Leopard Gecko Health: Swollen Abdomen

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.

Possible Causes

There are many different causes that could contributed to a swollen abdomen. These include:

Gravid female or egg retention.
Neoplasia
Constipation
Foreign objects
Obstruction
Enlargement of the liver and kidneys
Uroliths

Ascites is defined as an excess of fluid in the peritoneal cavity (membrane lining of the abdomen). There are a wide variety of possible contributing factors to this problem and these include:

Liver disease / liver failure
Hypoproteinemia
Kidney failure
Septicemia
Neoplasia
Cardiac problems

Diagnostic Techniques

There are a wide range of diagnostic techniques available to your veterinarian. The most appropriate ones to use would depend on the circumstance and potential cause. These could include:

Complete physical examination.
Complete patient history and overview of husbandry practices.
Fecal analysis.
Blood work.
Urinalysis
Radiograph
Cytology
Endoscopy
and more...

Treatment Options

The most appropriate treatment option will depend on the actual cause of the swollen abdomen.

Correct any environmental or husbandry problems.
Treat any underlying medical conditions/diseases.

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!