Poor little guy :(

Hillsberry · 02-09-11, 04:57 PM

I have had my leopard gecko for 5 months now. Last night 2/8/11 I noticed he wasn't using his hind legs while he was walking. I took him out to see what was wrong but couldn't find a problem. I noticed that his lower back is arched up. I also saw that his vent was puffy and swollen. I brought him to the vet to day and she told me he possible has metabolic bone disease. She wasn't sure what else could be wrong with him. So she told me to go to a specialist. So I will be bring him to the specialist hopefully by this weekend. But I was wondering if anyone might have an idea of why he might have the arch on his back and or why he won't use his back legs. He doesn't seem like he is in any pain. He is still his normal self which is a crazy little guy but he just can't walk right. I saw little tiny movement in his legs but not much. Oh and he doesn't seem like he can lift the front of his body up. If he has metablic bone disease can it be revresed in anyway so that maybe he can get some movement back that would make it so much easier for him? Do you think it would be better for me to just put him down?

Here are some pictures I took today.

yay 007.jpg

yay 008.jpg

Hillsberry · 02-09-11, 05:01 PM

Oh I have a UVB and UVA light on him now. The one vet said she would recomend giving him a vitamin D shot to help his bones. We took an x-ray and he almost can't see the bones in his back legs and front.

NennaMeerkat · 02-09-11, 05:03 PM

Could be a lack of other vitamins as well. Do you dust crickets with calcium powder?

Hillsberry · 02-09-11, 05:08 PM

Someone told me if was okay just to let the crickets eat the calcium and then feed it to him. But that isn't enough as I can see so now. Do you recomend any calciums?

NennaMeerkat · 02-09-11, 05:11 PM

No I haven't had to deal with that in a while. I would assume any would do. Though they might have some formulated for different lizards I don't know. Just have to look and see.

Sapphyr · 02-09-11, 06:45 PM

Yea, I was going to say either a prolonged lack of calcium and other vitamins or a prolonged lack of UVA/UVB. Every time I feed my lizards crickets I dust them all in a blend of calcium and multivitamins. Calcium is an absolute must, though, not sure about if multivitamins is a must, as well, or an optional thing.

Oh, and I don't think it can be reversed, just assisted. I could be wrong.

Edit: I found this really nice article about Metabolic Bone Disease, so it may be worth reading, to you. I'm just now beginning to read it.

Metabolic Bone Disease - Reptiles and Amphibians

marvelfreak · 02-09-11, 06:50 PM

So sorry to hear about your leo. Hopefully he'll get better. Got my fingers cross for him. Best of luck and keep us posted.

Lankyrob · 02-10-11, 07:32 AM

WE feed our feeder insects on high quality organic insect food along with fresh fruit and veg three or four times a week. They will also be dusted with calicum and multivitamin dust before being fed to the lizards.

Will0W783 · 02-10-11, 10:29 AM

Hillary, Repti-Cal is probably the best one out there I know of. I wish you the best of luck and hope he gets better.

totheend · 02-10-11, 11:47 AM

Hillsberry it looks and sounds like MBD to me. Your leo isn't getting enough calcuim/D3. You can't reverse what has happened but you can stop it and save his life. When you feed crickets you need to dust the crickets with calcium and every so often with calcium with D3. Also leos know when they need calcium so it is always a good idea to leave a little dish in their enclosure with calcium in it (just plain calcium with NO D3) and they will eat it.

Good luck and I hope your little guy feels better soon.

Hillsberry · 02-10-11, 04:42 PM

Thanks guys! I will keep you posted. I have him going to a reptile vet tomorrow. Hopefully I can't get him better! Thanks for all your help!

percey39 · 02-10-11, 08:38 PM

Sorry to hear mate, i wish you both the best of luck with the vet visit.

Reptile_Reptile · 02-13-11, 04:10 PM

How is he doin mate

mld · 02-13-11, 05:23 PM

Do you have a picture of his underside, I was thinking that if he had a bad impaction, which can cause paralysis and it could cause swelling and also with his vent looking sore. Is he pooping regularly? if not a nice warm bath may get him going, you can also try some canned pure pumpkin (not pie filling) it a great laxative.
Either way he should be seen by a vet, looks very uncomfortable.
Sending well wishes for a healthy recovery! And a little prayer to go with it!

Hillsberry · 02-14-11, 08:28 PM

Bad news guys I did everything I could for him but nothing worked. He stopped eating and is losing weight. I will be putting him down tomorrow. I feel really bad. I feel like I let the little guy down. I just hate to see him like this. So I think the best thing is to let him go. Thank you everyone for the help. May he rest in peace.