leopard gecko retaining shed and not eating

Question
QUESTION: I an 8 year old leopard gecko who has recently started having problems getting off everything when he sheds.  The old skin really stays stuck around/over his eyes.  He has now stopped eating - he doesn't seem to be able to see anymore.  He has never cared that much for crickets, but has always loved meal worms and wax worms.  He hasn't eaten them in a long time even when we try to force feed him. We can't get him to open his mouth. His tail is getting really skinny and he has lost weight all over. He has a humidity cave and we are trying the baths to help with the shedding.   Is there anything we can do to get him to eat again. He really doesn't look well.

ANSWER: Hello Graham,

An 8 year old leopard huh, well, that is not too bad.  
When was the last time he went to the bathroom?  If he is losing weight, he could have parasites or worms since he is losing weight.  
A trick to get his mouth open is to use a swab & just get his mouth open that way then shoot the food in with a plastic syringe.  You will have to get some help with that, with one of you holding him while the other one gets the swab & wedges his mouth open to shoot the food in.  You have to be fast!
How often did you supplement calcium & vitamins?  
What type of temperatures does he have?  Do you use an undertank heater with a low wattage basking light on the warm end with the moist humid cave on top of the undertank heater?  
You will need to soak him right now to help get the shed off.  Otherwise, it is going to cause a bacterial infection.  The mealies & waxies are fine, if he will not eat crickets.  You could also try getting some phoenix worms as well, he might like them.
The shedding problems can sometimes indicate a nutritional deficiency.  Can you get a fecal on him?  

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Thanks! The tank has always been set up the way you described. He has always had calcium. We have been able to get him to eat turkey baby food and he seems hungry.  Most of the shed is off him, except for one eye.  He seems like he is blind in both eyes (even the one without shed) and that is why he cannot find the worms, etc.  He seems to get very stressed out with the soaking and feedings since he doesn't seem to see anything.  We just don't want him to be suffering.  Any other thoughts?

ANSWER: Hello Graham,

Good that the tank is setup properly.  :-))  
If he is not eating, you could start feeding him with chicken or turkey babyfood by using a plastic dropper & dripping it on the end of his nose.  
That is good the shed has mostly come off.  Sometimes, genetics play a role in their overall health.  There are a lot of leopard geckos that come from inbred lines which do cause a lot of health problems so this could be the case with him.  He might have developed cataracs.  They can adjust though, but it is all in whether or not you feel he is adjusting well enough to keep him alive or if he appears to be suffering.
Have you tried moving your hand or fingers in front & to the side of him to see if his eyes follow or he responds?

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Thank you again - you have been very helpful.  We are able to get him to eat some, but not much, of the baby food. We do not think he is seeing at all, and no, he does not follow our fingers or anything else.  One eye seems almost all the way closed up now.  He gets agitated very easily and is now rubbing his head up against the glass and sometimes seems to be trying really hard to get out of the tank - also something he has never done before.  After we get him to eat a little, he gets starts to get stressed again.  Not really sure where to go from here, but he is certainly still losing weight and suffering...


Answer
Hello Graham,

The last thing you can do is to get a fecal done on him to see if he has worms or parasites which could making him ill like that.  He is older but should technically be able to live a lot longer unless of course, he inherited genetic health problems which is possible.
Where did you initially get him, from a breeder or a petstore?
If he is visibly stressed & getting annoyed more easily then he is definitely not feeling well.  
Have you ever taken him to a vet before?  You don't want him to suffer, that is for sure. I would try to find a vet to see if a fecal can be done, just to rule that out.  Then you can make a more informed decision if they do not find anything.
You don't think that he can see at all then, wow, that is terrible.  He could have some type of bacterial infection that had spread to his upper body & affected his eyes possibly.  Taking him to the vet could help with any decisions or maybe they might have a suggestion.   
I am sorry you are going through that, we had one a long time back that passed away at 5.  We had gotten him at a petstore & initially he was injured when we did get him because he had been lost in the petstore for 6 months!  He was sick practically half of the time we had him from something or another.  No matter what we did, meds, babyfood, etc, he just would not stay healthy.  It is sad when that happens, because even vets can't even help them.  I hope you are holding up ok.  
Let me know how things are going.

Tracie