Leopard Gecko Sickness and Poor Health

Added: (Thu Sep 02 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Leopard geckos are pretty healthy animals in general, though there are a few common diseases which they can come down with. Thankfully, most of these diseases can be prevented as long as pet owners take proper care of their leopard gecko. This article will explain some of the most common diseases in leopard geckos and how to prevent or treat these problems.

Osteodystrophy: As the name implies, this is a bone disease which is characterized by a loss of density which makes the bones of the affected lizard brittle. Osteodystrophy can also stunt a gecko's growth or cause them to grow crooked if they are affected in their youth. This disease is caused by a calcium deficiency, generally due to an insufficient diet.

Symptoms of this disease include weakness, swollen or crooked limbs and tremors. This disease can be treated by increasing the amount of calcium in your gecko's diet.

Digestive tract blockages: Geckos will tend to swallow their bedding material while they eat, which can lead to stomach or bowel obstructions if you use sand or gravel as bedding. You can prevent this by making a sand and gravel free feeding area for your leopard gecko and using a shallow bowl to feed them.

Minor injuries and skin infections: These are generally due to cricket bites and scrapes with other geckos (if you keep more than one). Usually, these can be treated with a twice or thrice-daily application of diluted Betadine or Chlorhexidene. If the injury or infection is more severe, then you'll need to change the gecko's habitat and they may require oral antibiotics and even surgery to remove necrotic tissue.

Mouth and respiratory infections: These infections are usually minor and will tend to affect a gecko which is weakened by an improper diet or temperatures which are too cool for the animal's comfort. Generally, these infections can be treated by changing the gecko's environment and improving their diet.

Intestinal parasites: Symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea and constipation. If your gecko has intestinal parasites, you'll need to thoroughly clean and change their habitat and see your veterinarian for medication to purge the parasites.

Egg binding: This is a condition where a female gecko cannot or will not lay her eggs. The eggs may be reabsorbed by her body in some cases, but if this does not happen, they may need to be surgically removed. You can also encourage her to lay her eggs by moving her to a dark box which is kept warm and lined with damp sand; ideal conditions for her eggs to develop and hatch.
You can spot egg binding when a female appears to suddenly gain weight while her appetite decreases.

Obesity: This is a relatively common problem, since leopard geckos are hearty eaters. The cause is usually too much fat in their diet (often caused by too many wax worms or mealworms). The initial weight gain may be followed by a sudden weight loss along with a loss of appetite. This condition can kill your gecko, so it's best to prevent this disease; if you need to treat your gecko for this condition, a high protein diet and vitamin supplements may be able to get them back to health.