*Lizards-General Forum
Click Here To Register and Become A Member Of The RepticZone Family
Back to *Lizards-General Forum Forums Home Members Area
DTH1138 Kaylawayla09 KrazyKelli Old rex DTH1138 KrazyKelli DTH1138 Danilynnova DTH1138 KrazyKelli |
| Member | Message | ||
|
DTH1138 View Profile |
Injured but OK???
Hello About a month ago, I bought this captive bred juvenile Tokay gecko. He seemed to be healthy and in great condition. However, last week, when he shed, I noticed a white fleck hanging from the corner of his mouth. As I stood there looking at him, as he gaped menacingly at me, I could see that this was part of his jaw. The injury looks healed up- there’s no swelling, blood, scabs, or other indications of this injury. He is still eating well. At night, he hunts his crickets, eats about 3 or 4 a night, and I feed him mealworms fairly often, too. There are no exotic vets that deal with reptiles in the area; I’d have to travel at least an hour and a half away to get him checked out. Since he is eating well and acting normal, how worried should I be? Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I have no clue how it happened. Of all my lizards, this is the first time I’ve seen anything like this. It doesn’t look like the other broken jaw injuries I’ve seen in the different reptile forums I’ve been searching. Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
||
| 05/13/12 06:26pm |
|
||
|
Kaylawayla09 View Profile |
Message To: DTH1138 In reference to Message Id: 2266289 Injured but OK???
|
||
| 05/13/12 10:08pm |
|
||
|
KrazyKelli View Profile |
Message To: Kaylawayla09 In reference to Message Id: 2266306 Injured but OK???
But it could be an infection or, at a far stretch, some form of mouth rot. He could also have bitten something out of rage (as tokays are biters) and damaged his jaw line so it sticks out like that, then the lip sunk in from infection. If you aren’t dusting the insects with a proper form of calcium (calcium with d3 once a week), his mouth could have misshappen from mbd. It could literally be anything. What it looks to me is either a cricket got him, or you at one time were trying to handle him and he bit you, then you ripped your hand out of his mouth - causing jaw damage and making him lose a tooth in the process - then the damage didn’t show until his last shed, when you noticed the oddity. I don’t even know what a vet would do in this sort of situation, but if you really don’t have a vet in Pennsylvania that’s near, Link Link Link you can also optionally go to your local pet store and ask them if there’s a herp vet in the area, or go to a local zoo - as they always tend to have a herp vet on line. Link |
||
| 05/14/12 12:56pm |
|
||
|
Old rex View Profile |
Message To: KrazyKelli In reference to Message Id: 2266358 Injured but OK???
|
||
| 05/14/12 11:22pm |
|
||
|
DTH1138 View Profile |
Message To: KrazyKelli In reference to Message Id: 2266358 Injured but OK???
Thank you for the reply- and the links to other vets. There was one a little closer that I hadn’t heard of before. I did call the pet store up the day after I made to original post- they told me of another vet that they use, as well. I have a vet checkup next week for another pet, I’m bringing some photos on my iPad to see if the vet has any suggestions. She does exotics, but I think mostly the furry kind. Hopefully one of these places will be able to help. He gets regular calcium and only a few crickets a night... For as grouchy as he is about anything invading his space, he does eat mealworms from tongs fairly well. When his mouth is gaping, that piece sort of slides back in place under his lip. I’ll be making him an appointment soon. I was holding off because I didn’t want to stress him out any more now that just got acclimated to his new home- plus, as I said, besides looking bad, he shows no signs of pain or suffering. Thanks again for your reply. |
||
| 05/15/12 01:07pm |
|
||
|
KrazyKelli View Profile |
Message To: DTH1138 In reference to Message Id: 2266486 Injured but OK???
|
||
| 05/17/12 12:52am |
|
||
|
DTH1138 View Profile |
Message To: KrazyKelli In reference to Message Id: 2266659 Injured but OK???
That piece sticking out is indeed the edge of his jaw. I’m told this could have been an older injury considering it is so well healed at this point. He could have had this when I bought him, but the broken piece was still tucked up under the lip. From rubbing, shedding, or biting something else, it may have become dislodged to where I saw it. It’s wiggly and not attached to the rest of the bone. I can either wait for it to naturally fall out over time, or have it cut off. He is fine with it like it is, so I won’t put him through any other procedures. On a positive note, from all the handling he’s been receiving, he is very calm and lets me pet him in the cage. He still puffs up and barks if I try to lift him up, but he stays on my hand- relaxed with his mouth closed- and doesn’t try to run. |
||
| 05/25/12 08:24am |
|
||
|
Danilynnova View Profile |
Message To: DTH1138 In reference to Message Id: 2266289 Injured but OK???
|
||
| 06/26/12 03:24pm |
|
||
|
DTH1138 View Profile |
Message To: DTH1138 In reference to Message Id: 2266486 Injured but OK???
Hello all, I wanted to show you the newest picture of my Tokay in the link above. After his last shed or two, that piece of jaw either fell out or set itself back under the lip. He has been doing well... grouchy as ever. I took this photo of him during the day, and his color is not as blue as he gets at night like in the original post. Thanks for all your suggestions. |
||
| 07/02/12 12:23pm |
|
||
|
KrazyKelli View Profile |
Message To: DTH1138 In reference to Message Id: 2271959 Injured but OK???
It looks like his lip receded a little before and has now - likely gradually - dropped back into place. If he was missing an entire piece of his jaw, I’m sure you would have seen it laying around the tank and his face would look much different. |
||
| 07/02/12 12:55pm |
|
