{"id":591,"date":"2021-07-29T15:11:34","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T15:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/?p=591"},"modified":"2022-10-19T13:32:07","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T13:32:07","slug":"crested-gecko-metabolic-bone-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/crested-gecko-metabolic-bone-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Metabolic Bone Disease in Crested Geckos: Signs, Treatment and Prevention Options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is a spectrum of disorders related to a lack (or imbalance) of calcium in the body. The bioavailability of calcium is determined not just by overall calcium in the diet but also by the interaction of other vitamins & minerals – most notably vitamin D3 and phosphorus. When the right balance is not available in the diet, calcium is pulled from its usual storage – bone mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is MBD in crested geckos?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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MBD in crested geckos generally takes the form of disfigured bones, especially in the spine, hips and tail. Weak jawbones are also a sign of MBD, as are swollen limbs. Trembling and overall ill health are caused by the internal turmoil the lack of calcium produces in the body: lack of muscle contractions, loss of liver and kidney function, a decrease of nerve function and problems in blood clotting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a calcium deficiency is not corrected through proper diet or syringe feeding, the gecko will die. Calcium is needed for proper muscle and organ function; the healthy level of calcium in the bloodstream is roughly 1%. Over-supplementation with calcium is rare but possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Providing a balanced diet is crucial to prevent this crippling disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Signs of MBD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Swollen limbs (“Popeye” arms)<\/li>
Swollen jaw<\/li>
A weak jaw that hangs open<\/li>
Underbite or overbite<\/li>
Humped back<\/li>
Irregular spine<\/li>
Kinked tail with multiple zig-zags, especially combined with a humped back<\/li>
Shaking, trembling, or twitching of the entire body or extremities<\/li>
Organ failure<\/li>
Inability to eat<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Look for signs in combination with each other, as taken individually they could be symptoms of something else, such as an injury, infection, or neurological or genetic condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note that while a crested gecko suffering from MBD can be brought back to health, any deformities in the bone are permanent. Prevention is the best way to avoid crested gecko MBD!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a reptile vet, Dr Sadaar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first thing that I notice is a crooked tail, or weakness or tremors,” says John Makaryshyn, a reptile hobbyist and breeder. “You pick them up [and they’re] just shaky when moving around.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He adds that he often hears owners describe their pet’s condition as “lethargic” or “wasting away.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MBD occurs when there’s an improper balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients making up the reptile’s bones. Key factors are too much phosphorous, and low calcium and low vitamin D3 which regulate calcium absorption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If there’s not enough calcium in the bones, the bones are not as strong as they should be … sometimes the muscles can actually be stronger than the bones — depending on how much calcium is missing,” says Dr. Miranda Sadar, a former faculty member at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The board-certified specialist is now an assistant professor at Colorado State University’s Avian, Exotic, and Zoological Medicine Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Of course with weak bones, they are more prone to getting fractures so a classic presentation of metabolic bone disease is going to be fractures.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sadar finds that juvenile reptiles are the most likely suspects for MBD, and sometimes, it takes owners a long time – two to three months after purchasing their pets – to visit a veterinarian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“[That’s] often when we will start having animals come in for any kind of problem – [it] could be metabolic bone disease, it could be just straight anorexia,” says Sadar. “But those clinical signs may have been going on longer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Makyryshyn rarely has issues with MBD but finds breeding females the most challenging to prevent the disease since their eggs contain a lot of calcium. He notices the most problems with MBD during the spring when females begin laying their eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In many reptile species, vitamin D3 is produced by the skin after sunlight exposure, which is replicated in captivity with ultraviolet (UVB) lighting. As well, some reptile species such as ball pythons can get adequate vitamin D3 from their diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Makaryshyn is frustrated by the lack of scientific information available for reptile owners and breeders – especially about topics such as UVB lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“[For] some reptiles it’s debatable whether they need UV [light] or not. It would be nice to have some scientific data or even a vet who actually has experience with this [topic],” says Makaryshyn, who has owned over 20 different reptile species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While care of reptiles and other zoological companion animals (exotics) is well established in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs at veterinary colleges like the WCVM, Sadar agrees that the lack of scientific data in the area is challenging for owners. As an exotic animal veterinarian, she prefers owners to err on the side of caution and provide UVB lighting for their reptile pets. UVB bulbs also degrade over time, so timely bulb replacement is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Once they started to actually do emission studies … we’re realizing that six months [between bulb replacement] may even be stretching it. 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a lack of UVB lighting isn’t the problem, insufficient calcium in a reptile pet’s diet is another common cause of MBD. Many feeder insects, such as crickets, are high in phosphorous and low in calcium. To compensate, Makaryshyn dusts his reptiles’ meals – crickets and fruit flies – with calcium and vitamin D3 if certain pets don’t have access to UV lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Sadar, reptile owners can run into problems if they feed too many live crickets at once. This allows the insects enough time to groom the calcium dust off before being eaten. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Sadar warns that it’s possible for reptile owners “to overdo it” with vitamin D3 supplements, which could potentially damage the reptile’s kidneys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The worst-case scenario is if you have a reptile that can absorb vitamin D from the sun and can also absorb vitamin D from the diet,” says Sadar. She adds that doubling up on vitamin D supplementation could potentially cause toxicosis in the pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sadar notes that the success rate for the treatment of MBD varies widely from species to species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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