Why is my leopard gecko licking its vent and has white discharge?

Occasionally is normal. If it is frequent, it may indicate infection, irritation, parasites or constipation. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to definitively diagnose intestinal parasites. Look her over for any unusual redness, swelling or discharge. If you see anything suspicious, have her examined by your vet or an experienced herp vet.

I am so sorry to hear that Gizmo is not feeling well. Reptiles have what is called a vent which is a single opening through which they defecate, urinate and copulate. So he could be licking the area due to a problem with his intestinal system, urinary system or reproductive system. If he is struggling to defecate, I would be worried that Gizmo has an impaction or blockage in his intestinal tract. Sometimes they pick up and eat things that they shouldn't when going to grab insects. Also, are you sure that Gizmo is a boy? If not, female reptiles can potentially become egg bound (unable to pass eggs). I would recommend taking Gizmo to the veterinarian to have an exam and possibly x-rays so that he can be treated appropriately. Best of luck to you and Gizmo.

Thanks for reaching out about Dauntless. Clogged nostrils can be due to improper shedding or an infection/accumulated exudate. Try offering a warm water soak for 10-15 minutes and see if you can gently manually lift off the skin. Vitamin A deficiencies can play a part in shedding difficulty. Crickets, mealworms and other insects need to be properly gut-loaded to provide adequate nutrition. If problematic, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

If you think it is a wound severe enough to expose intestine, Koopa should be seen immediately by your vet or an experienced herp veterinarian. A physical exam may diagnose injury, infection or a bad shed. It may also be a prolapse from the vent. These conditions cannot be diagnosed without an exam. Confirm proper temps in the enclosure. Soak him in a warm solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte daily for 15-20 minutes as long as he is not eating. keep him on paper towels or reptile carpet to keep the affected area clean. Loose substrate may stick to it and contaminate it further. If it is a bad shed, the soaks may loosen the skin/scab.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Thank you for your question about Loki, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful! From what I can see in the photos, I think that you are asking about the large white area that extends from the eyes forward to around his nose and down along his mouth. This looks like areas of retained shed on top of new skin. Difficulty shedding, or dysecdysis, is often the result of imperfections in the husbandry. I would recommend starting with soaking Loki in 85-90 F water once daily for 15-20 minutes. While in the bath, you can wet a paper towel or cloth and get the areas of retained shed wet. Use caution around his eyes and nose, however, as we don't want him to feel uncomfortable or panicked. I would also suggest evaluating the husbandry and diet closely. You can consult an online care sheet, such as anapsid.org or Reptiles Magazine, and see if there are any areas that you may need to make adjustments. Common areas that require adjustment include lighting (UV lights need to be changed every 4-6 months), temperatures, and humidity/hydration/water. I would also recommend taking Loki into a veterinarian at some point for a wellness examination. Your veterinarian can make recommendations that are tailored to Loki after his physical exam has been performed. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

From the picture it looks more like inflamed and ulcerated tissue then extra shed, but pictures can be deceiving. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon, before he becomes too sick. He will likely need antibiotics. Also double check that your temperature and humidity are appropriate, and that he is getting good night and daylight cycles (too long light cycles can cause stress). A good resource is www.anapsid.org Good luck and I hope he improves soon!