If the vet gives her injections of calcium for a few weeks and then, when the blood calcium levels are high enough, gives her a shot of calcitonin to draw the calcium rapidly back into the bones, it will be the quickest way to get her calcium back in balance and her bones strong again.

You also need to make sure your husbandry is good so that she will be healthy and not slip back into calcium issues.

Calcium, phosphorous, vitamin D3 and vitamin A are the main players in bone health and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements you use, what you feed to the insects and what you feed the chameleon.

Here are some good sites that help to explain those nutrients and their relationship...
http://web.archive.org/web/20060502074401/www.chameleonjournals.com/vet/index.php?show=5.Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20060421082042/www.chameleonjournals.com/vet/index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html
http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=102

And one about MBD...
http://adcham.com/html/veterinary/mbd-fractures-kramer.html

Exposure to UVB either from an appropriate UVB bulb or from the sunlight will allow the chameleon to produce D3 which will allow it to use the calcium in its system. The UVB from either source should not pass through glass or plastic. The most recommended UVB bulb is the long linear Repti-sun 5.0.

Many of the feeder insects used to feed the chameleon have a poor ratio of calcium to phos. so dusting with a phos.-free calcium powder helps to make up for this.

I also dust with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder twice a month. D3 from supplements can build up in the system...so don't overdo it.

I dust with a vitamin powder twice a month that has a beta carotene source of vitamin A. Beta carotene (prOformed vitamin A) is only converted as needed. However, its not certain if all or any chameleons can convert it...so some people give a little prEformed vitamin A every once in a while. PrEformed vitamin A can build up in the system though...so it must be given carefully. Excess prEformed vit. A can interfere with the D3 and push the chameleon towards MBD.

Its important to feed/gutload your insects properly too. Crickets, superworms, etc. can be given a wide variety of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, zucchini, etc.).

Veiled chameleons can be given the same greens and veggies as well as a little bit of fruit (apple, pear, melon, berries, etc.) in addition to insects.

Please be aware that a female veiled can lay eggs even when it hasn't been mated...so once its sexually mature, its important that there is a place for it to dig in the cage...failure to provide her a place to lay eggs can lead to eggbinding and eventually death.

Hope that this helps and that you can get her back to good health and keep her there!

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