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Fatty Liver Syndrome??

z10silver Jun 25, 2004 11:55 PM

I recently took one of my geckos to the vet and he tested positive for parasites. He was a big guy (85 g) but had stopped eating and dropped down to 73. I have now been force feeding him baby food for 2 weeks and he has received meds for the parasites, but has shown no interest in live food. When I expressed my concern the vet told me that sometimes after not eating for a while geckos may develop fatty liver syndrome and this may take up to 8 weeks to go away, or it could possibly be fatal. Does anyone have more information on fatty liver syndrome or has had an experience with it?

Thanks,
Zach
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AIM sn: z10silver

Replies (3)

Snarks Jun 26, 2004 02:18 AM

From what i've heard, fatty liver happens when the anything is obese and extra/too much fat get stored in the liver and gets re-released back causing many problems.

I don't want to scare you, and that's all i know.
check out Dr. Gecko
http://www.drgecko.com

Mizar 21 Jun 26, 2004 07:40 AM

My cat had a fatty liver syndrome, i dont know that a gecko can have that too. It's curable....but you must be VERY patient. The vet told us that with proper care it's supose to go away in 8 weeks...we give really good care and it stay for almost 15 weeks.

I have a few hint for you, The best with that syndrome is to give very small meal but often. If it were my gecko, i'll try to give him some baby food with a syringe (not with a needle !) a couple of times a day. It's important to not feed him to much at once because his liver cant handle much. His liver must get rid of all the fat that he have around him.

If you have question, feel free to mail me !
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Mizar 21
1.0 Collared lizard (Ganymede)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (Gethsemani)
1.0 Nerodia Fasciata (Serpentard)
1.2 Cats

GoldenGateGeckos Jun 26, 2004 01:22 PM

When leopard geckos do not eat for a long time, the fat reserves stored in their tails and bodies becomes mobilized so they can live on that until their next meal. If they have been off food for a long time, and/or lose a significant amount of weight in a relatively short time, their livers cannot handle the amount of fat that is being processed and basically gets clogged up with it. The liver then swells up, causing further discomfort and anorexia. If your gecko begins eating normally again, the liver may be able to clear itself of the fatty deposits and function properly again.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

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