MBD

[Bordois]

I've just found out that my leopard gecko has MBD. And there isn't any reptile vet in my country. He isn't eating anyhting so I can't give him calcium dust. What can I do for him? Please help, I really love this little guy :'(

 

[Dandizette]

What is your tank set up like and what kind of food have you tried offering him? Sometimes geckos fast, so they could be fasting. But there also can be problems with the environment that cause a gecko to stop eating.

Another option is liquid food or liquid vitamins.

 

[feralcat]

You can still give him calcium even if he isn't eating by providing a calcium dish.

You have to call around. I thought there weren't any reptile vets in my area until I did some research of my own.

Could you fill this out?

 

[Bordois]

What is your tank set up like and what kind of food have you tried offering him? Sometimes geckos fast, so they could be fasting. But there also can be problems with the environment that cause a gecko to stop eating.

Another option is liquid food or liquid vitamins.

The substrate is reptile carpet, there is a moist box and a cave. Heating pad is off because it's already 31°C. And clean water with vitamin is always there. I feed him with mealworms since February. But he stoped eating 2 months ago. I started to use calcium dust and vitamin 2 weeks ago (I know, It's late but...) I tried dubia but he didn't eat them too. I can't find anyone who sell crickets in my country.

You can still give him calcium even if he isn't eating by providing a calcium dish.

You have to call around. I thought there weren't any reptile vets in my area until I did some research of my own.

Could you fill this out?

Well there are a lot of things that I don't know. But there is some information above. And let me add: It's a male gecko. 10-11 months old. He's with me since february 2012. I got him from a petshop. He was alone in his tank but I got another gecko on Saturday but I separate them again. And I recorded him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_En3BDg4KuM&feature=plcp

 

[feralcat]

That is a long time for a leopard gecko to go without eating. He needs to see a vet as soon as possible. The chances are is that he has a parasite.

If he has any cage mates, I would separate them.

 

[feralcat]

He's very thin.

Are you gutloading the insects?

 

[katie_]

You MAY need to consider euthanasia, if you cannot get him to a vet and he does not improve.
Since you housed him with another gecko, you'll want to seperate them and keep a close eye on your new one. If its a parasite, and you dont treat it, your gecko will suffer.

 

[Bordois]

I know I'm really worried about him. I've posted on my country's reptile forum, yahoo answers, here, and I sent mails to reptile vets which they aren't in my country but I'm just crying for help The forum in my country said that there isn't any vets around here, they're just gonna take your money for no reason and they are not able to do anything because there isn't any vet who understand reptiles around here. I don't know what to do. I've done some research and found someone who understands turtles. She said she understands geckos too. I don't know if she is telling the truth but I'll give it a try tomorrow morning. I don't care about the money. I just want him to get better.

He's very thin.

Are you gutloading the insects?

I don't know what gutloading means

 

[feralcat]

Gutloading is feeding the insects, basically. If you don't gutload, the insect provides no nutritional value to the gecko.

Could post a picture of your setup?

 

[Bordois]

Yeah I feed them too. I don't think that's the problem. The petshop didn't tell me that he needs calcium dust. I learned it very late

 

[sausage]

you can give him calcium even if its not eating, mix it with a little water so its like a paste and dot it on his lips, that will prompt him to lick it off.

also you can make a slurry mix by mushing up the bugs with vitamins and feed it to him the same way.

are you able to get hold of a UV buld? use a 2% UV buld on his tank for a few hours a day to help his poor weak body process the calcium he eats quicker.

That heat mat MUST be on all the time! 31c = 87f which is an acceptable heat on the hot side, without the belly heat he cant process food.

 

[Bordois]

you can give him calcium even if its not eating, mix it with a little water so its like a paste and dot it on his lips, that will prompt him to lick it off.

also you can make a slurry mix by mushing up the bugs with vitamins and feed it to him the same way.

are you able to get hold of a UV buld? use a 2% UV buld on his tank for a few hours a day to help his poor weak body process the calcium he eats quicker.

That heat mat MUST be on all the time! 31c = 87f which is an acceptable heat on the hot side, without the belly heat he cant process food.

I've just caught him with a mealworm in his mouth He stayed like that for a while. But he droped it later I'm going to try those tips thanks

 

[sausage]

the body requires calcium to carry out every day body processes, all cells in the body need it to function. when the calcium levels in the blood drop the body starts to take calcium from the bones resulting in the condition MBD.

The body takes calcium from the jaw bone first (why? we just dont know) but this makes the jaw very bendy making it impossible to chew food.

hes clearly hungry if hes trying poor little guy.
I know mushing the bugs up is really unpleasant but you need to get food into him asap!
you will probably need to feed him that way for a good few weeks/months if hes to survive.
you can get small syringes from the chemist (like the ones they use to give small children meds) using a syringe to dot the food would be easier.

 

[Bordois]

I've got a syringe. I'll do anything for him. But if I do that doesn't he still continue to "not able to catch them" ? Someone told me that "don't hand feed him, he'll get hungry in the end and he has to catch it so he'll learn how to catch them by himself again."

 

[feralcat]

I agree with everything Sausage said.

Here is a good leopard gecko slurry made by Golden Gate Geckos: Click here.

 

[sausage]

If he recovers from this and his jaw hardens again he will re learn to catch food.
but that shouldnt matter if he dose or dosnt, all you need to do right now is give him lots of care and feed him till hes better. other wise he is going to suffer more and die

 

[sausage]

I agree with everything Sausage said.

Here is a good leopard gecko slurry made by Golden Gate Geckos: Click here.

yes this is a good mix, BUT if you cant get hold of some stuff/ don't have the money just the mushy bugs and calcium will be just as good.

 

[Bordois]

I agree with everything Sausage said.

Here is a good leopard gecko slurry made by Golden Gate Geckos: Click here.

If I able to find those things I'll try that mix. I didn't even understand most of the things. I need to do some research. Thank you so much

yes this is a good mix, BUT if you cant get hold of some stuff/ don't have the money just the mushy bugs and calcium will be just as good.

I'll probably do it that way thanks for your help

 

[sausage]

our pleasure, i really hope its not late and he pulls through.

 

[katie_]

WHat country do you live in?