Leopard Geckos Common Health Problems

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The most common Leopard Geckos Common Health Problems are:

Metabolic Bone Disease

MBD by its initials is a very common disease in leopard geckos and reptiles in general, which are not provided with mineral supplements and vitamins in their diet. Generally, this happens in novice hobbyists and inexperienced breeders.
Some of the symptoms of this disease are:

  • Arched tips.
  • Lethargy and slow movement (pain in the joints).
  • Progressive weight loss. (Spongy jaw bone, can not chew insects).

If you suspect that your gecko has MBD, you should:

  1. Take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
  2. Separate the leopard gecko from the other reptiles in a separate enclosure.
  3. Vitamin D injections once a week for 2 weeks.
  4. Administration of liquid calcium.

Leopard Gecko Impaction

Impaction on leopard geckos is nothing other than intestinal obstruction caused by the ingestion of substrates.
It is very common to find terrariums with incorrect substrates (sand, cork, small gravel, etc) that can be ingested by leopard geckos, especially babies.

There are several reasons why the leopard gecko could ingest substrate, among them are:

Calcium deficiency (Leopard geckos instinctively try to make up for the lack of calcium.The sand, although it contains calcium, can not be digested by reptiles so it ends up causing impactation)

Curiosity and involuntary ingestion by the baby leopard geckos (Baby leopard geckos in the process of learning and familiarizing with the environment, can ingest sand or another loose substrate.

Involuntary ingestion with food, if it is placed directly on the sand.

Symptoms of Impaction on Leopard Gecko

  • Swollen stomach (in case of females, do not confuse with the gravidity).
  • Constipation.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Lethargy

If you suspect that your leopard gecko suffers from impaction you should:

  1. Take him to the vet to get an x-ray.
  2. Begin to give your leopard gecko 3-4 drops of vegetable oil or Vaseline.
  3. a warm bath (the ideal temperature for the leopard gecko bath is around 82-88 degrees Fahrenheit).
  4. Gently massage the lower part of the belly.
  5. Repeat until the situation improves.

Respiratory Infections in Leopard Geckos.

One of the main causes of respiratory infection in leopard geckos is low temperatures and high humidity. Although the leopard geckos are resistant, if you have a bad terrarium setup, they can develop a respiratory infection (temperatures below 75 degrees F).
Another factor that can cause respiratory infection is the use of substrates of small granulometry (dusty), which can be aspirated (stone dust, fine sand, etc).

Respiratory Infection Symptoms.

  • Wheezing.
  • Difficult breathing.
  • Bubbles in the nose.
  • Intense breathing with an open mouth.
  • Gaping.
  • Nasal discharge (severe cases)

To help treat your leopard gecko’s respiratory infection, increase the temperature in the terrarium to 85-88 F. Also, you can wash the leopard gecko’s nose with a warm chamomile tea solution. If symptoms don’t disappear within 5 days, take your leopard gecko to the vet.

Dysecdysis (retained Shed) in Leopard Gecko

Dysecdysis is the abnormal detachment of the dead outer skin of a reptile. This disease usually appears in inadequately terrariums setup (absence of furniture for rubbing, no moist hide, and cool temperatures). Although sometimes it can be a sign of certain infectious diseases and low levels of vitamin A in the diet.

Juveniles shed frequently, up to every 10 days during rapid growth phases, and adults typically shed every six to eight weeks. The shed skin should be removed in large pieces over a short period of time (one to two hours) and most will be eaten by the gecko.

Dysecdysis Symptom

  • Dry shed attached to the skin.
  • Dull colors and less shiny skin than the surrounding skin.
  • The tip of the tail or the necrosis of the fingers due to the blocking of the blood supply can cause the loss of this limb.
  • Leopard geckos often squint if they have trouble getting rid of the inside of each eyelid.
Alexander Duerto
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My name is Alexander and I run an exotic pet store. As you can imagine, heating is essential in my work, so I am very knowledgeable and very expert in the field. If you want me to give you a hand in choosing the best heating products, trust me on this. On the other hand, I will also help you to condition your terrarium with very interesting tips and comparisons.