Vitamin A Deficiency in Lizards

Vitamin A Deficiency in Lizards

               Lizards and reptiles can make great pets, but proper diet is essential for good health.  Several species of captive lizards who eat diets consisting of only insects may be prone to a deficiency of vitamin A which can lead to health problems.  Commonly affected species include leopard geckos, chameleons and anoles.  Wild lizards and those who eat both plants and insects are less likely to have this deficiency due to a more varied diet.

               Insect eating lizards may be unable to produce their own vitamin A, and diets may be lacking if the pet lizard is not receiving a multivitamin containing vitamin A or if he or she eats feeder insects such as crickets that are not gut loaded with foods rich in vitamin A.  There is a misconception that vitamin A is toxic to some reptiles.  While it is true that very high levels of vitamin A can be toxic to the liver, lack of proper amounts of vitamin A in the diet is much more of a concern than too much vitamin A.

               Why do certain reptiles need vitamin A?  Vitamin A is essential to proper growth of immature epidermal or skin cells.  Lack of vitamin A causes excessive growth or thickening of cells (hyperkeratosis) and may also cause cells to change shape.  The cells or organs most commonly affected include the eyes, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems.

               Symptoms include eye problems such as excessive tear production, puffiness under the eyes and squinting of the eyes.  Affected lizards may experience temporary or permanent blindness.  Other symptoms may include dull skin color, trouble shedding skin, and buildup of thick cellular material under the eyelids. Lizards with vitamin A deficiency can also have stomach and mouth issues including difficulty catching insects, sores in the mouth, decreased appetite, and weight loss.  Affected patients are diagnosed based on dietary history and clinical signs as blood tests are often inaccurate. Other causes for disease must be ruled out.

               Treatment consists of supportive care such as feeding calorie supplements and administering fluids, removing any debris from around the eyes and applying antibiotic ointments to the eyes, and, of course, adding vitamin A supplements to the diet. Feeding a diet consisting of as many different insects as possible, “gut-loading” insects used for food with diets high in vitamin A and calcium, dusting insects with calcium and using multi-vitamin supplements containing vitamin A.  Prognosis is poor for those lizards who have advanced clinical signs or who have been affected for more than six months, but, if the condition is caught early and the diet is corrected, most will recover.

               If you have a captive insect-eating lizard, talk to one of our vets about proper diet and nutrition to help prevent vitamin A deficiency.

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/vitamin-deficiency-insectivorous-lizards