Hi, all. I figured I would make an account to ask my question. I just started working at a pet store in my area, and we found a baby leopard gecko living under one of the aquatic tanks at the store. I've had leopard geckos for a few years now, so I knew how to take care of the little one so I offered to take her home. When I got her home, I noticed that she was having shedding problems with her front leg and it was swollen. I think she wasn't getting enough moisture to shed. This morning I sat down with her for a while and I helped her out of that mess. Her front leg is now working well and not swollen, so I thought the hard part was over. Apparently not. Looking at one of her hind legs, I noticed that she was bow-legged. She is still using the leg, but when she does, she drags her foot along and it bends at the ankle in an unnatural way. She is so small that there is probably no way for it to be splinted, and I just started a new job, so I don't have the money to take her to a vet, and it seems doubtful there is anything they would be able to do to fix it.. Just wondering if any of you have had a similar experience with this sort of thing, and if there is anything I can do at this time. Thanks.

Poor thing. Is she dragging the one or both? You could possibly try tapeing it just to give it some support. I am not sure there is much you can do from this point if she is that small. What is you set up like? How big is she?

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

Could she have Metabolic Bone Disease from calcium deficiency?

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Amy

Amy, good call. ChuiDuma, Read up on Metabolic Bone Disease here is a decent article (RepVet - Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) In Reptiles & Amphibians) , be careful though, you CAN over dose your gecko with too much calcium supplement. What I would do is get a really good uvb light, not so strong as to harm your gecko and make sure to provide lots of areas your little one can get away from it if needed. Get a good calcium and vitamin supplement, and feed gut loaded prey items, I do believe you can get a gut load with extra calcium. Also, talk to your local vet, sometimes they will treat the animal and in return, you surrender them to the vet.

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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~ Immanual Kant

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

except Leopard Geckos don't need UVB. A low level one could be theraputic for a short period of time, but they don't need UVB rays to survive. They get their calcium through food.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Your right Liz, but I think Ipanda was talking about getting a low level one to help speed the recovery and healing process. As long as they aren't being "burned" with it, it shouldn't hurt the animal. But in a normal healthy one you are right they don't need it.

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Does it look like this:


This is the result of a calcium deficiency. His legs were healed this way before I rescued him, but they haven't impeded his locomotion much. I mean really he can't climb, but he still has a good quality of life.

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~Lacey~

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Um Lacey the link is messed up!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Fixed temporarily until Lace puts a new link.

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

D'oh. I shouldn't link when I'm dog tired. All better now.

__________________

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

~Lacey~

My Photos