MBD (I think)

[Arconna]

I've had this gecko since last year. It's been a pain trying to get any weight on him. I have another from the same person (I believe the same father) who is about the same age and he's twice as big around. He's a finicky eater and he's been losing weight. I've tried switching him to different things, but he's not very big.
Well, I noticed today that his arms looked abnormal--somewhat curved. He can still walk and all of them move, and his jaws don't look gummy. He's also eating, he just won't eat a lot at any one time. He'll eat about ten mealies and then he'll just stop and wander around.
In any case, I think this is MBD, and I think I caught it fast enough. The bowed arms--they are slightly curved and only somewhat noticeable--just look like MBD to me.
What can I do other than providing more calcium powder in his cage? Are there things I can buy at pet stores or from LLL or some place that would be good? Any recommendations here would be great.

Also, I moved to Santa Cruz recently, so if anyone knows a vet in this are they would recommend that I could take this little guy to that would be great. I'm a bit worried about him. He's been my problem gecko, but he's never stopped eating and his tail has always had fat on it...but I want him better because the MBD has probably caused all the problems.

Also, any info on MBD would be great. Is it genetic, or just a husbandry problem? I do give calcium powdered mealies to them, but maybe because he doesn't eat a lot in one sitting he doesn't get enough.

Any help here would be great, thanks guys.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I believe that some geckos simply have calcium mal-absorption problems regardless of their husbandry and supplementation regime. If you think your gecko has MBD, the best thing to do would be to get some liquid calcium (NeoClalglugon) and give the gecko about 0.2 cc's a day. Be careful, because the stuff is syrupy and geckos can aspirate on it.

 

[malt_geckos]

Where can I get some NeoClalglugon?

 

[Arconna]

Thanks Marcia! I'll get some liquid calcium today, if I can find it. I've put some more powdered calcium in his cage and I'm going to start really watching his food intake because this really worries me. He's the only one of my bunch that is getting like this :S. All the others are nice and fat (especially all the ones I have from you ).

Thanks again. Hopefully I can get this buy nice and fat and fix this calcium issue.

 

[David Loftin]

http://store.otcretail.com/p624841.html

Just make sure to follow Marcia's instructions. They can aspirate on it. We have had it happen before. It was a horrible experience.

 

[Arconna]

Do they sell similar products in feed stores and pet stores?

 

[David Loftin]

I have actually just gone to a Normal Pharmacy and Special Ordered it. Just specifically ask for Calcium Glubionate.

 

[goReptiles]

You can get something similar at Cricketfood.com. I've gotten some from my vet, as well.

I haven't seen any at petstores.

 

[malt_geckos]

What type of syringe are you administering the calcium with?

 

[Arconna]

I just wanted to give an update on things (thanks for all your help guys).
I ended up taking him to the vet because I couldn't find the stuff in a story around here and the pharmacy had never heard of liquid calcium. I just couldn't wait for the online stuff to show up because I felt that he needed care sooner. The vet gave me the stuff Marcia recommended and some special food to help bring up his weight and reduce stress on his jaw while his bones hardened a bit more. He's gained 5 grams since Tuesday. He's very underweight and I've had lots of problems keeping weight on him.
In any case, I re-evaluated my temperatures, since the vet thought maybe that had something to do with the lack of calcium, and upped the temps a little bit and I'm seem some improvement.
Luckily he was never lethargic and has been very active, so this makes all the recovery a lot easier. I'm thinking he'll be just fine soon, but maybe the warping of his limbs won't go away. Either way...he'll be okay, so yeah. (I think there has been some change in his limbs though...he's walking a bit more normal now).
So, this is just the start and he'll be on the calcium for a month, or more if necessary (probably not more). And I'l ljust have to keep a real good eye on him from this point on.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[geckoluv2187]

Do you have pictures of his warped limbs?

 

[Arconna]

I would if my darned digital camera wouldn't eat up my batteries like crazy. I'll do my best to get a picture. Mostly it's his front left arm, but it looks like it is getting better, though I might not ever go back to normal. It wasn't as bad as I have seen. I had to have an animal I rescued put down because he had the worst case of MBD ever. Worse than any pictures I've seen on the net and it made me so sick having to decide to put it down.

If I can get some rechargeable batteries this week I will and see if I can get a picture up.