Sick Leo Gecko

Question
QUESTION: Hi, Our gecko (2 years old) stopped eating about 8 weeks ago. I wasn't too
concerned at first, b/c last winter she also stopped eating for about a month
and then just picked up where she left off and seemed fine. Previously, she
had a very fat tail, by far wider than her head, but in the last month it has
withered down to next to nothing. Her stools are runny and her urates are
misshapen (strange shapes instead of the usual). On her underbelly, there is
suddenly a dark organ of some sort that is visible that wasn't before... it is
dark blue almost black and approx. dead center. She has taken to laying in
her water bowl for extended periods, has a bright red end of her tongue
(usually pink). Fecal was negative(said the vet) and I have been giving her an
antibiotic called 'Fortaz'. She is getting weaker everyday and is so lethargic we
are afraid she will drown in her water bowl. Any ideas?

ANSWER: Hello Kimberly,
I do have a question, did the vet feel that your gecko had an infection?  If so, how did he base that on?
I do not feel that fortaz is very safe on such a small animal, it can cause organ failure.  It is a very harsh drug on the kidneys.  That is most likely why the urates are beginning to look odd.  Dehydration.  I would take the water dish out of the tank right now so he doesn't drown in it.  
Personally, I would take him off of it immediately.  
So nothing showed up on the fecal at all?  Did he check for parasites, worms, amoebas & flagellates?
What I would start doing is get some jumpstart from:  (appetite stimulant)
www.reptilesupply.com
Or if your local petstore has benebac or nutribac (probiotics) which can help replace the gut flora that the meds have destroyed.   
What you can do at the moment while you are waiting for the jumpstart to come in, is you can go get some chicken or turkey babyfood, pedialyte & mix calcium & vitamins in with the babyfood.  Get some needless syringes & begin getting 1-2 cc's of food into him daily.  Start with 1 cc during the day & 1 cc in the evening.
That should hopefully being to put some weight on him, plus, getting him off of the medication should help too.
The bright red end of the tongue could indicate sepsis possibly.  If an organ is starting to show through, it is probably getting stressed too much & has changed color.  So it is imperative that you get him off of that Fortaz.
What type of substrate do you have him on?  
What is your setup like?  
Did you possibly get hold of some bad feeders?  Where do you get your feeders & what do you feed?

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Hi, Also it now looks like she is getting an ulcerous spot on her side and she is
also opening and closing her mouth repeatedly. I am worried she is getting
worse quickly. K

Answer
Hello Kymberly,

It honestly sounds like liver trouble.  That happens when their liver is going.  I am sorry it sounds really bad, with that type of breathing, too.  It is most likely agonal breathing.
Are there any ER clinics you could take her into?  I fear the body may be trying to shut down on her.  I think the medication was too much for her.

Please let me know how things go with her.  I am sorry she is not doing well.

Tracie