GECKO Disease & Treatment
Ok, Well for the most part leopard Gecko,s are a fairly healthy bunch, so for the most part you hopefully wont be needing this information.Assuming you are keeping your Gecko`s in and at optimal habitat and feeding conditions.
Hypocalcemia
Or otherwise known as metabolic bone disease. This is caused by a lack of calcium and appropriate levels of vitamin D3. Symptoms include lethargy, weakness, painful movement, a softened or rubbery jaw, and swollen or distorted limbs. So make sure you are using your vitamin and mineral supplements. If this problem is noticed then D3 dustings can be increased till  an improvement is noticed. It is important to note that D3 in excessive levels can cause soft tissue mineralization. Use good judgement. Feeding a small pinkie mouse once every 2 weeks should help also. But dont overdue that either and make them fat.
Gastroenteritis / Diarrhea
The most obvious sign of gastrointestinal disease is weight loss combined with the presence of undigested cricket masses on the ground medium instead of the standard, relatively dry, feces. The cricket masses may also be caused by regurgitation as well as the passing of undigested prey. Others signs include lethargy, anorexia, and the passage of unusually watery or bloody stools. They may also show a darkening of the iris (colored portion of eye). Severely affected animals that have stopped eating and drinking are at risk of death. A vet can help determine the cause of the gastrointestinal crisis. Most are caused by a bacterial infection and a fecal sample may be required to help select an effective drug. It is important to have the sample examined as well for intestinal parasites such as trichomonas and coccidia.         Trichomonads are flagellate protozoans that can be treated with metronidazole. At a dosage of 50mg/kg daily for 3-5 days.Coccidia are another matter and much more difficult to eliminate.
Coccidia
The fact that Gecko`s thrive in small containers simply plays in to the overall parasitic scheme of the coccidia. Coccidia are tiny protozoan parasites that invade the intestinal lining in order to reproduce. The product of there reproduction is atiny egg-like structure called oocyst. The oocyst is the infective stage of the parasite and it is passed with the fecal matter in the hopes that another host will become exposed to it. The sad fact is that it is our Gecko that is repeatedly acting as the host and the numbers of coccidia increase expotentially. When a parasite with a direct life cycle builds up like this, it is refered to as a super-infection. The irritation to the gastrointestinal tract leads to dehydration, anorexia, and allows secondary bacteria to invade. Treatment consists of giving a sulfa based drug, the best being sulfadimethoxine at 50mg/kg orally every 24/48 hours until resolved. However, coccidia will not be resolved without fastidious cleaning. A useful technique is to set up 2 cages and switch the Gecko between them once or better,  twice a day. Newspaper should be used for a substrate for easy cleaning and all elaborate cage furniture be removed while being treated. Follow up fecal exams are important to insure that the coccidia have been eliminated. This is a very contagious parasite, passing easily from Gecko to Gecko, so all new additions to the colony should be strictly quarantined while evaluated for health matters in addition to parasites.
Sand impaction
Fine sand,gravel, walnut, and other grandular substrates can lead to intestinal impactions and rectal prolapses and should be avoided. Sand ingestion may be due to inadequate calcium. It is not unusual for terrestrial Geckos to consume sand or soil as a source of calcium. In fact, some Gecko keepers mix calcium carbonate in the sand used as a ground medium for this purpose. Sand impactions appear to be more common in younger animals fed inadequate amounts of calcium. Providing adequate calcium in the diet and avoiding a course grede of sand will generally prevent this problem.
Shedding problems
Shedding problems are characterized by incomplete shedding whereby parts of shed skin remain attached to body, eyelids, or extremities. If ignored this can result in eye problems, the loss of, or infection of digits, and in extreme cases death. Try using a swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide to soften and gently remove the adherent skin. Caution must be taken to prevent getting peroxide into the eyes. Skin that is still firmly attached can be moisturized by using an ophthalmic(eye) lubricant ointment applied to retained pieces. Once softened, the pieces can be gently removed, but should never be forced. The digits appear to be the most susceptible to vascular damage, And retained sheds will lead to there sloughing. Shedding problems are best prevented by the use of a moist hide box. These mini humidity chambers can be constructed from tupperware containers with an entry and exit hole cut into it. The inside of the chamber can be filled with vermiculite or spaghum moss. These chambers also serve for a site for females to lay there eggs as well.
Digit and Dermal infections
As previously illustrated, chronic shed accumulations can destroy the vascular pattern and result in the loss of digits. These traumatized and inflamed toes can become further insulted by exposure to substrate medium that is to moist and / or dirty. Not only will the toes become infected, but superficial skin infections seen as discolored areas may occur as well. The first step in resolving this problem is to rectify the associated cause. Replace the soiled media with newspaper or paper toweling until the infection clears. Mild, superficial skin problems can be treated with polysporin or neosporin but severe cases will require vetrinary care. Once healed, a Gecko should be placed in a cage with a clean, dry medium.
Tail loss
During fighting with conspecifics or following some kind of trauma, Gecko`s may drop their tails. This is not an act without consequences, since by dropping the tail the Gecko has dumped a fat and possibly metabolic water reserve. Consequently, any gecko that has dropped its tail should be removed from a group, kept singly, and maintained under optimal conditions until it regenerates a new tail. Tailless animals must be kept warm, fed and watered regularly
Stomatitis or Mouthrot
Stomatitis is often a primary disease in reptiles. However, Gecko`s exhibit stomatitis usually seconday to fighting. Symptoms include swelling, malocclusion, and failure to eat well. On closer inspection, caseated(cheese-like) pus can be seen. The mouth should be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide or dilute betadine, gently removing all loose tissue and pus. An extremely light layer of neosporin can be applied daily, but can be toxic in excessive quantities. In all but the mildest cases, a vetrinarian should be consulted. Systemic antibiotics are generally required to resolve difficult cases.
Respiratory infections
As is true with all reptiles, excessive cool temperatues for excessive periods of time will cause immune system suppresion with subsequent respiratory infections. Symptoms may be subtle and include partial opening of the mouth with labored expiration. Initially, a temperature change to a daytime high of 84-86 degrees witha drop at night to no lower than 80 degrees may be adequate for mild cases. If improvement is not seen or symptoms worsen, a vetrinarian should be consulted.
Egg binding
Occasionally a Gecko will fail to pass one of the typical two eggs formed. While one is tempted to manipulate the egg out this must be done with the utmost care as the reproductive tract can be irreversibly torn. Reproductive hormones, such as oxytocin, dont seem to resolve this problem. Some prefer to have a vetrinarian remove it surgically. One can speculate that egg binding may be due in part to a relative hypocalcemia; calcium is essential to the contraction of the reproductive smooth muscle. Gravid females should be fed and given calcium supplements daily.
It is very important that when you do obtain any reptile no matter how big or small or unique. You locate yourself a qualified veterinarian in your area. And as soon as possible get your reptiles in there for a check up. This is to insure the health and well being of your new friend and to allow your vet to become familiar with you and your pet.
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