[Emmalou]

I just have a question about my leopard gecko. I was giving her a good look today and it looks like one of her elbows is slightly swollen. It’s nothing drastic, just looks a bit bigger. I was wondering if you knew what might cause this. I’m hoping it’s not early signs of MBD But, she walks on it fine, although it looks like she has a bit of a limp. Anyway, my viv has a cool side (about 73-75 degrees) and a warm side (90-92 degrees), two hides, one on each side and plenty of space with felt bedding. I recently removed her calcium lid from her tank because she attacks it and gets it everywhere, could this be the problem? She’s been eating great, I feed her gutloaded crickets because she has trouble digesting mealworms and waxworms make her very ill (I almost lost her because of them! ) and she defecates regularly and everything’s all good in that department. All in all, I would just like to hear your thoughts and any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

Emma

[Eichen]

Leo's need that calcium dish because they know when their bodies require additional nutrients. Even if you never see him/her use it, they will if they need to. So I would put that back and let him play in it... Gives him a chance to lick the good vitamins off himself after he makes a mess!

But I doubt it's MBD since you sound like you're taking great care of him, but other more experienced members would know better than I would.
Any chance he feel off of anything in the habitat, like a hide or rock and hit his elbow? I hit my shin on a table or two now and again myself. But it heals, no big deal.

[Emmalou]

Thanks for your response

She is known for falling into stuff. I rarely handle her, but recently I took her out to show off and she jumped out of my hands when I was returning her to her viv. It wasn’t a tremendous drop, but enough to scare me, probably 8-10 in.. Do you think it’s broken??? I tried helping her move it today and she didn’t seem to be in any discomfort at all. Hmm.

[Eichen]

Post a pic so the breeders and experienced handlers can see his condition. It's worth a thousand words in this type of situation.

But please keep his little calcium dish with powder in it for him! Mine makes a mess with it too, but it's easy to wipe up since it clumps together if you use a damp cloth or paper towel.

EDIT: Also, if he's like my little dude, he'll play in it and drag the powder into his water dish. I don't add any supplements to the water, but when he does it I'm sure that's an additional resource of calcium intake for him. With all of the calcium they get just from "making a mess", I don't think our guys will ever be in danger of getting MBD. LOL

[Emmalou]

That’s so true. I returned her calcium dish. I’ll post a pic asap.

Thanks for your help!

[Eichen]

Originally Posted by Emmalou

That’s so true. I returned her calcium dish. I’ll post a pic asap.

Thanks for your help!

You're welcome, and sorry I kept calling your baby girl a "he"!

[Yoshi'smom]

A picture will help us see better what you're describing. It sounds like it could be swelling due to a stuck shed band. Although I see this more often in crested geckos. It still could however be the case. If she's walking around in it alright and doesn't seem too stressed over the area I wouldn't start to get too worried. However, if you see it swell more and she become lethargic or refuses food over the next few days, I would take her in to see a vet.
I still would like to see a picture of the elbow to see if it's something as easy as a stuck shed band. That's something that you could easily fix at home.

[Emmalou]

Here are two photos. The first is of the swollen arm and the second is used to compare.

[Yoshi'smom]

Look carefully over the arm. Do you see anything on the outside that would cause swelling? A bruise, scrape, stuck shed? I would take the little one to the vet just in case. The pictures are rather small and I can't see if there's a stuck shed band on the arm.
Is she eating and still active?

[cricket4u]

Originally Posted by Emmalou

Here are two photos. The first is of the swollen arm and the second is used to compare.

I would take her to a reptile vet for sure. You are not leaving calcium with D in the enclosure are you?