How can you tell if your leopard gecko has health problems?

Leopard geckos are one of the most popular pets in the world due to their docile nature. If you give them proper care and attention and provide them with a healthy diet, they shouldn't suffer any health problems. However, if they are denied proper care and a healthy diet, they may suffer health problems.

Many pet owners are concerned about how they can know when their Leopard geckos are suffering from health issues. However, you don't have to worry because we have provided you with a set of symptoms that you can use to locate health issues in Leopard geckos. It will also help them to treat their health issues.

Common Health Problems in Leopard Geckos and their Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

It is important to understand that several health problems can affect Leopard geckos' health. Check out the following health problems and their causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Metabolic Bone Disease

It is very common for leopard geckos to suffer from metabolic bone diseases, which means that their bones become weak.

Causes

The leopard gecko has been found to suffer from MBD as a lack of minerals, calcium, and vitamins in their diet. This is in addition to a lack of UVB light that is getting into their body from their habitat.

Symptoms

  • The slowness of movement and lethargy,
  • A feeling of pain in the joints,
  • Loss of weight gradually,
  • Tips are shaped like arches,
  • Rubbery limbs will appear.

Treatment

  • It is recommended that you add calcium and minerals to their diets.
  • Use UVB lighting to provide them with the appropriate lighting.
  • If your leopard geckos are in a critical state, you must consult your veterinarian immediately.
  • Also, you can give them vitamin D injections every two weeks.

Impaction

There is a health problem known as impaction in Leopard geckos. This occurs when something fed to them is not digested by the Leopard gecko's digestive system such as substrates. This causes pain to the gecko. Baby leopard geckos were the most likely to suffer from this condition.

Causes

  • It's when you feed them food that's bigger than their eyes,
  • When their tank setup is incorrect.
  • Whenever their food lacks calcium.

Symptoms

  • Lack of appetite,
  • Having constipation,
  • There is puffiness in the stomach.

Treatment

  • A leopard gecko that has impaction can be treated by giving them 4 to 5 drops of vegetable oil or Vaseline. After this, give them a warm bath.
  • You can massage your geckos' lower belly in the lower part of their belly to make them feel more comfortable.
  • Having attempted all of the above instructions repeatedly, if you were unable to succeed in getting your leopard gecko over it, then you should consult your veterinarian and have an X-ray taken of the leopard gecko.

Respiratory problems

If your Leopard gecko is having trouble breathing, that is indicating that they are suffering from a respiratory infection such as pneumonia which is causing difficulty breathing.

Causes

  • When the temperature in the leopard gecko's habitat is below 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is high, the leopard gecko becomes susceptible to respiratory infections.
  • When Leopard geckos are in contact with dusty substrates like dirty sand or dirty cobblestones.

Symptoms

  • Having a wheeze.
  • Having trouble breathing.
  • Weight reduction.
  • Nasal bubbles are appearing.
  • Open-mouth breathing.

Treatment

  • It is recommended that you should increase the temperature of the tank to a range of 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Their habitat's temperature and humidity levels should be kept at an appropriate level.
  • It is recommended that you clean your leopard gecko by using a warm solution of chamomile tea.
  • If you do the above things in 1 week but you do not see results then you need to take your Leopard gecko to the vet.

Burns

When a Leopard gecko's skin gets burned on a hot surface in its habitat, the Leopard gecko will suffer burns.

Causes

  • When the temperature of a leopard gecko gets too hot then the gecko may suffer from burns.
  • In the leopard gecko habitat, when there are heated substances, such as heated rocks, these will result in burns on the leopard gecko's body.
  • When there are so many heater pads or bulbs in leopard gecko habitats, it is very dangerous for the animals. 

Symptoms

  • When the Leopard Gecko's skin color changes to red.
  • When a leopard gecko spends more time in its hide area. 

Treatment

  • Make sure that the leopard geckos' habitat is maintained at the correct temperature.
  • To prevent Leopard geckos from becoming red, you should check their habitat temperature regularly.
  • Using more than one heating pad in the habitat of a leopard gecko is not recommended.
  • In case your leopard geckos are experiencing high burns, then you should visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Shedding problems

In leopard geckos, shedding is a natural process in which the old skin is removed and replaced by a newly nourished one. However, it is important to keep in mind that if the old skin gets stuck on the tail, feet, eyes, or ears of the leopard gecko. This can cause an issue for the leopard gecko. Generally, leopard geckos don't experience difficulty shedding, but sometimes this experience.

Causes

  • If leopard geckos are housed in a habitat with too low a temperature, they may experience problems with their shedding process.
  • When the leopard gecko endures a severe bout of dehydration or malnutrition during the shedding process, it will suffer shedding issues.
  • When under parasite attack and great stress, leopard geckos have difficulty shedding.

