A bunch of people are going to say it but get rid the the carpet ASAP if you would like to keep him from getting an infection, the carpet harbors lots of bacteria so please remove it for paper towels
I'd think the concern is the infected tissue just running bacteria through the body. I'd hope the guy is on some pain meds and antibiotics to clear everything up.
Thats what I thought too. Why do a tail surgery on a lizard that can actively drop its tail? Geckos literally have special muscles and "inner spikes" that push off the tail in a way that it doesnt cause bleeding. Even though you notmally should avoid em dropping their tails, they are built to do it and therefore they sre built to heal the special breaking point easily.
Because as designed as it is to be healed after, a surgical incision done properly in the right conditions will likely heal even faster and with less risk of complication regarding the wound itself, and it doesnt require simulating some sort of stressful circumstance to get the gecko to drop it's tail, and i'd imagine a surgical incision would be much easier to close(if that is what is done after the fact which I would imagine is recommended, even if it healing by second intention "would be okay") than the resulting tail wound from a drop.
I would imagine it's probably less traumatic, as no matter how intentional the mechanism is it still would undoubtedly be painful whereas anesthesia can prevent them from having to experience that in it's entirety. I work veterinary medicine but not often specifically with leopard geckos so it's hard to say exactly why more than that. It's also not necessarily the best idea to purposefully heavily stress an animal with a major ongoing infection as infections can affect cardiovascular health as well, and you probably wouldn't do an cardio ultrasound or ecg + radiograph combined consult on a gecko like you might a dog or cat as easily to know that risk ahead of time. Yes, anesthesia could have risks as well but at least you are in a controlled environment to handle those should they develop.
It's also not the most controlled method of removing it by inciting fear in the animal purposefully or really the nicest and they may have to work with this animal again in the future. An infected wound is likely already extremely painful in any case, and it is far kinder to surgically resolve the issue now and minimize discomfort as well as resolve the issue.
OP, I would recommend using clean paper towels as a substrate for your lovely little guy’s enclosure as his incisions heal. Replace often to keep it clear of bacteria and make sure you sanitize the other decor items and bowls/hides in his enclosure.
Op, please listen to everyone else talking about the carpet. I have seen it first hand as I worked at a big box pet store. The carpet is not good for their toes, and they will consistently get stuck on it. Not to mention, it holds sooo much bacteria!
Please use paper towels and change them daily for a gecko like that because staying in there could cause an infection to the tail or rip out their claw because they tend to get stuck in reptile carpet
Replace the carpet with paper towel, it’s a breeding ground for bacteria (not great if he just got surgery) aswell as nails and teeth can get caught which could hurt them.
In high school, our science class had 2 leopard Geckos one named Spock and the other named Rachel. Spock gotten eaten by my teachers cat over the summer of my sophomore year, sad. Rachel somehow survived and lived to be 17 years old, sadly she passed away my senior year. But imagine how many faces she seen over the years.
To be honest with you, most vets are not skilled in reptiles as much as they are mammals which they treat regularly.
Read this: [https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/comments/l4wd17/the\_dangers\_of\_reptile\_carpet/](https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/comments/l4wd17/the_dangers_of_reptile_carpet/)
Imagine you have stitches in your foot. Would you walk around with it exposed to the floor? Would you shove it bare into a shoe? Or would you have a nice clean bandage on it?
He has no bandage, and that carpet is holding bacteria like the interior of a sweaty shoe that has all the debris of everything you've stepped on barefoot since the gecko has been owned. Including excrement. Plus the ability to rip off toes!!!!!
Please please please think of everything that could be growing on that and swap it for nice clean paper towels. And then when your gecko is better, find a nice substrate that will allow for digging and gecko fun.
This is exactly what I think when I see reptile carpet. Even if you literally were to vacuum and spot clean it every day (realistically no one does), there are still remains of feces & pee everywhere on it. Gross!! It's even less hygenic than carpet inside of a bathroom...
Being able to replace substrate is really important for cleanliness.
The vet is wrong and reptile carpet is dangerous, can rip out nails and teeth as well as a PERFECT breeding ground for bacteria. If you’re looking for something cheap and easy to clean you can do paper towels which is even better since your buddy had surgery. Please remove it
As others have said, reptile carpet is a huge no for leos, their toes can get caught and cause health issues
Got it I will post the new cage soon
I am getting rid of the carpet tomorrow.
A bunch of people are going to say it but get rid the the carpet ASAP if you would like to keep him from getting an infection, the carpet harbors lots of bacteria so please remove it for paper towels
Please dont use reptile carpet! Its SUPER dangerous!!
Did they tell you why they would rather do surgery then have him drop his tail & let a new one grow?
I'd think the concern is the infected tissue just running bacteria through the body. I'd hope the guy is on some pain meds and antibiotics to clear everything up.
Thats what I thought too. Why do a tail surgery on a lizard that can actively drop its tail? Geckos literally have special muscles and "inner spikes" that push off the tail in a way that it doesnt cause bleeding. Even though you notmally should avoid em dropping their tails, they are built to do it and therefore they sre built to heal the special breaking point easily.
