Toes falling off?

My mom posted a picture of my leo on her facebook, and one of her friends commented that there was a disease that made their leo's toes fall off.

Is this a true thing or a myth? I'm a little scared, because my little guy is missing a couple of toes (but I think that's from when his cage mates attacked him at the pet store).

Can anyone explain this?

The missing toes are from difficulties shedding. If there is shed left on the toes for too long it cuts off the circulation and they will lose the toe or toes. It is not a disease at all and if you watch for left over shed and take it off as required there will be no more issues:)

So he's fine? And if there's left over shed, how do I help him remove it?

He is perfectly fine...If there is left over shed get a q-tip or cotton swab and get it sopping wet....rub it gently in a down off the toe motion until eventually the shed comes off with it.

Thanks!

That is so funny that someone said it was a disease. I wonder sometimes where these people get their information.

I had a feeling it was BS or misinformation, but you can never be too sure these days. Always good to double check.

I would rather tell u its BS now then 6months from now you are wishing uou had asked!!!

I saw the comment and I laughed at it, then reread it and thought "Oh no, he's missing toes!". I'm very glad I asked.

Now my mom actually believes me when I tell her he's missing a couple toes and why.

Always good to ask questions now.....jusssstttttt in case

I've posted several times in different spots already. I felt like a spammer, but I want to know everything I can to make sure he's okay. Also, who wouldn't want to know everything they could about these cuties??

True... read, read, read is what I suggest. And asking questions is really good too. I havent read all your posts, do you have just the one leo?

Just Misfit, yes. There's a reptile expo at the end of this month that my dad and I are going to, and I'm really hoping to get a crested or a gargoyle there.

cool, hope you find something you like!

Actually the toes can fall off from a fungal infection or from a virus as well. It can have a slight infection go gangreen-ous and the toe would fall off, also certain strains of strep can cause the tissue to die so saying it was because of disease isn't totally out of the realm of acceptable reasoning BUT those are also a 1 in 1000 chance. The highest liklihood would be a stuck shed causing a stricture and the dead toe tip falling away HOWEVER the process of the dieing toe from the shed stricture can lead to secondary illness such as sepsis or other infection but again a slim chance, but still a chance.



Sorry to sound like such a prophet of doom but it is a good reason to deal with stuck shed as soon as you can... with in 24 hours of noticing it imo. Give your leo a chance to get it off themselves first by providing a nice warm moist hide, then if they still have issues do as Jolene suggested with the qtip or put a couple inches of warm water in your bathroom sink and let him have a nice foot soak, then they usually rub right off with a qtip with in about 15 minutes.

agreed. Those are possibilities. I've rarley seen it. But it was the saying it was a disease that was crazy. That word just scares people. I feel like if that person actually was thinking of those possible infections. They would of said that. But thats just me.

If you're lucky, your leo will get all the shed skin off by themselves and you never have to worry about taking it off for them My leo never gets it stuck on her toes, but sometimes she leaves some near her cloaca (female parts).

here's a rescue i took ins front feet, the poor boy has 3claws between the 2feet and only has half toes for some of the toes and he had skin hanging off some toes but now he sheds fine

That's exactly how his feet look! My mom thought I was insane the first time I said he was missing a few toes!

He has yet to shed for me (he's only been with me since July 22), but I'll be sure to watch for that. He needs his toes!

What can I use to make the moist hide?

for that male in the pic i solved the problem by using wet kitchen roll in his moist hide but i did have to help him get those last 2 toes clear of skin (i picked at them dialy until they came off) but he's a full grown male which is much easyier to get hold of than a liitle youngster

To make a moist hide you can just use a plastic container with a lid.. cut a hole in it for the door and fill it with paper towels or sphagnum moss. Then spray inside the moist hide everyday with warm water.

My little guy won't even let me hold him yet! I tried yesterday and he bit me. Scared me half to death.

Should I keep that hide in all the time, or only for when he's shedding?

all the time some geckos just like to sit in it

Hm. I'll have to make one of those today.

Hey Sam: I saw on one of your posts (I don't remember where) that your gecko Ken had a scar. You said he was a rescue. How bad was his condition when you rescued him?

Poor Ken was dropped off with Sam because he needed surgery for a large lump on his side and the owner couldn't afford it. There is a thraed about it in the health section;), it is quite the story.