Symptoms

  • When the duration of their shedding is too long.
  • There is some skin stuck to their tail and eyes.
  • Hide too much.

Treatment

  • Keep the habitat of the leopard gecko at optimal temperature and humidity.
  • Keep a dish of water available at all times for your gecko.
  • The easiest way to remove a stuck shed on the body of a leopard gecko is to soak the affected area in warm water for a few minutes to soften the shed.

Check out Leopard Gecko Shedding for interesting and detailed information.

Parasites

A parasite is an organism that lives in the body of the Leopard Gecko. The parasites multiply inside the body of the gecko, and the number of parasites increases within the gecko's body as a result. This parasite can be a parasitic mite, protozoa, or any other type of organism. As a result, Leopard geckos become ill and lose their appetite as a result of the parasite.

Causes

  • If you feed a Leopard gecko poor-quality food, then the Leopard can suffer from parasites as a result.
  • A leopard gecko can suffer from parasites if its habitat is very dirty. As a result, leopard geckos may become sick.

Symptoms

  • Anorexia.
  • Having lost weight.
  • Eating less than usual,
  • There is a strong smell coming from their feces.
  • Vomiting.

Treatment

  • Ensure that the gecko and its habitats remain clean at all times.
  • When the leopard gecko suffers from parasites, it is recommended that you take your leopard gecko to the vet for a feces sample, which is then taken so that the vet can prescribe medicine for your leopard gecko.

Mouth Rot

Leopard geckos can suffer from mouth rot due to an infection in the mouth area. As a result, their mouths become red, which can cause problems when eating food because they can develop infected mouths.

Causes

  • It is caused when Leopard geckos get a small cut in their mouth area, resulting in redness in their mouth.
  • Occasionally, leopard geckos experience stress, leading to the loss of their immune system, which allows bacteria to grow rapidly in their mouths because this makes their immune system weak.
  • The problem occurs when two male Leopard geckos are placed in the same habitat. They begin to bully each other and start fighting, causing them to damage their mouths.
  • A Leopard gecko's mouth can become infected sometimes if its habitat is dirty, the humidity levels are incorrect, or it consumes unhygienic food.

Symptoms

  • Redness appears in their mouths.
  • A lack of appetite.
  • The mouth becomes inflamed.

Treatment

  • It is important to keep their habitat clean daily and to feed them food that is free of bacteria.
  • In order to avoid stressing them, you should not handle them frequently.
  • In order to avoid bullying, do not put two male Leopard geckos in the same tank.
  • When the mouth of your Leopard gecko becomes too red, you should take it to the vet.

Prolapse

There is a serious health problem known as prolapse that affects the male Leopard gecko. As a result, their tissues or organ hemipenes are stuck to the outer vent area under their tail due to prolapse.

Causes

  • As a result of excessive strain from impaction or trauma, your Leopard gecko will suffer from this condition if it gets too stressed.
  • If your Leopard gecko is sexed improperly, your geckos may be having these problems.
  • There is a risk of prolapse in male Leopard geckos when their habitat is low in humidity.

Symptoms

  • Pinky-like tissue is sometimes stuck on the vent of male Leopard geckos.
  • Feeding improperly.

Treatment

  • With a cotton bud, you can gently push the tissue.
  • A veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible.

Egg Binding

It is also known as dystocia and is a condition in which female Leopard geckos have problems laying eggs due to egg binding.

Causes

  • It is a condition that occurs when the Leopard Gecko does not get enough calcium in its diet, and therefore it can suffer from egg binding.
  • When Leopard geckos are fed a poor diet.
  • When Leopard geckos do not have moist hides.

Symptoms

  • When female Leopard geckos have difficulty laying eggs.

Treatment

  • In their diet, you should provide them with a small amount of calcium.
  • Give your Leopard gecko a moist hide and UVB light.
  • When your pet is experiencing too many problems, you must take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Tail loss

The tail drop behavior is a self-defense mechanism that leopard geckos use to protect themselves from predators.

Causes

  • The problem occurs when a Leopard gecko bullies its tank mates.
  • Whenever Leopard geckos are mishandled, they tend to suffer.

Symptoms

  • Gecko without a tail.
  • Stress.

Treatment

  • Geckos should not be handled excessively by the tail.
  • In order to avoid bullying, don't put two male Leopard geckos in the same tank.

There are also some other health issues related to leopard geckos such as abscesses, diarrhea, injuries, chronic malnutrition, stress, etc. So you keep an eye on it.