Can metabolic bone disease be prevented in reptiles?
Abstract. Metabolic bone diseases (MBDs) are a common presenting complaint in reptiles and amphibians to veterinarians; however, understanding of the causes and diagnostic and treatment options is often extrapolated from human or other mammalian medicine models. Although the roles of UV-B, calcium, phosphorus, and cholecalciferol are better ...
What is the best diet for a reptile with bone disease?
Nov 26, 2008 · Treatment. A reptile that is only mildly affected by metabolic bone disease will usually completely recover with dietary improvements, calcium and vitamin D supplements, and greater access to full-spectrum ultraviolet light. More severe cases require calcium and vitamin D injections, oral supplements, fluid therapy, and nutritional support.
Do Snakes get metabolic bone disease?
Vitamin D deficiency is generally NOT a dietary problem. While reptiles may obtain a slight amount of Vitamin D from food, most do not absorb it well. Instead, reptiles have unique metabolic pathways by which they manufacture the vast majority of what they need. Functioning of these pathways, however, requires regular exposure to both UVA and UVB light. This is why …
Do leopard geckos have metabolic bone disease?
Nov 20, 2014 · To conclude, recall that metabolic bone disease is not one disease, but a series of syndromes relating to bone form and function. It may be caused by nutritional and husbandry inadequacies and it can occur secondary to renal disease. Your veterinary team is needed to help diagnose these health problems and to determine the severity of the patient’s disease.
How do you treat metabolic bone disease in reptiles?
How do you fix metabolic bone disease in turtles?
How do you treat metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons?
How do you treat metabolic bone disease in iguanas?
How do you treat metabolic bone disease in birds?
How do you treat an MBD in tortoise?
What are Metabolic Bone Diseases?
How do you treat scale rot on a lizard?
- Betadine bath – These are especially important for treating any blisters and can be useful no matter how mild or severe the scale rot is. ...
- Antimicrobial spray – Once you've soaked and dried the area, apply an antibiotic spray.
What UVB is best for bearded dragons?
- ZOO MED ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Compact Fluorescent Lamp – Best Overall. ...
- ZOO MED T8 ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Lamp – Best Value. ...
- Reptile Systems 36-in T5 12% UVB Juvenile Light Kit – Premium Choice. ...
- Evergreen Pet Supplies UVB Mercury Vapor Bulb.
How is metabolic bone disease treated in chameleons?
How do you treat metabolic bone disease in leopard geckos?
What causes MBD in iguanas?
What is the treatment for metabolic bone disease in reptiles?
A reptile that is only mildly affected by metabolic bone disease will usually completely recover with dietary improvements, calcium and vitamin D supplements, and greater access to full-spectrum ultraviolet light. More severe cases require calcium and vitamin D injections, oral supplements, fluid therapy, and nutritional support.
Why do reptiles have bone disease?
Metabolic bone disease usually develops when dietary levels of calcium or vitamin D are too low, phosphorous levels are too high, and/or when inadequate exposure to ultraviolet-B wavelengths of light hinders normal vitamin D production and calcium metabolism within a reptile’s body.
What hormones are used to help reptiles with broken bones?
Injections of the hormone calcitonin can also be helpful after calcium supplementation has begun. If a reptile is suffering from broken bones as a result of metabolic bone disease, splints or other forms of stabilization may be necessary.
What is the disease of reptiles?
Metabolic Bone Disease. Reptiles that eat primarily insects or plants are at risk for developing metabolic bone disease, which is caused by an imbalance in the levels of calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin D in their bodies.
What is the best way to diagnose metabolic bone disease?
A veterinarian will often diagnose metabolic bone disease based on an animal’s clinical signs, diet, and access to ultraviolet-B light; X-rays and/or blood work, including measurements of calcium levels, may also be necessary.
How to tell if you have metabolic bone disease?
Typical symptoms of metabolic bone disease include: Limping. Bowed legs. Hard lumps along the legs, spinal column, or jaw. Softening and unusual flexibility of the lower jaw. Difficulty raising the body off the ground. Decreased appetite.
What happens if a turtle's shell is too soft?
A turtle’s shell may become unusually soft, flared up around the edges, or pointed down at the rear. If the large “scales” of a tortoise’s shell (or scutes) have an abnormal pyramid-like shape, ...
What is the most common nutritional problem in reptiles?
