Pregnant Leopard gecko - Egg bound??

Question

Belly.   QUESTION: Hi Tracie,

I spoke to you about 3weeks ago about my leopard gecko being pregnant, seen here - http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=704&expID=91060&qID=4873231

My gecko is still pregnant and hasn't ate for about her last 3feeds, but has been to the toilet fine. I'm starting to get worried she might be egg bound or something, but I don't know what the signs of this are. Is there any way I can check or try and encourage her to lay the egg ??

Someone suggested bathing her several times a day, so I bathed her 3times yesterday, and once this morning before I took the pictures attached.

I've attached a picture I took of her belly today, there is a picture on our last conversation of her belly so you can see the difference.

Here are another 2 I took of her belly at the same time, though they look slightly different:
1. http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6489/img0011ut.jpg
2. http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9966/img0012pt.jpg

Thanks very much again Tracie.

ANSWER: Hello Allanah,

Do you know about what time she mated with the male?  It normally takes 4-6 weeks to lay.  
Bathing is a good idea, & can help.  She could be egg bound, & if she is the only thing that can be done is to give a labor inducing hormone, Oxytocin, to help her out.  However, this should only be given in the later stages of post ovulatory stasis after she has dropped her eggs & is ready to lay.  Otherwise, it would induce labor too early & could kill her.
The signs of egg binding are stress, straining to lay but cannot, lethargic behavior & listless behavior.  
What color are her urates?
Let me know how she is doing.
Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie

I'm afraid I don't know when she mated with him.
She does seem a little stressed and panicked sometimes, but she's not lethargic or listless at all. I've not seen her trying to lay an egg either, so I'm guessing she's not straining to lay it.
Her urates are the same colour as always.

She's been in and out of the lay box all day today and has shed again today. She started eating 2days ago as well but only wax worms.

Does it sound like it's not egg binding then or not?

Thanks
Alannah

ANSWER: Hello Alannah,

That is ok, I realize it is hard to know exactly when they mated if you did not see it happen at that time.  
Good that she has not become lethargic or anything like that yet.  I am happy that you haven't noticed her straining either.  If her urates start to turn a little off color, like a pinkish, that is sometimes an indication of increasing hormonal levels which may mean she could be close to laying.  
Make sure she is getting a little extra calcium also.
She shed again?  
It doesn't sound like it is egg binding.  Just keep a close eye on her & hopefully she will leave an egg or two in her little laybox for you!

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again Tracie,

Still no egg, however she is still eating and going to the toilet fine, still not seen her straining to lay or acting lethargic. It will be 6weeks on Friday since I noticed she was pregnant. Is it normal for some leos to go over 6weeks ?
She has a bowl of calcium at all times and I try and give her some when possible.
Here is a new picture of her belly, http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/4756/img0267jy.jpg

Do you think she might be holding the egg because she is still housed with the male? I've not read anywhere this is a problem though?

Thanks,
Alannah

Answer
Hello Allanah,

Wow she still hasn't laid any eggs huh?  It usually is not a problem when they are housed with a male, to lay an egg no.  
That is very odd, she should be laying her egg really soon.  It definitely looks like she is gravid though, but the egg doesn't look like it has dropped very far down yet.  Is she eating much of her calcium though?

Tracie