February 2010 - Mouki Van Reil
Mouki had too much of a good thing!
On Thursday the 26th of February the vet was presented with Mouki, a 2 year old leopard gecko, with a rather sensitive problem!
His owner had reported that he had been over exerting himself a little too much and had unfortunately managed to prolapse his hemipene (one of geckos reproductive organ). The hemipene was extremely swollen so a strong sugar solution was applied to reduce the swelling. Mouki was then placed into an anaesthetic chamber where an inhalation anaesthetic was administered, and his hemipene was then placed back through the cloaca and held in position with sutures.
Unfortunately the hemipene again prolapsed the following day. The only option left was to again anaesthetise the gecko and surgically remove the hemipene. The hemipene was firstly tied off using an absorbable suture material to prevent haemorrhage, it was then carefully cut and removed. Lubricant was then applied to the cloaca to keep the area moist. Mouki was kept on a heat pad throughout the procedure to ensure he did not become hypothermic.
Mouki was placed into a small carrier, still on a heat pad, with a blanket and his recovery was monitored closely. Anaesthetics for exotics and small mammals hold a greater risk due to hypothermia due to large surface compared to body mass. They also run the risk of developing gut stasis and hypoglycaemia.
Mouki soon recovered and was back hiding in his favourite place, a woolly glove. Later that day he was allowed home to rest, with instructions to keep him separated from the females, to prevent him becoming over excited and causing further damage!
He returned three days later for a post operative check, the wound was healing well and Mouki seemed happy, even if he was still trying to hide in his glove. The Vet suggested returning him back to the females after a weeks rest and monitoring his behaviour.
Mouki has not had to return to the practice since this episode and appears to be recovering well, especially now he is allowed back to his ladies - this was a case of too much of a good thing!
