Leopard gecko kidney problems

[Snuugel]

Hello all! So, this is going to be a long story. Last year I got my first male leopard gecko on april. He was doing fine until last november when he started to puke his food out. I took him to the vet and it turned out his kidneys were not working properly. Vet thought that maybe he is dehydrated and told me to give him water every day for few weeks. Well I did that and he started to eat and poop again, I was really happy and took him back to vet for control blood tests. For mine and the vets suprise his kidneys were still in as bad shape as they were before. Vet was really confused considering the fact that my gecko is otherwise doing well right now and she couldn't really say anything else than just give him more water every day. She also said that his phosphorus was pretty high but I couldn't hear (I was on a phone wit her and it was storming so the connection was really bad) if it was a good or bad thing.

I started to research this subject on the internet and found out one of the causes for kidney disease could be if the reptile gets too much D3 vitamin. I took his calcium cup away just to be sure and now im asking if this could be caused by too much d3 vitamin. I have had leopard geckos for 8 years and my before last year I used Repti calmium + Nekton-Rep. All my geckos have small bowl of that mix on their terrariums so they can lick it themselves. I also always dusted the crickets and worms with it. My oldest gecko being 8 had used that mix for whole her life and has always been healthy. Last september I found out that calcium always needs to have D3 vitamin on it so I bought Repti calcium with D3 and started to use it same way as I had used the one without d3 before. I feed my geckos 2-3 times a week and always dust the food. Now im really scared if I have caused this kidney disease for him and if my other geckos have it too. It's obvious that I don't know what is the right amount to dust and how should I use these calciums and vitamins. I need advice for that cause I do feel horrible if it's my fault for causing him to get sick, and even more horrible if my other geckos get sick too. The sick gecko is only 1 and half years old, im so sad he's such a sweet gecko and im not sure if his kidneys will ever get better Sorry if this was bit confusing, im just still kinda shocked, im so scared I will lose him.

 

[Sg612]

Yes, too much D3 can damage the kidneys, but so can improper temperatures and humidity. It is important to discuss this with your veterinarian.

https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartn...tId=102919&id=8148630&ind=1350&objTypeID=1007

 

[Geecko123]

how old is he? because when leopard geckos are upwards of one year they need a different supplement and feeding schedule.

 

[Snuugel]

He is turning 2 this summer. The temperatures are fine, the air in my house is quite dry as it's winter and really cold outside. He has his humid hide where he can go if he needs humidity. For now I am giving him water with syringe to his mouth and keeping him in warm humid box for 30min every day.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hello all! So, this is going to be a long story. Last year I got my first male leopard gecko on april. He was doing fine until last november when he started to puke his food out. I took him to the vet and it turned out his kidneys were not working properly. Vet thought that maybe he is dehydrated and told me to give him water every day for few weeks. Well I did that and he started to eat and poop again, I was really happy and took him back to vet for control blood tests. For mine and the vets suprise his kidneys were still in as bad shape as they were before. Vet was really confused considering the fact that my gecko is otherwise doing well right now and she couldn't really say anything else than just give him more water every day. She also said that his phosphorus was pretty high but I couldn't hear (I was on a phone wit her and it was storming so the connection was really bad) if it was a good or bad thing.

I started to research this subject on the internet and found out one of the causes for kidney disease could be if the reptile gets too much D3 vitamin. I took his calcium cup away just to be sure and now im asking if this could be caused by too much d3 vitamin. I have had leopard geckos for 8 years and my before last year I used Repti calmium + Nekton-Rep. All my geckos have small bowl of that mix on their terrariums so they can lick it themselves. I also always dusted the crickets and worms with it. My oldest gecko being 8 had used that mix for whole her life and has always been healthy. Last september I found out that calcium always needs to have D3 vitamin on it so I bought Repti calcium with D3 and started to use it same way as I had used the one without d3 before. I feed my geckos 2-3 times a week and always dust the food. Now im really scared if I have caused this kidney disease for him and if my other geckos have it too. It's obvious that I don't know what is the right amount to dust and how should I use these calciums and vitamins. I need advice for that cause I do feel horrible if it's my fault for causing him to get sick, and even more horrible if my other geckos get sick too. The sick gecko is only 1 and half years old, im so sad he's such a sweet gecko and im not sure if his kidneys will ever get better Sorry if this was bit confusing, im just still kinda shocked, im so scared I will lose him.

