my leopard gecko is fading

Question

Sleeping stella   QUESTION: Hi, I have a very sweet leopard gecko (Stella) who was "donated" to my science lab last fall. I think she is about 3-4 years old. She was an excellent eater, and loved meal and wax worms (no interest in crickets) until last March. Since that time she has eaten virtually nothing. After the first few weeks I brought her into the vet who gave her an appetite stimulant which did nothing. He suggested I wait a see a while longer before he did anything else. A couple months later, after eating only one or two mealworms only, the vet did an x-ray (no blockages) and put her on antibiotics. They also did nothing. Stella subsisted solely on eating her skin and shedding relatively frequently and the vet couldn't figure out the problem, as her terrarium set up was fine and appeared otherwise perfectly healthy. She was active, had a fat tail, and was still very strong until about two weeks ago when I somehow got her to eat 5 wax worms. Suddenly her body turned against her after not eating for so long and she started wasting away. I squeezed fresh grape juice into her mouth and fed her pineapple juice with a syringe to keep sugars in her, but she continued to get weaker and weaker and now her tail is so scrawny.

At a complete loss, with a vet who couldn't figure it out, I talked to local pet store owner who suggested I change her lighting to fluorescent UVB with no heat by day, and put the red heat lamp on her for less hours as maybe she was too hot. It was a new lamp, and I guess it was too close to her because the next morning she had blisters on her back and feet. Two days ago she started shedding, but her skin looks terrible- red and sore. I tried putting aloe on her, but it doesn't seem to help. I also tried raw honey as I know it has powerful healing powers. That seems to be helping a bit, but I'm not sure what else to do. She spends most of her time cuddling on my arm for warmth, laying in her water bowl or her damp moss nest. Do you have any ideas for what I need to do for her?  I feel so terrible! She is such a fighter but I can tell she's getting tired. She is the sweetest most loving little gecko; I would hate to lose her, but I know her situation is dire. Thank you for your help!

ANSWER: Hello Katie,

She still needs a bit more heating during the day to help her digest her food.  Are you using an undertank heater?  Is it just the top of her that is burned, right?  That is sad, I am sorry that happened.  
If she is not eating, you should get some chicken or turkey babyfood & try to feed it to her by a plastic syringe or dropper.  Do you think that she has an infection, or not?  You could get some bee pollen & colloidal silver both of which will help boost her immune system.  The colloidal silver is a natural antimicrobial agent which can help any internal problems.  
Which type of honey did you use, just regular?  You could go to the healthfood store & look for Manuka Honey which is even stronger in healing properties than regular honey.  
Another really good product that is excellent for burns is called Thermazene. Personally I would go with the thermazene since the ailment is burns. I am out currently, but here is a link to where you can get it from:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the

Are you getting calcium & vitamins into her?  

Let me know how she is doing.

Tracie


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

QUESTION: We're in Southern California so the room is pretty warm this time of year, but at this point I only have the night heat lamp which is set further away from her cage and is only on for 6 hours. I used to have low wattage day and night heat, but I was told that was too much for her. Of course when I switched it was the day her back got burnt. I'll add an under tank heater tonight and see if that helps.  

I can try feeding her the baby food. I wasn't sure if I could give her human food, or I would have tried it before. I'll try that tonight, if she'll take it.

I was using raw spun honey from Trader Joes on her back. If she makes it through the night I'll go search for some Manuka honey in the morning. I've covered her cage with soft dish towels so she doesn't stick to the substrate.

I haven't been able to get her any vitamins or nutrients because she won't eat anything. As of tonight she won't even take the juice, let alone open her eyes, but she's still relatively active. I wish I'd written you sooner, she's in pretty bad shape tonight. I'll keep you posted. Thank you so much for your help!

Katie

Answer
Hello Katie,

How is Stella doing today?  That is rough, when she has burns like that the healing process is so slow in reptiles.  You are doing everything you can do right now.  That is a good idea to use a towel for substrate so she doesn't stick to anything.
Ok, the lighting is probably fine.  I would imagine it would be a little painful for her to get too warm.  Just make sure she is warm enough to digest her food.  
She most likely is not feeling very well either.  Do try the babyfood & see how she does on that, she should like it ok.  
I hope that she makes it for you.

Tracie