Metabolic Bone Disease in a Leopard Gecko: A Case Report

Azargoun, Reza; Hashemi-Asl, Seyed Mohammad; Khosravi-Mahtaj, Bita; Mehrizi, Negar

doi:10.30500/ivsa.2025.492912.1428

Metabolic Bone Disease in a Leopard Gecko: A Case Report

Document Type : Clinical Report

Authors

Reza Azargoun ¹

Seyed Mohammad Hashemi-Asl ²

Bita Khosravi-Mahtaj ¹

Negar Mehrizi ¹

¹ Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

² Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

10.30500/ivsa.2025.492912.1428

Abstract

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is a common disease in reptiles, however in leopard geckos it is not well described, and most studies have addressed other aspects of the disease, so the importance of husbandry principles has been somewhat obscured. A leopard gecko was referred with the owner's complaint of dysphagia, hyporexia, and reluctance to move. Clinical examinations revealed lethargy, hypothermia, and jaw deformity. The lizard suffered from a lack of UV light source, an inappropriate temperature range, and dietary calcium deficiency. A Total-body radiograph showed a generalized decrease in the contrast between bone and soft tissue resulting from MBD. Sadly, despite supportive treatments, the gecko did not survive. According to this clinical report, it seems that leopard geckos unlike some other reptiles, rely more on UV-B light and optimum temperature than dietary sources for their vitamin D needs. As geckos are increasingly kept as pets, veterinarians and owners need to have up-to-date knowledge about the husbandry principles of this reptile.

Keywords

Exotic

Eublepharis macularius

Lizard

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism

Subjects

Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

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