Diarrhea is something most pet owners have to deal with at some point. This can happen with any animal from your family dog to your leopard gecko. Diarrhea is not all that common, though it does happen.
Knowing what to look for and potential causes can help you secure the fastest and most effective treatment while putting preventative measures in place to ensure your gecko remains happy and healthy moving forward.
Sign of Diarrhea in a Leopard Gecko
There are a number of signs to look out for when you checking in on your gecko. If your leopard gecko shows any of these signs, it could be suffering from diarrhea. Diarrhea should never be ignored in leopard geckos, as it can result in death if left untreated.
- Loose feces
- Frequent feces
- Foul smelling feces
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
Causes of Diarrhea in Leopard Geckos
There are so many causes that could result in diarrhea in your leopard gecko. Worms and parasites are the most common causes of diarrhea. This can be due to food you have fed your gecko recently.
Stress and viral infections also play a large role in diarrhea, often with watery stools being a symptom. A pet that is stressed is likely to cause havoc with its internal functions and in turn, this can result in diarrhea in your pet.
Remember that the enclosure can also be a leading cause. An enclosure that is dirty and unsanitary is more likely to have dangerous bacteria and fungi lurking around, making your leopard gecko sick.
In addition to this providing your gecko with incorrect temperatures and humidity levels can also be a problem.
Consider using a digital thermometer and hygrometer to ensure that you keep a note of the humidity and temperature levels inside the enclosure to keep your pet happy and healthy.
Treatment of Diarrhea in Leopard Geckos
When it comes to treating diarrhea in your leopard gecko, you are going to want to visit your vet in the first instance.
Your vet will be able to guide you in treating diarrhea accordingly. It is essential that you keep your gecko well hydrated during this time as dehydration is a serious risk, which if ignored can result in death.
Soak your gecko in lukewarm water while following instructions from your vet.
Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to caring for your reptilian pet. There are numerous preventative steps you can take to reduce the risk of diarrhea in your leopard gecko moving forward, these include:
- Monitor enclosure conditions, including temperature and humidity
- Keep enclosure clean and free of parasites
- Feed a healthy diet
- Keep your pet hydrated to reduce the risk of dehydration
Related – Leopard gecko heating setup
Conclusion
Leopard geckos can get diarrhea from time to time. You want to take the relevant steps to ensure you keep your pet hydrated during this time while taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of diarrhea in the future.