M.B.D. ?

[Valex]

Okay, so I understand that Metabolic Bone Disorder comes from a lack of calcium usually because they are not getting UVB rays to get D3 to be able to absorb calcium. I also understand that it cause the bones to be mis-shapened? But thats all i really know about it and I am wondering what else happens or what it looks like.


So... What else does it do, and what do the effects look like, or can you even see them? :?:

 

[spurlee01]

From what I understand, one of the earliest symptoms is tremors. After that the tail begins to get crooked, jaws become soft and mishapen (one hangs out farther than the other), and legs become twisted. Bones also have a "soft" feel to them. I do not have any first hand experience with it, though.
Sara

 

[Valex]

Is it reversable or are the effects permanent? The pet store I got Kenzie from did not have a UVB bulb and it kinda worries me... She was there for a LONG time. I've had her a month, and she still looks the same as when I bought her(besides longer, and more prominent colors). Her tail looks a little bent (like a curve). It always seems to curve up, down, left, or right. Should I be worried about if she has it or not? Can it... gulp... kill them? :|

 

[spurlee01]

It can't be cured, but the effects can be stopped. It's important for now to make sure she gets adequate calcium (not too much) and UVB. Sorry if you've mentioned this before, but what type and brand of UVB do you use? How close can she get to it? Do you supplement with calcium- how often/ how much? It is only fatal in extreme cases. Can you post a pic of Kenzie?
Sara

 

[Valex]

I use the MegaRay mercury vapor bulb. The highest point under the light is 12 inches away from the bulb. I do not supplement with calcium. I feed her crickets, kale, strawberries, watermelon, cantelope, broccoli, bell peppers, dandilions, and on rare occassions bananas. She gets daily baths. I take her outside into direct sunlight 2-4 times a week in a baby pool, half in the shade, half in the sun. Her basking temp is around 90*-100*F, and the cool side is 72*-80. The middle of the cage normally has an appropriate middle temperature. I use stick on thermometers for general temps, and a temp gun for accuracy every day.

Sorry, I do not have very good pictures at the moment.

It doesn't show her whole tail, however you can see how it starts to curve off to one side.




This one has a better picture, although her tail might just be curving to the side because she was walking around...
(She only had the sand for a week and has since been changed to tile. )

 

[spurlee01]

I would start dusting her crix 5x a week with calcium powder WITHOUT d/3 and 2x a week with vitamins. Can she straighten out her tail or is it always curved?
Sara

 

[Valex]

She can straighten it. *I think*. when she moves, walks, or what ever it straightens back out.

Are there any certain brands of supplements i should avoid?

 

[spurlee01]

Well the biggest thing is to make sure it doesn't have d3 since you are using an MVB.
This would be my top pick:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-supplements/105556/rep-cal-ultrafine-calcium-without-vitamin-d3.html
I don't really know which ones to avoid.
Sara

 

[herpfreak]

I rescued my beardie, Budo, and he has had all sorts of problems that I'm not going to get into, but anyways, he is recovering from MBD. I put together a thread with pictures of his various symptoms. MBD is by far best to catch early, when it can be reversed. By the time their legs and spines begin to curl and deform, it is too late to be reversed. MBD to the severity of curled spines is usually too painful for a beardie, in which case the best thing to do is have them put down.

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