Dealing with MBD

c1rc4 · 07-14-2008, 09:22 PM

We all dread a gecko getting MBD, but it happens, even to the best of us, sometimes for unknown reasons.

Some of you know I had to deal with my first gecko getting MBD, some may not. I kept this matter hidden for awhile, until I was certain I had it under control.

Awesome is 4 years old, as of January. She's been a great girl, and never had problems until now. We aren't 100% certain what happened, as she was getting supplements. It seems she wasn't absorbing calcium correctly, or that the supplements we were using were bad. I now use RepCal, and only RepCal products.

She's been my little girl since she was teeny tiny. Here is her the day I got her, barely a few days old, if even:

Here was a picture before getting sick. She is also in my little icon on the left.

It all started with a hunger strike, something I was fairly used to with her. She did this a few times a year, but it only lasted a few weeks. This went on for over a month, and she refused waxworms. I didn't understand why, and then she started losing weight (which also was uncommon). I was worried about her, but thought she would pull through, as she was very active, and was willing to take a liquid diet.

It wasn't until I noticed her leg was bent that I took her to the vet. I got up bright and early and called to make an appointment, and thankfully they had one that day. We are lucky to have an exotic vet here, but unlucky that he charges a fortune.

Here is what she looked like:

He gave me meds to help her, and to stop inflammation. I also got liquid calcium and Carnivore Care, a liquid diet that is better than what is sold in stores. She was to take her meds daily, some twice a day. It was a pain as she won't open her mouth for anyone. I spent some time with her everyday, by the end she was used to it. She started to get better, and even started eating mealworms again. This was a huge step.

Her leg still had a nice swelling though:

This all happened in April/May. She is finally over 50g now, and is slowly gaining her weight back. She still has a little ball in her leg, but this is most likely due to her leg not being taped back to her tail. They didn't want to do this, as her bones were already too brittle.

Here she is now:

Hopefully this can show you how bad MBD can be, and how you can treat it. I hope anyone that deals with hunger strikes, or even thinks their gecko may be suffering, takes them to the vet.

Geckoboy · 07-14-2008, 09:29 PM

I'm going to buy some phoenix worms soon so i can make sure my Gecko NEVER gets MBD. It must really suck for you and the Gecko. I'm glad shes finally over 50gs. At the moment my Geckos not eating a ton but shes not eating to little, I just gave her 2 wax worms and 2 crickets but later ill give her some more. Poor Little Guy

prism_wolf · 07-14-2008, 09:43 PM

I'm glad you posted this. You've done amazing things with her Stacey. I know it was tough there for awhile. She's definitely a little fighter...

c1rc4 · 07-14-2008, 09:53 PM

She hasn't really "gained" weight, I think most of what she has eaten has gone to repairing her broken leg, and just helping her heal. She's gained 4g since she was diagnosed. Now that her leg is better, I'm hoping she puts on more soon, and that tail gets nice and plump again.

Geckoboy · 07-14-2008, 10:03 PM

A plump tail is a good gecko

My gecko still has almost no fat in her tail

prism_wolf · 07-14-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geckoboy

My gecko still has almost no fat in her tail

Don't beat yourself up over it. I've seem much worse. PetCo had one several weeks back that had a tail that looked like a superworm it had so little fat. They can get pretty thin and still make a good recovery.

heart4herps · 07-14-2008, 10:40 PM

MBD is one of the most prevalent problems in herp keeping and one of the most preventable. Unfortunately sometimes despite our best efforts things still happen. She looks like she's doing great - good job!

My previous neighbors got a pet chameleon and asked my help with setting things up. I told them everything I knew and encouraged them to get on the Internet and do their own research. I Stressed how important it was to dust the food with calcium at each feeding and a multivitamin once to twice a week.

Sadly they left the kids in charge of the care and the poor creature had such bad MBD when they brought him to me that I didn't think he had a chance. He couldn't stand up and just sat hunched over on his branch shaking. I took him to the vet and his x-ray was horrifying. He had no bones at all - it was all cartilage. The vet told me to euthanize him but I refused and took him home. I started a regimen of daily slurries of calcium and vitamin 'shakes' which I fed to him through a syringe.

I'm happy to say that today he's big and strong with only minor disfigurement. He did lose part of his casque but even that has healed over and now he's a typical chameleon with plenty of attitude and a beloved member of our family!

Geckoboy · 07-14-2008, 10:45 PM

Wow :'(

MrsWTownsend · 07-15-2008, 03:16 AM

What horrible experiences and wonderful success stories.

I don't know if you see it quite as clearly but there is a marked difference in the girth of your Leo between the pic with the broken leg and now. You will get her there; you're already on the down hill slide!

snakesRus · 07-22-2009, 11:26 PM

I am so sorry to hear about your gecko, but I'm so happy that she is on her way to being 100% healthy! You've done an amazing job!!

