Leopard Gecko MBD / Facial Swelling

[apocalypse910]

I have two seriously ill geckos and could desperately use some advice. I've tried posting on gecko talk, however, the forums there aren't quite as active and I could really use some advice.

I have five leopard geckos - an adult breeding pair, and three of their babies. I've been feeding a mix of superworms and crickets to all my geckos. I'll admit that I really screwed up and got lazy about gutloading. Every meal, without exception, has been dusted in a mix of calcium powder and vitamin powder (about a 5-1 ratio).

About a month and a half ago one of my juvenile males (1 yr roughly) stopped eating and developed severe swelling on one side of his face. I took him to the vet and she prescribed oral antibiotics.

He got worse, the swelling stayed the same, and his hind legs became weak. We took him back to the vet, she did x-rays and dignosed him with MBD. She gave him an injection in the office and sent me home with antibiotic eye ointment and calcium Neo-cal.

The same day I noticed that his clutch-mate (housed separately) suddenly could not open one of his eyes fully. He had no swelling, weakness, tremors etc at this time. I started giving both geckos the neo-cal daily.

After a few days the first gecko's swelling started to go down but his weakness continued. The second gecko rapidly developed the same symptoms as the first despite being on daily calcium - the side of his face swelled massively and he became weak and unresponsive.

For the last month I've been giving both eye-ointment daily. The neo-cal ran out and I started giving both geckos repta-boost mixed with fluker's liquid calcium daily. The second gecko improved rapidly - his facial swelling went away and he seemed completely normal for a few days.

After about a week (same routine) the swelling came back even worse and he developed eye infections as well. He seems strong when I pick him up but he is unable to open either eye and does not really move around except when disturbed. Both geckos seem to have secondary infections and neither are improving at all.

I went back to the vet - she lanced the facial swelling and noted several other possible abscesses. She was out of neo-cal but told me to continue with the fluker's liquid calcium. I recieved more oral antibiotics. She seemed to think the first gecko was going to be ok and raised the possibility of euthanizing the second (who honestly seems in better shape to me).

It breaks my heart to know that my husbandry mistakes have caused my geckos to suffer like this. I also don't want to put them through any more - but I also don't want to give up on them if there is still a chance of recovery.

I am wondering if anyone has any ideas of how to help them. I am also wondering if calcium is the whole picture as the second gecko had virtually no symptoms and worsened, got better, and worsened again once on a solid calcium regimen.

I've started making sure I gutload everything for at least two days before feeding. I've also switched from oyster-shell calcium to the zoo med calcium carbonate powder. I am not 100% certain whether the vitamin mix I was using had d3 (was using two and can't remember which I mixed in) but they are getting at least some from the repta-boost now. The bottom line is that i think there is more at play than just the gut-loading.

Anyone have some knowledge to share. Does this sound like a simple calcium deficiency or is there something else going on? Am I doing the right thing by continuing to treat or am I just making them suffer unnecessarily? Is there anything I can do beyond just giving them repta-boost and calcuim and hoping for the best?

Thanks - and sorry for the long post.

 

[Logie_Bear]

Have you tried a low output uvb bulb? I know they are nocturnal but a little uvb can really help with mdb issues. On a sidenote facial swelling doesn't sound like mdb to me. Usually mdb will make the bones missformed and soft. An infection seems to be a big part of the issue. Puss in reptiles is almost solid, and if it isn't all removed before antibiotics are applied, the infection will return. Do you have another vet in the area who could offer a second opinion?

Also, I would copy/paste this thread in the Geckos unlimited forum and see what they say.

I wish the best for you and your babies. <3

 

[bmx3000max]

Could could have been you were giving your geckos to much dusting...cause i know reptiles can get a disease like mbd if they are given too much

 

[kim86]

Leopard geckos should not be fed crickets or anything else that has D3 dusted on it more than once every couple weeks, they can't process high amounts (like most captive reptiles), so maybe cut back to very little/none of the D3 supplement until things get better.

Up the heat in their tank as well, high heat usually aides in healing. Adding a low output UVB bulb, like mentioned above, is also a very good idea.

Good luck!

 

[apocalypse910]

Leopard geckos should not be fed crickets or anything else that has D3 dusted on it more than once every couple weeks, they can't process high amounts (like most captive reptiles), so maybe cut back to very little/none of the D3 supplement until things get better.

Up the heat in their tank as well, high heat usually aides in healing. Adding a low output UVB bulb, like mentioned above, is also a very good idea.

Good luck!

The first gecko passed away last night unfortunately.

Thanks for the input - I was considering a D3 overdose, however the quantity they were getting was pretty low - While I did dust daily the ratio of multivitamin to calcium was such that it should have been equivalent to dusting with multivitamin once a week. They haven't taken food in a long time so i've been using repta-boost and no supplements for the last month. It has d3 but not in large amounts.

I will follow your advice and get a low output uvb bulb for the other gecko- I discussed this with the vet as well and she seemed to think it was a good idea. Thanks.