Might have overdosed my baby leopard gecko on d3

[kvnsu]

I have been feeding my leopard about 3 days now and have been dusting every time ... I didn't know and he/she usually ate 3-6 mealworms/crickets each time.. so thats about 6-12 dusted.. each day.. should i not dust any other feeders until next week? now im worried i overdosed my leopard.. what should i do now?

 

[Yuk]

The issue with overdosing D3 (in a vitamin form) is that it stays in the system a long time. Let me see if I can find a link for you with the details. I read it a while ago, but I don't remember the specifics.

For now, if you think you have given her too much, just wait on giving her any more D3 until you know you can start again. I'll update this in just a minute

 

[kvnsu]

I think i have gave her way too much d3.. what should i do now? I'm panicking .. should i give her like a week or two without d3? if possible please elaborate on when i can start again on d3? thanks please help.. I will post pictures if necessary.

 

[Yuk]

It's taking a little longer to find than usual. Sorry for the delay. In the meantime, try not to panic. 3 days isn't a heck of a lot (depending on who's schedule you are following) and plenty of people have supplemented every day for who knows how long with D3 in the vitamins without serious illness immediately. It would have to be sonething you continuously misuse, if I remember correctly. Still looking for that article. It had a lot of info on how long it stays in the system etc.

 

[kvnsu]

oh okay.. thank you so much.. and about my feeding schedule.. am i feeding her too much? morning and night.. or should i just do in the night?

 

[Yuk]

Here is an article you should read to get acquainted with D3 and its use in reptile supplementation.

Information on Vitamin D3, Parathyroid Hormone, Calcitonin and Calcium.

I'm the wrong person to ask about a feeding schedule or provide you any guidance on dusting. I have food available 24/7, use UVB 2.0 and vionate in a jar mixed with plain calcium under the thought that leopard geckos will lick what they need when they need it and not overdose. Mine are also juveniles, so they need to have that calcium and D3 available to grow to be healthy adults. Completely different method than most people here.

 

[kvnsu]

I have read the article.. it says the effects about the d3 overdose but doesn't really give me a solution.. so I just wait a week or two without dusting with d3? and ty for the article and helping me, much appreciated.

 

[Yuk]

Honestly (I am going to get chewed out for this :/)

The worst I have read about a D3 overdose is that if constant over-supplementation is occurring over a long period of time it can lead to kidney problems, ulcers, and gout.

Babies need D3 to utilize their calcium properly. If it were me, I would leave a dish of vionate (or calcium, Vit A, Vit D3 mixed) in with the gecko to lick as it needs. So assuming it knows what it needs (highly debated) if you actually did overdose the D3, it might wait a few days before licking it and self regulate on its own.

Another option: use a UVB 2.0 bulb for a few hours a day. It is hard for them to overdose on D3 when it is produced naturally with light. If you do this, the baby needs to have a hide that has enough room for the baby to be in the complete dark and avoid the light if it needs to.

That said! Many other members will have a lot to say about this. Since you have chosen to dust and are following their schedule, they are the experts on how much you need and how to correct problems with their method. I can't help you there.

 

[kvnsu]

Thank you so much for helping me.. I have decided to just wait it out.. and wait a week and then start dusting again.... and your help is so greatly appreciated.

 

[Yuk]

That sounds good. I'm sure someone who dusts D3 on a schedule will respond within a week to help you out

 

[Conched]

Dusting with D-3 for 3 days straight is not going to hurt your gecko. There is a much higher risk of over supplementing if you leave the supplements in the enclosure 24/7. Keep feeding your young leo everyday until it gets to be around 6 months old or so and then you can drop back to 2-3 times per week.

Supplement every feeding while young, once full grown you can drop back to once a week. I only use the D-3 supplements once a week. Plain calcium once a week mixed with vitamins.

This is a bit of an art so just remember young growing geckos and females that are breeding will require higher amounts of calcium. There are some great instructions on Elizabeth Freer's care sheets concerning supplements and supplement schedules.

Link to care sheet http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html

 

[Yuk]

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...04-calcium-vit-d3-too-much-vs-too-little.html

Found some info for ya take a read through. I am still trying to find info on toxicity of D3, but at the moment, dusting D3, even every day, doesn't appear to end up being very much D3 at all...

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have read the article.. it says the effects about the d3 overdose but doesn't really give me a solution.. so I just wait a week or two without dusting with d3? and ty for the article and helping me, much appreciated.

Dusting with D-3 for 3 days straight is not going to hurt your gecko. There is a much higher risk of over supplementing if you leave the supplements in the enclosure 24/7. Keep feeding your young leo everyday until it gets to be around 6 months old or so and then you can drop back to 2-3 times per week.

Supplement every feeding while young, once full grown you can drop back to once a week. I only use the D-3 supplements once a week. Plain calcium once a week mixed with vitamins.

This is a bit of an art so just remember young growing geckos and females that are breeding will require higher amounts of calcium. There are some great instructions on Elizabeth Freer's care sheets concerning supplements and supplement schedules.

Link to care sheet http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html

The safest method is to keep all supplements out of the enclosure. You can find detailed feedback on some of these issues in the posts following my Leo Care Sheet also linked below.

Zoo Med's Reptivite has been formulated especially for reptiles.

Two weeks should be fine with no D3 supplement. When your plain Repti Calcium arrives, begin with that. Too much plain calcium is not good; calcium should be taken with food.

This is what I recommend especially for adult geckos. However, if your daily insect diet contains calcium as well as vitamins A and D3, cutting back on powdered supplementation is advised.

Lightly dust crickets and Blaptica dubia with Zoo Med's supplements like this:
1. Monday - Repti Calcium with D3 adjusted for your gecko's weight
2. Thursday - Repti Calcium with D3 adjusted for your gecko's weight
3. PLAIN (no D3) Reptivite (multivitamin) with A acetate adjusted for your leo's weight: Spread out the lightly dusted Reptivite multivitamin crickets over the course of a week. Use the Reptivite (multivitamin) very sparingly.

Recommend feeding crickets and Blaptica dubia an All Purpose Poultry Feed 24/7 or Zoo Med's Natural Bearded Dragon Food Adult Formula 24/7 with added collard greens and dandelion flowers/greens.