Hi Snuugel ~

Too much phosphorus impairs the absorption of calcium.

A standard recommendation is 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Based upon nutrition charts I've seen, insects and worms are very high in phosphorus! I don't know how we can fix that. What we can do is not make the situation worse. Somehow most geckos live anyway. It is still important -- as far as possible -- to have phosphorus-free supplements like Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with and without D3.

Please remove all calcium bottle caps with or without D3 from all your leos' enclosures. Calcium bottle caps as well as dusting all the crickets and worms is way too much D3 for all your leopard geckos!

This Nekton-Rep supplement?

• For 16 click: Nekton-Rep vitamins -- April 2016

For a healthy 2 yo l recommend this supplement schedule. Vitamin D3 is fat soluble. That means it sticks around for a while in a leo's body instead of being flushed out when they pee like some vitamins. A healthy dose of D3 (like in Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3) only needs to be taken @ 1 feeding per week.

1. How many leos do you have?
2. What are their ages?
3. How old was your oldest leo when you got her?
4. Are their humid hides on the warm side of their enclosures?
5. Can you also buy Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3?
6. What diet do you feed the insects and worms your leos eat?

Weekly Schedule 126 for Leopard Geckos 18 months old +​

(without UVB)​

Crickets or dubia >> Monday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or dubia >> Thursday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Mealworms >> Saturday - no dusting

Future weeks:
Continue on since all weeks are identical. . . . . .

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Calcium carbonate does need vitamin D3 in order to be metabolized. However, the powdered vitamin D3 a leo gets on Mondays is still bio-available to metabolize plain (no D3) calcium carbonate the leo gets on Wednedays.

For leopard geckos 0-12 months old I recommend this schedule:

Weekly Schedule 124 for Leopard Geckos 0-12 months old
(without UVB)​

Crickets or dubia >> Monday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Mealworms >> Tuesday
Crickets or dubia >> Wednesday - lightly dusted with pure precipitated calcium carbonate (Zoo Med's Repti Calcium or NOW human brand calcium) without D3
Crickets or dubia >> Thursday
Crickets or dubia >> Friday - lightly dusted with Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Mealworms >> Saturday
No food or free choice >> Sunday

Future weeks:
Continue on since all weeks are identical. . . . . .

 

[Snuugel]

1. 4
2. Male with kidney problems soon turning 2. Females are 8 years, 5 years and 7 months old.
3. Yes
4.Yes, bought it few days ago.
5.I give them red bell pepper.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

1. 4
2. Male with kidney problems soon turning 2. Females are 8 years, 5 years and 7 months old.
3. Yes
4.Yes, bought it few days ago.
5.I give them red bell pepper.

Sorry about this. I was editing while you posted. Excellent! It sounds like you just bought Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3!

+ How old was your 8 year old leo when you got her?​

The insects and worms need a good dry diet to cover the basics in addition to some veggies, especially high calcium/low phosphorus leafy greens.

Your 7 mo leo may be at greatest risk for also having kidney issues. See my Schedule 124 on post 6 for how to supplement that leo.

 

[Snuugel]

Sorry I read one of your questions wrong I bought Zoo Med's Repti calcium without D3 not multivita. Good thing is with a quick googling I found a place that sells the multivita in my country so im buying it from there right away . Im taking all the caps off. I have had my 8 year old gecko scince she was 6 months old. Vet actually recommended the bell pepper because it has lot's of water. Would spinach be good (I have it lot on my fridge now) or what would you suggest? I will start to follow these weekly schedules you showed. Im so thankful to you.

 

[Sg612]

Sorry about this. I was editing while you posted. Excellent! It sounds like you just bought Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3!

+ How old was your 8 year old leo when you got her?​

The insects and worms need a good dry diet to cover the basics in addition to some veggies, especially high calcium/low phosphorus leafy greens.

Your 7 mo leo may be at greatest risk for also having kidney issues. See my Schedule 124 on post 6 for how to supplement that leo.

0.15 grams per kg of body weight daily. Do you know of any leopard geckos that weigh 1000 grams=1 kg?

