How are diseases in bearded dragons treated? Metabolic bone disease usually requires immediate oral calcium supplementation, rehydration with fluids, nutritional support, treatment with injectable vitamin D3, and injections of calcitonin (a drug which helps re-deposit calcium back into bearded dragons’ bones).
Is metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons curable?
Treatment and Prognosis
Fortunately, if detected early enough, MBD can often be corrected and reversed through making changes and improvements to the husbandry of the animal by providing the needed or adequate levels of UV-A and UV-B lighting and heating, proper supplementation, and other nutrients.
How do you treat metabolic bone disease in reptiles?
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.
Can bearded dragons live with MBD?
As the disease progresses, your lizard’s body will start to metabolize tissue as it tries to repair the damage to bone structure. Dragons with MBD often end up with paralysis, and they may become very deformed and/or weak. Unfortunately, MBD can be fatal.
How long does it take to reverse MBD?
Some people may go as short as four months, so we say every four to six months,” says Sadar. “We typically tell people that it [UVB] doesn’t penetrate glass and plastic so don’t put those between the light and the reptile.”
Is metabolic bone disease painful?
In clinical terms, metabolic bone diseases may result in bone pain and loss of height (due to compression of vertebrae), and they predispose patients to fractures.
How long do bearded dragons with MBD live?
This is a contagious and often lethal ailment for which palliative care is often the only option, and dragons with this disease often die within 18 months. Although it can be occasionally be seen in wild BDs, it seems to be a condition of stress caused by poor sanitation and overcrowding in captivity.
Can reptiles recover from metabolic bone disease?
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.
What are symptoms of metabolic bone disease?
Common symptoms of hyperparathyroidism can include:
- Increased thirst and urination.
- Kidney stones.
- Abdominal pain.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Osteoporosis.
Can bearded dragons overdose on calcium?
Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the body) is rare in bearded dragons, but it can happen, and it can result in illness and death. So it’s always best to check with a vet first before starting any supplementation. Vitamin D3.
What causes metabolic bone disease in reptiles?
Metabolic bone disease (MBD), often seen in herbivorous lizards and chelonians, is associated with a dietary deficiency of Ca, a negative calcium–phosphorus ratio in the diet, or a lack of exposure to ultraviolet UVB radiation (Boyer, 1996a; Barten, 1993). Metabolic bone disease is commonly seen in juvenile reptiles.
How do you give a bearded dragon a calcium bath?
Adding a few drops of liquid calcium to a water source is fine, but the dragon will only hydrate or benefit if the water is drank orally. Bearded dragons do not hydrate via the skin or cloaca (vent area).
Do bearded dragons need calcium powder?
As adults, bearded dragons don’t need calcium quite as often, given that they are no longer growing. … However, you should still dust your dragon’s food around 3 times a week with calcium powder. When it comes to their multi vitamin, mix it in with their calcium just one time a week to ensure optimal health.
How do you treat metabolic bone disease?
A balanced diet with adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium and an adequate amount of physical activity are needed for normal bone metabolism. Your doctor may prescribe osteoporosis medications to help slow the rate of bone loss, and in some cases, to replace the lost bone structure.
What kind of calcium do bearded dragons need?
Generally, veterinarians recommend that 2-3 times per week, you LIGHTLY sprinkle food offered to bearded dragons with a calcium powder (calcium gluconate, lactate, or carbonate) not containing vitamin D3, and an additional 2-3 times a week, you LIGHTLY sprinkle food with a calcium powder containing vitamin D3.
How do I know if my bearded dragon is deficient in calcium?
Caused by low levels of Calcium and Vitamin D3, it’s by far the most common cause of illness in ‘beardies’. Symptoms can be hard to spot, but can include muscle twitching, swollen legs and fragile bones, which can eventually lead to permanent deformities in the limbs, jaw, spine or tail.