exposure

[tsst]

My son had a leopard gecko given to him. Not sure of age but he is about 6" - 6 1/2" long nose to tail tip (his tail was damaged in past and is about the size of his head). My question is it typical or a major concern if a male is slightly exposed. When looking at his under side there is a slight bit of pink showing. It does not appear to protrude. Thanks for any info!

[mlededee]

is there any way you can post a photo? does it appear moist or dried out? if you think it is a prolapse you can give him a soak in some lukewarm sugar water (that helps the prolapsed part to go back inside).

[tsst]

I will try and get a pic tonight. It doesn't appear prolapsed, more like vent is gapped open a little. It doesn't appear overly wet or dry more just moist looking. BTW thanks for your reply.

[tsst]

Emily,

Sorry for delay here are some pics. Thanks for your help.

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/d...t=dsc00028.jpg
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/d...t=dsc00024.jpg
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/d...dsc00023_2.jpg
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/d...t=dsc00030.jpg

[mlededee]

it looks like a sperm plug. you should be able to pull it out if your leo will let you. it looks like a nice big one too so there's probably a lot more of it inside than what you can see. the first time i got one out of my male leo i thought i had pulled out an entire hemipenis.

[tsst]

Ok call me dumb but I have no idea how to do that. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[mlededee]

just hold him firmly in one hand and pinch the plug between your fingers (or you could use a pair of tweezers, just make sure only to grab the plug and not his skin) and gently pull it out. it may seem attached at first, but it will come. if your leo is skittish about it or you feel like he might drop his tail over it just let it be--it may eventually work its way out.

[tsst]

Been meaning to follow up on this thread.

A few days of trying to feed turkey baby food (back when I posted) and he still wasn't eating enough or relieving himself either. We took him to the vet and vet said he had a hemipenis infection when we got him. Two visits for antibiotic treatment were the first steps and force feeding turkey baby food and water with a plastic syringe. By the way thanks mlededee for the help here. He ended up having to have a double hemipenis amputation. The hemipenis was enlarged to the point it was blocking the cloaca. He is doing good so far and has started expelling waste now too. He has gained 5 grams back since last vet visit. He had to go through alot but the worst seems to be behind him. Thanks again!

[mlededee]

poor guy, i'm glad he's doing better now. i didn't realize he wasn't eating or defecating--i'm glad you got him to the vet and got that all straightened out. good luck in the rest of his recovery!

[tsst]

At the point I posted this thread we had just gotten him so we didn't know he wasn't eating right at that point. I read in one of the other threads you posted in about the turkey baby food, but when he was not defecating we knew he had to be seen by a herp vet. He still has a way to go but things are looking up. Thanks again mlededee!