Leopard Gecko Health: Kidney Problems

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.

Common Symptoms

There are a wide array of symptoms that could be exhibited by your leopard gecko if it is experiencing kidney problems. The most common symptoms include:

Anorexia
Lameness and weakness.
Bloating
Vomiting
Pathologic fractures.
Straining to defecate.
Pale mucus membranes inside the mouth.
Skin/mouth ulcers.
Slimy white/yellow/tan urates with very little fecal matter.
Hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia.

Possible Causes

As with many other problems encountered with leopard geckos, there could be a wide range of possible contributing factors that you and your vet will work through and start to eliminate. Most of the time, kidney problems are related to improper husbandry practices and not any disease.

Dehydration
Excessive mineral supplementation
Improper use of antibiotics
Improper nutrition
Tumors
Bacterial infections

Diagnostic Techniques

There are many different diagnostics techniques available to determine the potential cause and severity of the kidney problems. The most common include:

Physical examination
Detailed patient history and review of husbandry
Blood work
Urinalysis
Radiographs
Ultrasound
Biopsy

Treatment Options

Ultimately the most appropriate therapeutic plan will depend on the symptoms, cause and the severity of the problem.

Correct diet problems
Correct any improper environmental conditions
Phosphate binders
Diuresis with fluids

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!