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Q:
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My leopard geckos tail got smashed!
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In Relation To:
Joker [LG1]
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So i was hanging out with my leopard gecko, Joker, at my computer and then he went under my keyboard but i didnt want him to go under it so i picked up my keyboard and it slipped out of my hand and then it landed on Joker! So then he ran off the table and landed on the floor and then he ran under a drawer type thing and then he eventually came out and then he let me pick him up and i checked him out and he seemed ok except the tip of his tail (where the keyboard landed) is twitching back and fourth and i was just wondering if he's ok or should i take him to get him checked up or like i dont know. Please tell me what you think, i thought he might be fine because his tail isn't nessasarilly connected to his spine, but still. Give your input on what i should do. please and thank you
p.s. His tail is STILL attached but just the tip is twitching around
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Accepted Answer
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4/7/2012 10:52:21 PM
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Doomtrooper
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When they drop their tails they wiggle for like 20 minutes .. maybee it was just a nervous reaction to the impact .. I would think he would be fine but keep an eye on the tail to make sure the tip dosent die and get necrotic ..
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Assisted Answer
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4/8/2012 12:47:19 AM
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Ihkura
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While I was moving my leo from one house to another in the car, somehow he got his tail pinched and half of it rattled and rattled on.. It eventually fell off, because the tail had separated internally. If your leopard gecko's tail tip is rattling around, I suspect that the tail was broken where you're seeing the wiggling going on, and it will stiffen up and fall off in a day or so. Leopard geckos are tough little guys, his tail will heal once it drops and it will regrow to a little fatty nub. Like Doomtrooper said, he should be fine, but keep an eye on him.
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Assisted Answer
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4/8/2012 1:49:52 AM
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bwaffa
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+1 to both of the above comments
Leopard geckos, like many lizards, have fracture planes between the caudal vertebrae in their tails (still part of the spine, by the way, albeit a less significant portion). That twitching response is an involuntary defense mechanism that's activated when the tail breaks along one of those planes; you can imagine that if that tail piece came off in the paws of some predator, that jerking wiggling tail could preoccupy it just long enough for the gecko to escape with its life. Another part of that mechanism tells the vessels just cranial to the fracture to clamp shut, keeping the lizard in the above situation from bleeding to death. Unfortunately, if the tail is still attached (as in your case), that means all tissue caudal to the fracture no longer gets oxygen and nutrients from the blood, so that tissue dies. Like Ihkura said, I would expect the tail tip to necrose over the next few days and fall off on its own. However, if the damage seems to be ascending cranially PAST where you think the damage occured, I wouldn't wait to get your little guy to the vet! Of course, on the other hand, maybe he was just twitching his tail cause he was annoyed that you dropped a keyboard on him?! Maybe he'll keep it? Stranger things have happened. Keep us all posted on his progress!
...and hopefully you learned something important about the dangers of handling. Some of the saddest and most devestating exotics injuries we see come through the vet school are caused by the most loving owners. Owners so loving they just can't resist carrying their lizard places on their shoulder (and other common scenarios) only to have some freak accident result in a painful and often terminal injury to their beloved pet. BE CAREFUL!
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Author Comment
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4/8/2012 5:23:40 PM
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scarletdream
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thanks you guys. his tail is just getting pal so i think it will result in the part that got smashed will most likly fall off over the next couple days. it's just sticking stright up right now. My hugest hope is for that tip of the tail to just regenerate and become normal... i'm gonna miss that tail though! ;c
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Author Comment
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4/8/2012 5:28:08 PM
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scarletdream
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i touched his tail and he didn't move at all when i touched the part that was sticking straight up and the very very tip of it (where it goes to a point) and i was able to move it but he couldn't
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Author Comment
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4/8/2012 11:35:20 PM
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scarletdream
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Now he's actually moving it! i think his tail migh just regenerate back!
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Member Comment
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4/13/2012 4:55:43 AM
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Ihkura
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Hey! How's the tail looking now?
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Author Comment
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4/13/2012 12:17:38 PM
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scarletdream
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it's looking ALLOT better, thanks :). He's doing great except he's just a little skiddish now, but i understand why lol.
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Member Comment
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5/24/2013 12:51:29 PM
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Member Comment
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6/7/2013 10:33:12 AM
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Cenobite
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This question has had no activity for 14 days and will be closed by an administrator unless the original poster takes action. Recommended Action: Points awarded An administrator will select responses and assign points at their discretion. Original poster, please close this question out and assign points. If you have any further information in the resolution of your problem, please post it here so that others may learn from it.
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