Hello, we could use help!

[Jordan E]

Hi! We are new leopard gecko owners. Our son got his little girl in December, she’s like a white & yellow leopard gecko. She was still pretty small when we got her, so we assumed very young. Recently we noticed her front foot/ankle joint swelling, almost like an abscess. She had just shed, so we assumed possibly it was due to a “bad shed”. Fast forward a few weeks, it’s still there and another white looking spot underneath another joint, on a different leg. She eats mealworms dipped in calcium, we leave a small bowl of calcium out for her as well. She has a heat mat, UVB lamp. We can’t find much online as far as what it could be. We would greatly appreciate any help, as to what this might be. I will attach photos. Thank you!

 

[acpart]

Is she getting vitamin D3 in the calcium as well? If not, she will not metabolize the calcium. In the case of the swelling, I think she really needs to see a reptile vet. It may be an abscess, in which case the vet can drain it and give you antibiotics for it. It could be gout, which, as in humans, is the deposit of uric acid crystals in the joints. Unfortunately the prognosis for reptiles is not great. However, the fact that the skin is starting to break down in one of the pictures makes me think it's an abscess. But, I'm not a vet, so please look for a reptile vet. If you can't fine one, contact your local non-exotics vet and see if you can get a referral or at least maybe that vet can do a teleconference with a reptile vet.

Aliza

 

[Jordan E]

Is she getting vitamin D3 in the calcium as well? If not, she will not metabolize the calcium. In the case of the swelling, I think she really needs to see a reptile vet. It may be an abscess, in which case the vet can drain it and give you antibiotics for it. It could be gout, which, as in humans, is the deposit of uric acid crystals in the joints. Unfortunately the prognosis for reptiles is not great. However, the fact that the skin is starting to break down in one of the pictures makes me think it's an abscess. But, I'm not a vet, so please look for a reptile vet. If you can't fine one, contact your local non-exotics vet and see if you can get a referral or at least maybe that vet can do a teleconference with a reptile vet.

Aliza

Her calcium does have D3. Thank you for your reply, I think we are at that point as well, taking her in. Appreciate your help

 

[Nugget_the_Leo]

Hello,
Can I ask for an update? I am having a very similar issue, my Leo has already been to the vet once and they did not think it was gout but I'm unsure. I would love to know what they diagnosed here.