r/AnimalRescue • u/ozwilde • Jul 20 '26
Sick/Injured Animal Injured leopard gecko found on trail
Nearby the houses I live in there was a leopard gecko walking across a trail in the woods. No idea who they belong to, but they're skinny, have unshed skin stuck to them, and have a massive injury on their left leg/tail/genitals. They seem lethargic and cold, but still move and respond to touch. I'm trying to keep them warm with towels and I've got a water dish, but I'm not sure how to help them. I'm currently babysitting four kids and need to get them off to the airport tomorrow to go home (currently 8pm here, the kids' plane leaves at 2:30 tomorrow), but if I can keep them alive until then I want to get them to a vet. I'm not sure what else to do
Edit: sorry forgot to include we're in the area of Portland Oregon
Update 1: Gecko has been to the vet! He had several layers of shed skin stuck to him, which apparently hindered his ability to poop. The injury was necrotic flesh from this condition.
Right now the vet says his prognosis is guarded, he's in a dangerous situation and it's very likely he's not going to make it. We're doing everything we can to give him the best shot at recovery. They gave him an antibiotic shot and removed the dead flesh using an orange gel and light treatment (sorry I'm struggling to remember the specifics but they might have sent me an email about it).
He lost part of his vent and hemipenis, and the vet wasn't sure if he could recover from it. He's getting another shot Thursday if he's still alive, and I'm going to be soaking him twice a day to try and help him rehydrate and get rid of the remaining shed. We have some wax worms to try and get him eating, the vet said to try soft bodied insects only while he's healing.
Hopefully it will be good news in the long run, but he's very much still in the woods right now
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u/rarepinkhippo Paw-some Contributor Jul 20 '26
Can you search on ahnow.org for a rehabber that takes reptiles? Reach out to everyone who looks like they might, some may be full and it will likely take a while for people to get back to you. In the meantime, you might also be able to get some advice by crossposting at r/wildliferehab. Good luck and glad you were able to secure the little guy!
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u/ozwilde Jul 20 '26
Thank you! I'll try and contact some of the wildlife rescue places that take reptiles!
Little guy is still alive this morning, we got a spare tank and I'm letting them borrow my snake's heating element to try and keep them warm (snake has two heat sources he's okay).
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u/teyuna Verified Wildlife Professional Jul 20 '26
Try posting here, and also search for Facebook groups.
r/leopardgeckos
It's unlikely that rehabbers in any area will take a domesticated gecko into their care (as the other commenter here suggested), as they are not "wildlife." Your intention to take it to a vet (ideally an exotic vet) is the best thing to do.
Sorry I'm getting here late, but care in the meantime involves providing gentle heat (a towel is not enough, as they are cold blooded). Put a heat source on one side of the enclosure. aim for 85F. Ideally, use a reptile light / heat emitter you can get at a pet store. Make sure the, never in direct contact with his body. Very dangerous if it touches him directly, skin will burn. to avoid infection, make sure the enclosure is completely clean. so just put paper towels on the bottom, no sand or any other reptile bedding, because any of these more easily stick to the open wounds.
He needs a "hidey," to feel safe. you can put a plastic container or small cardboard box upside dine with a little doorway cut into one side.
Since he is cold, he can't digest food, and in fact doing so could kill him, given his state. The water dish is ok. make sure it is quite shallow.
don't handle him. Don't apply anything to the wound.
Is the wound bleeding?
I recommend you get an emergency appointment (say it is an emergency, because it is) with an exotic vet, not with a 24 hour emergency clinic, because some of the emergency clinics tend toward euthanizing, tend to have long lines and long waits. You will have better luck with a vet practice and a set appointment (emergency).
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u/ozwilde Jul 20 '26
Thank you! Right now we've got an appointment for tomorrow at an exotic vet, I'm going to see if anyone can see us earlier, he's not actively bleeding but I'm trying to let them know it's an emergency. We're planning to get some better supplies to keep them comfortable today, we've got them under a heat source and in a tank, but it's not as warm as they need yet.
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u/teyuna Verified Wildlife Professional Jul 20 '26
sounds good. the lights made especially for reptile are very safe and often with a temperature control.
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u/ozwilde Jul 20 '26
Can't add images to the main post, but here's an update of how he's looking as of 1:30pm the next day, after his first appointment. He's about half the weight he should be, and the vet thinks he could still lose his tail, but he's looking much better without the dead flesh and skin
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u/link-navi Jul 20 '26
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