Leopard Gecko Health: Vomiting and Regurgitation

Background Information

It can be difficult for the average pet keeper to distinguish between vomiting and regurgitation. It is important to keep in mind that these two are not diseases themselves, but are just symptoms of a potentially serious problem

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

Vomiting

Usually occurs within hours or days after the ingestion of a meal.
What you will see is partially digested food.
Periodically accompanied by diarrhea.
If left untreated, it can lead to serious problems such as dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Regurgitating

Usually occurs within hours or immediately after the ingestion of a meal.
What you will see is essentially undigested food.

Possible Causes

One of the difficulties in diagnosing the cause of the vomiting or regurgitating is that there is a large list of possible causes so its important to narrow down this list as quickly as possible. Some of the more common causes include:

Handling too soon or too much after feeding.
Sudden and sharp changes in environmental temperatures (ie too hot, too cold).
Improper environmental temperatures required for proper digestion of food.
Increased stress after feeding.
Bacterial, fungal or viral infections.
Offering food that is too large, too old or toxic.
Offering food too frequently.
Internal parasites
Tumors, neoplasia...
Overdrinking after eating.
Dehydration
Foreign body obstruction and impaction
Intestinal problems such as lesions, ulcers ...
Toxins
Constipation

Diagnostic Techniques

There are many different diagnostics techniques available to determine the potential cause of the vomiting or regurgitation. The most appropriate technique will depend on various circumstances and the results of other testing that may have been carried out.

The most common techniques include:

Physical examination
Parasite check - ie fecal exams
Blood work
Bacterial and fungal cultures
Radiolographs
Virology sampling
Endoscopy

Treatment Options

Ultimately the most appropriate therapeutic plan will depend on the cause of the problem. Common treatment options could include:

Ensuring proper environmental conditions
Treat any disease that may be present
Use of medications
Supportive care and dietary management
Administration of fluids to deal with dehydration
Removal of any foreign body obstructions and impactions
Remove tumors etc...
Assist/tube feeding in severe cases

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!