Reaction from enemas?

I already have a thread on my gecko here:
http://www.leopardgeckoforum.com/t381-anesthesia-risks

I made a new one since this is a different problem and wanted to grab extra attention for it!

My 8 year old gecko has impaction and has been being treated with enemas, soaks, tummy rubs, etc.
It's been a week with no relief so yesterday the vet took long tongs and literally crushed the waste herself and pulled it out from his behind. She didn't get all of it.. about half. He is scheduled to go back tomorrow for the rest.

Today I noticed him acting a bit funny. He puts his head in the air with his mouth open and his tongue sticking out. I think he may be dry heaving? It is the only way I know how to describe it.

I don't know if he has displayed this behavior all the time and I just noticed it now or if its a reaction from yesterday. I've been in the room cleaning today which is why I noticed.

Anyone know if this is a common reaction to impaction/enemas?

He hasn't puked yet but I am concerned if I should give him his 2nd enema for the day along with his soaking and powered food. I am afraid he is too thin to withstand not eating for a day.. but I also don't want to shove food down his throat when he may be wanting to puke =(

I called my vet and she has already left for the day along with their other exotic vet. They referred me to their other emergency branch which also has no exotic vet on tonight =(
I was then given a personal number to call for their exotic vet but I have not been called back.

Really worried :<

He is seemingly acting fine now.. just laying there with his down sleeping.

Im not sure if its related to the enema's or anything.

But it may be a good idea to look at other factors which may be causing it as well;

Some types of lizard, stand with their mouth open when its too hot and need to cool down. Personally i've never heard of it in leo's but it may be a possibility. So it might be an idea to check the temps.

Also, if there was any moist or dampness in the air, if he hasn't drunk recently he may be finding another source of water. So make sure he has a source of water and he can reach it fie and is using it.

Did you spray any chemicals in the room, any aerosols, air freshners? He may have been testing chemicals out in the air with his tongue. Leo's can do that, its their sort of 6th sense.

Hm that may be it.
I did spray some Glade in the room.
I am careful not to spray over their tanks tho.


I just did his enema, soak and feeding.
He was pretty much just taking it until the end.. got real mad an latched onto the cloth I used to wipe his face off.

He sure has a temper sometimes!

LOL, I would have a temper too if you had given me an enema...lol. I would just give it some time and see what happens. Like Jordan said he could have been testing the air.

Also gaping is a sign of upper respiratory distress. Any chance you got any water or food in his nostrils?

Nothing to add other than I hope he gets better soon.

see below

He died this afternoon.

I took him out for his soak and feeding. I wasn't going to do an enema when he is looking so pitiful and swollen and he was supposed to see the vet right about now.

He was refusing food completely. Even when I got him to bite the syringe he would shake his head away from it really fast. I did not get any food in his nose.

I gave him his soak afterwards and he was acting very lethargic in there. He wouldn't hold his held up. At one point he even dropped his head down into the water. This water is only 1/2 inch deep if that. I got him out quick and put him back in his cage.

He was looking very pained and I ran to get my husband. He came in and picked him up and died in his hands. =(

We are both very upset and not sure what went wrong to cause this. I hope I did not force him into this stress =(

Since the force removal of his waste 2 days ago his health seemed to deteriorate very qucikly. His tail was gaining substance but after that it all about shriveled to nothing.

I am not sure if it was his age or he was impacted too long... it seemed his body was unable to remove the waste from his body and her taking it out put him into shutdown mode?

I do not blame the vet. I know that the waste had to be removed one way or another, but I did not want to see him go this way in pain =(
I would have ended his suffering in the beginning if I had known.

We buried him a few hours ago.
Thanks for all the support and help.
I will be extra tentative to my other gecko. I feel if I had noticed sooner that maybe Rainee could have been saved.

Awwwww
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.
RIP little Rainee

I'm very sorry for your loss, this experience is only going to enable you to be more sensitive keeper of your other geckos; Hopefully something like this doesn't happen again to you but, should it, you'll know the signs and be able to rectify it sooner.

Leesah I am so sorry to hear this. You did everything you could for him and did what you though was best for him. I am glad that you had so much time with him. If and when you are ready there is a memorial section further down the page that you are welcome to used to remember him. Wish it could have turned out differently

shi**y! sorry for your loss...did you take hime to a reptile specialist vet?

Rick you really need to read the threads a little more completely hon. it was a herp vet she saw.
So sorry for your loss leesah... You did all you could.