Came out blurry :angry:

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Sorry I read one of your questions wrong I bought Zoo Med's Repti calcium without D3 not multivita. Good thing is with a quick googling I found a place that sells the multivita in my country so im buying it from there right away . Im taking all the caps off. I have had my 8 year old gecko scince she was 6 months old. Vet actually recommended the bell pepper because it has lot's of water. Would spinach be good (I have it lot on my fridge now) or what would you suggest? I will start to follow these weekly schedules you showed. Im so thankful to you.

:biggrin:

For your 7 month old's schedule (124) you'll need:

• Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3
• Zoo Med's Repti Calcium without D3 (plain calcium carbonate)
• Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3

Don't give them spinach.

I feed my crickets finely ground Zoo Med's Natural ADULT Bearded Dragon Food 24/7. I grind the pellets in a coffee/spice grinder. You could also place them in a plastic bag and pound them with a hammer! I like the mix of ingredients and my crickets do too. What is sold in your country for dry insect food that's about 15% protein, no more than 5% fat, and contains some vitamin A acetate (retinol)?

​

In the USA we have these high calcium/low phosphorus leafy greens: collared greens, pesticide-free dandelion greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens. Yellow dandelion flowers are good too.

"If you opt for making your own gutload at home, here is a list of great ingredients to use:
Best: mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion flowers & leaves, collard greens, escarole lettuce, papaya, watercress, and alfalfa.
Good: sweet potato, carrots, oranges, mango, butternut squash, kale, apples, beet greens, blackberries, bok choy, and green beans.
Dry food: bee pollen, organic non-salted sunflower seeds, spirulina, dried seaweed, flax seed, and organic non-salted almonds.
Avoid as much as possible: potatoes, cabbage, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, corn, grains, beans, oats, bread, cereal, meat, eggs, dog food, cat food, fish food, canned or dead insects, vertebrates."

 

[Snuugel]

I think the only ones from the best ingredients that I can find in my country are the turnip greens and papaya. For dry food I could try (all natural no salt) almonds, for now. I'll check if I can find that bearded dragon food. I know petstores use some kind of pellets to feed the crickets but I have never asked what they are and to be honest the crickets don't seem to be too interested to eat them.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

0.15 grams per kg of body weight daily. Do you know of any leopard geckos that weigh 1000 grams=1 kg?

Came out blurry :angry:

It's easy to see Nekton-Rep supplement ingredients in this link.

• For 16 click: Nekton-Rep vitamins -- April 2016

To convert kg to grams multiply by the equivalent fraction or use online calculators.

How to convert Kilograms to Grams
1 kilogram (kg) is equal to 1000 grams (g).

The mass m in grams (g) is equal to the mass m in kilograms (kg) times 1000:
m(g) = m(kg) × 1000

Example
Convert 5kg to grams:

m(g) = 5 kg × 1000 = 5000 g

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I think the only ones from the best ingredients that I can find in my country are the turnip greens and papaya. For dry food I could try (all natural no salt) almonds, for now. I'll check if I can find that bearded dragon food. I know petstores use some kind of pellets to feed the crickets but I have never asked what they are and to be honest the crickets don't seem to be too interested to eat them.

The ingredients on the nutrition chart above are recommended for a homemade gutload mix. In order to produce a balanced gutload, they need to be mixed with other ingredients. I prefer to use some of those veggies (like the leafy greens) to supplement a balanced dry diet like Zoo Med's Natural ADULT Bearded Dragon Food.

I depend upon nutritionists and the companies that produce the mixes to test their products. Testing is not always performed.

 

[Sg612]

It's easy to see Nekton-Rep supplement ingredients in this link.

• For 16 click: Nekton-Rep vitamins -- April 2016

To convert kg to grams multiply by the equivalent fraction or use online calculators.

Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I was trying to point out the fact that the amount appropriate for a small lizard would be invisible based on the directions.

That’s a small amount as it is 0.25 gram per a kg(of the reptiles weight). Leopard geckos on average weigh 65 grams as adult. These supplements are all over the place.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I was trying to point out the fact that the amount appropriate for a small lizard would be invisible based on the directions.

That’s a small amount as it is 0.25 gram per a kg(of the reptiles weight). Leopard geckos on average weigh 65 grams as adult. These supplements are all over the place.

Thanks, Sg612.

That's so true!