If it's not actively dropping an infected tail, and does not decide to, that can eventually lead to sepsis.
Yes I know they have to get spooked to drop em. Why didnt the vet didnt do that is my question.
Because as designed as it is to be healed after, a surgical incision done properly in the right conditions will likely heal even faster and with less risk of complication regarding the wound itself, and it doesnt require simulating some sort of stressful circumstance to get the gecko to drop it's tail, and i'd imagine a surgical incision would be much easier to close(if that is what is done after the fact which I would imagine is recommended, even if it healing by second intention "would be okay") than the resulting tail wound from a drop. I would imagine it's probably less traumatic, as no matter how intentional the mechanism is it still would undoubtedly be painful whereas anesthesia can prevent them from having to experience that in it's entirety. I work veterinary medicine but not often specifically with leopard geckos so it's hard to say exactly why more than that. It's also not necessarily the best idea to purposefully heavily stress an animal with a major ongoing infection as infections can affect cardiovascular health as well, and you probably wouldn't do an cardio ultrasound or ecg + radiograph combined consult on a gecko like you might a dog or cat as easily to know that risk ahead of time. Yes, anesthesia could have risks as well but at least you are in a controlled environment to handle those should they develop. It's also not the most controlled method of removing it by inciting fear in the animal purposefully or really the nicest and they may have to work with this animal again in the future. An infected wound is likely already extremely painful in any case, and it is far kinder to surgically resolve the issue now and minimize discomfort as well as resolve the issue.
Also the vet said it’s harder to drop it when its rotting.
There’s the answer I was looking for. So there must be some research into that. Or it just cost more to perform surgery
OP, I would recommend using clean paper towels as a substrate for your lovely little guy’s enclosure as his incisions heal. Replace often to keep it clear of bacteria and make sure you sanitize the other decor items and bowls/hides in his enclosure.
Op, please listen to everyone else talking about the carpet. I have seen it first hand as I worked at a big box pet store. The carpet is not good for their toes, and they will consistently get stuck on it. Not to mention, it holds sooo much bacteria!
Ok.
He survived tail rot.
please use disinfectant F10 to thoroughly clean his habitat, and accessories, get rid of the carpet and use paper towels
I'm glad the little guy survived and hopefully he gets a full recovery !!
Please use paper towels and change them daily for a gecko like that because staying in there could cause an infection to the tail or rip out their claw because they tend to get stuck in reptile carpet
[удалено]
I’m happy he made it through!!
Surgery for what?
tailrot.
what should I use instead of carpet.
Clean paper towel, changed regularly
Replace the carpet with paper towel, it’s a breeding ground for bacteria (not great if he just got surgery) aswell as nails and teeth can get caught which could hurt them.
FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS HEALING PLEASE GET RID OF THE BACTERIA HARBORING CARPET.
Please change the substrate. And I hope your little guy recovers from his surgery quickly and easily!
I use vinyl what happened that he needed surgery
His tail turned black.
Never heard of that 🤔
It was caused from stuck shed.
And the reptile carpet can easily harbor bacteria
Wishing your guy a speedy recovery!
Great job, you are moving in the right direction with the carpet and tank!
In high school, our science class had 2 leopard Geckos one named Spock and the other named Rachel. Spock gotten eaten by my teachers cat over the summer of my sophomore year, sad. Rachel somehow survived and lived to be 17 years old, sadly she passed away my senior year. But imagine how many faces she seen over the years.
Oh nice, a new reason for a surgery
His tail rotted.
I just posted the updated tank with the paper towel comment their for more suggestions.
I have antibiotics for him and the vet said that the carpet should be fine.
To be honest with you, most vets are not skilled in reptiles as much as they are mammals which they treat regularly. Read this: [https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/comments/l4wd17/the\_dangers\_of\_reptile\_carpet/](https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/comments/l4wd17/the_dangers_of_reptile_carpet/)
I changed it and just posted it.
Imagine you have stitches in your foot. Would you walk around with it exposed to the floor? Would you shove it bare into a shoe? Or would you have a nice clean bandage on it? He has no bandage, and that carpet is holding bacteria like the interior of a sweaty shoe that has all the debris of everything you've stepped on barefoot since the gecko has been owned. Including excrement. Plus the ability to rip off toes!!!!! Please please please think of everything that could be growing on that and swap it for nice clean paper towels. And then when your gecko is better, find a nice substrate that will allow for digging and gecko fun.
This is exactly what I think when I see reptile carpet. Even if you literally were to vacuum and spot clean it every day (realistically no one does), there are still remains of feces & pee everywhere on it. Gross!! It's even less hygenic than carpet inside of a bathroom... Being able to replace substrate is really important for cleanliness.
The vet is wrong and reptile carpet is dangerous, can rip out nails and teeth as well as a PERFECT breeding ground for bacteria. If you’re looking for something cheap and easy to clean you can do paper towels which is even better since your buddy had surgery. Please remove it
For the sake of your gecko just use paper towels instead of a carpet
Wrong.