Can Leopard Geckos get respiratory infections?

Yes, Leopard geckos can get respiratory infections. These infections are caused by bacterial infections in their lungs as a result of living in an incorrectly maintained and overly dirty environment.

A common infection in reptiles is pneumonia, specifically in Leopard geckos which infect their lungs with bacteria that cause respiratory failure

If not treated immediately, respiratory infections can become a severe problem for your leopard gecko, and even lead to his death if left untreated.

Causes to get respiratory infections in Leopard Gecko

As a leopard gecko owner, you need to know the major causes of respiratory infections to protect your Leopard gecko from them in the future.

The following are some causes of respiratory infections in leopard geckos.

  • Whenever the temperature in the habitat of your leopard gecko is less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it will suffer from respiratory infections.
  • If the leopard gecko habitat is located in an area with high humidity levels.
  • When the leopard gecko's habitat and substrate are too dirty, they would be highly susceptible to respiratory infections.
  • Leopard geckos can get respiratory infections if their immune system is too weak.
  • When the leopard gecko eats a poor diet and there is an improper tank setup in their habitat, they will get an infection in their respiratory system.
  • When your leopard gecko suffers from sickness, like a cold or parasites, there is a greater chance of them getting a respiratory infection.

Signs of respiratory infections in Leopard Geckos

As a Leopard gecko owner, it is very important to know how to detect respiratory infection signs in Leopard geckos. This is in order to be able to treat them in the early stages. If you do not recognize respiratory infection signs in Leopard geckos in the early stages, it can be fatal to them in the last stages.

Here are some common signs of respiratory infection in leopard geckos that you should be aware of.

  • Excessive wheezing,
  • Feeling sluggish,
  • Having clogged nostrils,
  • Having weight loss,
  • Saliva bubbles will form,
  • Breathing too quickly,
  • Nasal discharge,
  • A cracking sound when breathing,
  • The body becomes swallowed,
  • Having breathing difficulties,
  • Illness,
  • Having a decrease in appetite etc.

Ways to prevent Leopard Gecko from getting respiratory infections

As a pet owner, you are probably very concerned about how to protect your beloved pet from respiratory infections to avoid problems in the future. Below are some tips that you should follow in order to keep your leopard geckos safe from respiratory infections in the future.

  • The leopard gecko habitat temperature should be checked on a daily basis and should be kept at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side and 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit on the warm side.
  • In order to prevent respiratory infections in leopard geckos, you should maintain cleanliness in their habitat by cleaning the tank daily.
  • To keep them from getting cold, maintain optimum humidity levels between 25 and 35 percent in their habitat.
  • Make sure to always use substrates that can't be inhaled by leopard geckos to prevent them from contracting respiratory infections caused by poor-quality substrates.
  • To prevent your geckos from becoming ill as a result of an incorrect temperature, you should use a temperature regulation digital thermometer. This digital thermometer can be purchased from stores near you or online websites such as Amazon. Buy a Vivarium Thermometer from Amazon.

What should I do if my Leopard Gecko has a respiratory infection?

During the early stages of a leopard gecko's respiratory infection, you should be able to raise the temperature of the environment in which they live by 10 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, you should also provide your gecko with a heat lamp as well as maintain cleanliness in their habitat and monitor them.

Your leopard gecko should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible if the above treatment is not successful in 1 week. This means that your leopard gecko is suffering from severe respiratory infections. In this case, your leopard gecko should be taken to a veterinarian. As a result of their condition, your veterinarian may conduct a physical examination to diagnose a respiratory infection in your leopard geckos such as blood tests, X-rays, and bacteria samples taken from your pet's respiratory tract.

Your gecko's veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics that you will need to give to your gecko. In addition, they may also recommend that you soak your gecko in a tub of warm water to unclog its nostrils.