Metabolic Bone Disease In Reptiles. Also called fibrous osteodystrophy, osteomalacia, secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, or rickets, Metabolic Bone Disease is perhaps the most commonly seen nutritional problem in reptiles. MBD is the result of a calcium/phosphorous imbalance in the body which causes a weakening ...
What causes a turtle's skeletal structure to weaken?
MBD is the result of a calcium/phosphorous imbalance in the body which causes a weakening of the skeletal structure as well as the carapace and plastron of turtles and tortoises. In more advance cases this can lead to repeated tremors, severe weakness, and bone fractures.
What causes MBD in the body?
MBD develops as a result of an improper balance of calcium and phosphorous. Calcium is a vital biochemical messenger used in many metabolic pathways and nerve transmission, which means any level of calcium deficiency is a serious problem that in addition to MBD, can cause weakened muscle contraction (especially in the heart) and a decreased ability to form blood clots. If calcium levels drop too low, cardiac failure may occur. When the level of phosphorous becomes too high relative to calcium, it favors the formation of calcium phosphate in the gut, which is minimally absorbed as it is an insoluble salt. Thus, a calcium deficiency may actually be the result high phosphorous rather than low calcium. The generally accepted normal range for the calcium to phosphorous ration is 1.5:1 to 2:1, with the 2:1 end being more ideal. If the ratio drops much below this, phosphate ions can be absorbed, resulting in hyperphosphataemia, which stimulates the parathyroid glands to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), and signals to the body that it needs to obtain calcium from any available supply, namely bone.
What diseases affect calcium absorption?
For example, kidney and liver disease impair the ability to activate Vitamin D. Small intestinal disease disrupts normal digestive processes and by extension, calcium absorption. Disease of the thyroid or parathyroid glands effects the production of hormones (like PTH) that regulate calcium absorption.
Why do bones get soft?
As this progresses, the body tries to retain the integrity of the skeletal support and strengthen the bone by partially replacing the lost calcium with fibrocollagenous connective tissue. This can cause palpable and even visible bumps on the bone, particularly the vertebrae along the back and the base of the tail as well as the long bones of the legs.
How to treat MBD?
The most important treatment for most cases of MBD (with the exception of those cases secondary to a pre-existing medical condition) is proper husbandry. This includes a diet which combines nutrient dense fresh fruits and vegetables with protein sources like crickets and mealworms to ensure properly balanced nutrition. Calcium supplements may also be recommended. These are readily available in powdered form and can be routinely coated onto insects or sprinkled on top of fruits and vegetables. Enclosure temperatures should also be corrected. Exact temperature ranges vary by species, but it is important that reptiles have access to warm basking areas and cooler shaded areas, as well as day and night temperature gradients. Furthermore, it is essential that reptiles have daily exposure to UVA and UVB light as well as day and night light cycles. The times of these cycles again vary by species. Both temperature and light cycles should be based on the native environment of the species.
How to tell if a turtle has MBD?
How do we diagnose MBD? Early symptoms of MBD include bowed or swollen legs, arched spine, bumps along the bones of the legs, spine and tail, bilateral softening of the jaw ( commonly referred to as rubber jaw), and softening of the carapace and plastron in turtles and tortoises.
How to manage metabolic bone disease?
Patients presenting with earlier signs of metabolic bone diseases may be managed more conservatively by correcting husbandry errors and potentially with dietary supplementation until the animal is stable (Mader 2006).
What is the treatment for hypocalcemic tetany?
This may and should involve obtaining intravenous access (ideally via a catheter which requires surgical placement in most species) to correct the tetany, and potentially therapy with vitamin D3. Follow-up care includes correction of husbandry errors that led to the pathology as well as calcium and perhaps continued vitamin D3 supplementation until the animal is stable. Stabilization of any pathological fractures and correcting any other secondary conditions is necessary (Mader 2006).
Can skeletal deformities be euthanized?
In cases where skeletal deformities are so severe that the animal’s quality of life is affected, euthanasia may be considered a humane treatment.
What do reptiles eat?
These foods include, but are not limited to, cabbage, bok choy, sprouts, okra, kale, alfalfa, berries, squash, and cantaloupe . Insect-eating reptiles should eat bugs that are sourced from a supplier who feeds the bugs a nutritious diet before they are sold, and owners should "gut-load" the insects before offering them to their reptiles.
What are the symptoms of metabolic bone disease?
The symptoms of metabolic bone disease vary, but most patients exhibit some combination of bowed legs; limping; hard lumps along the jaw, spinal column and legs; a soft, flexible jaw; and difficulty raising the body up off of the ground. If calcium levels in the reptile’s blood become too low, neurologic problems (e.g., depression, lethargy, twitches, tremors, hind end weakness and seizures) and death may occur. Turtles and tortoises develop misshapen scutes and shells.
