to go to the vet the nearest apointment was like 4 days after we called in and for a 15 year old to come up with that money is kinda hard but he did. but anyway by the time the visit came the gecko had passed. yes we noticed it with diarreah, and we tried treating it for parisits, and it didnt work so we tried to raise money then bring it to the vet but by that time he had passed. yes he should have had maybe help from his mom maybe with financal reasons but she said she would rather it die then to take it to the vet. like when he went on vacation she let 4 of his leos starve and his baby beardeds died off. also. i dont blame him. i blame his mom. in the beginging of him getting into herps, she said she will help out with all she can and she didnt.

 

[ShannanD25]

Kyle,
Here is an important lesson all young adults need to learn, and us old folk have already....
as kids when you have pets....your parents may say they will help out but guess what, they don't want to.Parents have too many other things to worry about then junior's hamster or little Susie's snake...More then likely you know more about it then they do. If it is your pet, it is your responsibility. Now letting the poor things starve to death is uncalled for....that is bad for a parent to do....but if he knew his mom was like this with his pets, then maybe he shouldn't have any until he is older , has his own money, and his own place!!!
It is very commendable that you tried to raise the money to get it to the vet and that you found info enough to lead you to use the parazap. You've done more research then many Leo owners have.
It is just so important when you are young and living at home that you have the full cooperation of your family in the care of your animals....or accept that you must do it all the time and can never go away for vacation or anything.....
Kinda like alot of Leo breeders....can never go away on vacation....too many mouths to feed and so many neighbors that think you are weird and are scarred of the critters....