Leopard Gecko Health: Obstructions and Impaction

Background Information

Impactions and obstructions primarily occur in leopard geckos as a result of improper husbandry. Essentially impactions are a blockage of the gastrointestinal tract with non-digestible material(s). If left untreated, it can be fatal!

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 variety of symptoms that your leopard gecko may exhibit if it is impacted. The most common include:

Decreased/irregular stool output.
Straining to defecate.
Constipation
Decreased food intake.
Anorexia
Abdominal swelling.
Difficulty breathing.
Vomiting
Paralysis

Possible Causes

Impactions and obstructions can occur for a variety of reasons in leopard geckos. The most common reasons include:

Ingestion of substrate.
Ingestion of a foreign body/object.
Constipation
Prolonged inactivity.
Improper diet or overfeeding.
Improper environmental temperatures.
Inadequate/inappropriate access to fresh drinking water.
Dehydration.

Diagnostic Techniques

There are several different diagnostic techniques available to your veterinarian to check for the possible presence of an obstruction of some kind. The most common include:

Complete physical examination of the gecko.
Detailed patient history including overview of husbandry practices.
Radiographs
Blood work (to rule out other potential causes/problems).
Endoscopy
Fecal exams.

Treatment Options

The key to dealing with impactions and obstructions are to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Do not put geckos under 1 year of age on a natural substrate such as sand.
Do not put weakened, injured or sick geckos on a natural substrate - use paper towels for this purpose.
Ensure you are using a proper supplementation schedule so your gecko does not nibble at the sand in search of added calcium.
Provide a dish of pure calcium in the enclosure at all times.
Avoid substrates such as: silica sand, corn cob, crushed walnut shells, pea gravel, wood and bark chips, pebbles, kitty litter, wood shavings etc...
Make sure there are no items in the enclosure that the gecko can fit into its mouth.
Ensure your gecko does not come into contact with loose items such as hair, fur, string, pieces of plastic etc...
Feed more smaller prey items as opposed to fewer large prey items.
Keep sand out of the water dish.

It is strongly recommended that you contact your veterinarian for proper and prompt treatment if your gecko is impacted! There are a variety of treatments available that your veterinarian can recommend which include:

Correction of any husbandry and environmental problems.
15 minute warm water soaks 1-2 times per day.
Surgical intervention to remove object/objects.
Medications if infections are present.
Treat any other ongoing medical problems.

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!