Is it better to cure or prevent a disease?
Of course, preventing a disease is always better than curing it. Avoid metabolic bone disease and the resulting trip to the vet by making sure that you provide your reptiles with enough calcium, vitamin D, and full-spectrum ultraviolet light as a part of their day to day care.
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Note: PetMD isn’t able to respond to pet health questions or to offer veterinary advice.
Can a vet diagnose metabolic bone disease?
Veterinarians can often diagnose metabolic bone disease based on a reptile’s history and clinical signs, but blood calcium levels and/or X-rays provide confirmation . Mildly affected reptiles will typically recover once their diets have been changed and/or their exposure to full spectrum ultra-violet light is increased. More severe cases may also require injections of vitamin D, calcium, and calcitonin (a hormone that controls calcium homeostasis); fluid therapy; nutritional support; and stabilization of any fractures that resulted from calcium leaching out of bone tissue.
How to tell if a lizard has MBD?
a normal iguana lifts its trunk or chest and proximal tail up off the ground while walking or disturbed. Early on in MBD , the iguana may drag its pelvis and tail but is still able to lift its chest. As the disease progresses, the lizard drags its entire chest while walking. In advanced stages of MBD, the lizard can no longer lift its body, the legs move vigorously yet the lizard is unable to walk. Another common finding is a soft or pliable lower (mandible) and/or upper (maxilla) jaw. This is best evaluated with the mouth held open. To do this, gently restrain the upper jaw and pull down on the dewlap with the other hand. Once the mouth is open apply gentle pressure to the tip of the jaw pushing it backward towards the neck with an index finger. The jaw should feel hard like bone and should not give or deform. With MBD, the jaw will feel soft and collapse or deform inward. As MBD progresses, traction of the muscles of the jaw result in the tip of the jaw being pulled inward and the lateral portion of the jaw bowing outward causing the appearance of an underbite. Single and multiple fractures of the long bones of the legs are common in reptiles with MBD. Lizards may show lameness or reluctance to move. The fractures may occur simply from the bending forces exerted on the bones by the muscles of the leg as they contract during normal movement. Fibrous osteodystrophy (FO) generally affects the long bones or the bones of the jaw. Superficially, the legs look well fleshed and muscular (popeye legs) however when felt, the legs have a firm feel-more like bone. This is due to the presence of excessive fibrous tissue deposited by the body along the long bones in an attempt to provide strength and support. Lizards with MBD have a gradual decline in appetite and weight loss. If the jaw bones are affected, the lizard may want to eat but can not, thus with out intervention and treatment, it will slowly starve to death.
Why do lizards have a reluctance to move?
The fractures may occur simply from the bending forces exerted on the bones by the muscles of the leg as they contract during normal movement. Fibrous osteodystrophy (FO) generally affects the long bones or the bones of the jaw.
What causes MBD in the body?
MBD results when an imbalance in the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the blood results in absorption of calcium from the exhisting bone thus weakening the bone. This imbalance may result from calcium deficiency, phosphorus overload, and/or inadequate vitamin D 3.
What is the disease of iguanas?
Metabolic Bone Disease in Iguanas. Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is most commonly seen in young, rapidly growing reptiles and amphibians and it is one of the most common reason iguanas are presented for veterinary care. MBD results when an imbalance in the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the blood results in absorption ...
What are the symptoms of MBD in iguanas?
ADULT MBD In adult reptiles, symptoms such as paresis (weakness to paralysis), muscle tremors and seizures are common clinical signs of MBD. In addition to diet and lighting deficiencies causes of MBD in adult iguanas include kidney disease and egg production in females. In all cases, by the time clinical symptoms become evident, the disease has progressed to a critical stage and requires immediate, long term treatment and permanent correction of the diet and husbandry practices that initially led to the problem.
What is the diagnosis of MBD?
Diagnosis. Diagnosis of MBD is made based on the physical examination and history of the diet and care of the reptile. Individual cases may require additional diagnostic evaluation such as blood work, fecal (stool) examination and radiographs. Fractures will require stabilization.
What is the best diet for iguanas?
Many iguanas are fed diets that consist of only lettuce, broccoli, and a few other vegetables. These diets are deficient in calcium and very high in phosphorus. A desired ratio is 2:1 i.e. 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus.