Leopard Gecko Health: Dehydration

Background Information

Please read our Disclaimer before reading any further into these common problems. As with any medical problem, we strongly recommend that you immediately contact your veterinarian for assistance.

Dehydration in reptiles is an extremely serious problem and requires immediate veterinary intervention if it is suspected. Dehydration is extremely common to see in sick reptiles. Complications such as kidney problems and even convulsions can arise quite quickly because of dehydration.

Common Symptoms

The most commonly observed symptoms of dehydration include:

Wrinkling or bagging of the skin (especially around the neck and sides of the body).
Dry flaky skin.
Loss of skin elasticity - does not spring back when pinched.
Dull appearance to the skin.
Eyes may sink in.
Mucus membranes become dry.
Sticky appearance to the tongue.
Anorexia
Lethargy
Tissues inside the mouth may appear pale pink, greyish pink or even blue.

Possible Causes

There are a wide variety of different possible contributing factors to dehydration. The most common causes include:

Water provided in an improper form.
Anorexia
Diarrhea
Stress.
Over-heating.
Inappropriate diet.
Inadequate humidity.
Inappropriate environmental temperatures.
Secondary to other diseases.

Diagnostic Techniques

The techniques most commonly used by veterinarians in diagnosing dehydration include:

Complete physical examination.
Complete patient history and husbandry practices.
Blood work (especially monitoring the uric acid levels).

Treatment Options

Ultimately the most appropriate therapeutic plan will depend on the cause and severity of the problem. Dehydration is a serious medical treatment and requires immediate veterinary assistance.

Please note that most vets will not advice force feeding until rehydration has been started.

Treatment Of Mild Dehydration

Ensure the provision of an appropriate source of water.
Initial soak in shallow, lukewarm water for 15 minutes. Some vets advise the use of mixing an electrolyte solution into the bath such as Gatorade or Pedialyte. Be sure to rinse the gecko with fresh water afterwards.
Follow your veterinarian's advice!

Treatment Of Moderate Dehydration

Follow your veterinarian's advice!
Longer soaking periods.
Possibly require the oral administration of fluids.

Treatment Of Severe Dehydration

Often requires the administration of fluids not only orally, but also by injection.

Important Notes:

Dehydration requires veterinary intervention.
Do not start force feeding the gecko unless advised by the vet to do so.
Do not administer too much fluid at one time or over a short period of time as it can overload the gecko's system and can result in death.
When dealing with medical problems, proper personal hygiene, quarantine and disinfection techniques are absolutely necessary.

Still Confused Or Concerned?

If you would like more information or further assistance, or just want to chat some more about leopard geckos, please feel free to post on the Reptile Rescue, Canada Leopard Gecko Forum!