07-14-2008, 09:22 PM	#1
c1rc4 Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 2,342	Dealing with MBD We all dread a gecko getting MBD, but it happens, even to the best of us, sometimes for unknown reasons. Some of you know I had to deal with my first gecko getting MBD, some may not. I kept this matter hidden for awhile, until I was certain I had it under control. Awesome is 4 years old, as of January. She's been a great girl, and never had problems until now. We aren't 100% certain what happened, as she was getting supplements. It seems she wasn't absorbing calcium correctly, or that the supplements we were using were bad. I now use RepCal, and only RepCal products. She's been my little girl since she was teeny tiny. Here is her the day I got her, barely a few days old, if even: Here was a picture before getting sick. She is also in my little icon on the left. It all started with a hunger strike, something I was fairly used to with her. She did this a few times a year, but it only lasted a few weeks. This went on for over a month, and she refused waxworms. I didn't understand why, and then she started losing weight (which also was uncommon). I was worried about her, but thought she would pull through, as she was very active, and was willing to take a liquid diet. It wasn't until I noticed her leg was bent that I took her to the vet. I got up bright and early and called to make an appointment, and thankfully they had one that day. We are lucky to have an exotic vet here, but unlucky that he charges a fortune. Here is what she looked like: He gave me meds to help her, and to stop inflammation. I also got liquid calcium and Carnivore Care, a liquid diet that is better than what is sold in stores. She was to take her meds daily, some twice a day. It was a pain as she won't open her mouth for anyone. I spent some time with her everyday, by the end she was used to it. She started to get better, and even started eating mealworms again. This was a huge step. Her leg still had a nice swelling though: This all happened in April/May. She is finally over 50g now, and is slowly gaining her weight back. She still has a little ball in her leg, but this is most likely due to her leg not being taped back to her tail. They didn't want to do this, as her bones were already too brittle. Here she is now: Hopefully this can show you how bad MBD can be, and how you can treat it. I hope anyone that deals with hunger strikes, or even thinks their gecko may be suffering, takes them to the vet. __________________ Iguana Salad

07-14-2008, 09:29 PM	#2
Geckoboy Sub-Adult Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: If everyone knew where I lived then I would be very popular... With sex offenders Posts: 589	Re: Dealing with MBD I'm going to buy some phoenix worms soon so i can make sure my Gecko NEVER gets MBD. It must really suck for you and the Gecko. I'm glad shes finally over 50gs. At the moment my Geckos not eating a ton but shes not eating to little, I just gave her 2 wax worms and 2 crickets but later ill give her some more. Poor Little Guy __________________ Life Sucks. Deal with it!

07-14-2008, 09:43 PM	#3
prism_wolf Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Springville, TN Posts: 4,794	Re: Dealing with MBD I'm glad you posted this. You've done amazing things with her Stacey. I know it was tough there for awhile. She's definitely a little fighter... __________________ Veronica ,, /_^.)///////////,,,,, ...\\\_#_#_#_//_#_#_#_#_#_£_£_&_&_ ..._// _\\ Exotic Animal Rescue (E.A.R.) E.A.R. Fotopic Gallery E.A.R. Petfinder Adoption Page "Turn around to the sound of the voice that you're flowing to - It's inside your head"

07-14-2008, 09:53 PM	#4
c1rc4 Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 2,342	Re: Dealing with MBD She hasn't really "gained" weight, I think most of what she has eaten has gone to repairing her broken leg, and just helping her heal. She's gained 4g since she was diagnosed. Now that her leg is better, I'm hoping she puts on more soon, and that tail gets nice and plump again. __________________ Iguana Salad

07-14-2008, 10:03 PM	#5
Geckoboy Sub-Adult Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: If everyone knew where I lived then I would be very popular... With sex offenders Posts: 589	Re: Dealing with MBD A plump tail is a good gecko My gecko still has almost no fat in her tail __________________ Life Sucks. Deal with it!

07-14-2008, 10:40 PM	#7
heart4herps Sub-Adult Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: High Desert SoCal Posts: 697	Re: Dealing with MBD MBD is one of the most prevalent problems in herp keeping and one of the most preventable. Unfortunately sometimes despite our best efforts things still happen. She looks like she's doing great - good job! My previous neighbors got a pet chameleon and asked my help with setting things up. I told them everything I knew and encouraged them to get on the Internet and do their own research. I Stressed how important it was to dust the food with calcium at each feeding and a multivitamin once to twice a week. Sadly they left the kids in charge of the care and the poor creature had such bad MBD when they brought him to me that I didn't think he had a chance. He couldn't stand up and just sat hunched over on his branch shaking. I took him to the vet and his x-ray was horrifying. He had no bones at all - it was all cartilage. The vet told me to euthanize him but I refused and took him home. I started a regimen of daily slurries of calcium and vitamin 'shakes' which I fed to him through a syringe. I'm happy to say that today he's big and strong with only minor disfigurement. He did lose part of his casque but even that has healed over and now he's a typical chameleon with plenty of attitude and a beloved member of our family! __________________ Laurie

07-14-2008, 10:45 PM	#8
Geckoboy Sub-Adult Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: If everyone knew where I lived then I would be very popular... With sex offenders Posts: 589	Re: Dealing with MBD Wow :'( __________________ Life Sucks. Deal with it!

07-15-2008, 03:16 AM	#9
MrsWTownsend Too dorky for TRF Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5,793	Re: Dealing with MBD What horrible experiences and wonderful success stories. I don't know if you see it quite as clearly but there is a marked difference in the girth of your Leo between the pic with the broken leg and now. You will get her there; you're already on the down hill slide! __________________

07-22-2009, 11:26 PM	#10
snakesRus Sub-Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: PA Posts: 926	I am so sorry to hear about your gecko, but I'm so happy that she is on her way to being 100% healthy! You've done an amazing job!! __________________ AAHHH I can't keep track of what we have anymore!