Thank you for the correction. In fact D3 does not occur in leafy greens. My apologies. Vitamin D3 is synthesized in a dragons body from normal calcium and uvb light.



"According to Dr. Julia Whittington, exotics veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, reptiles cannot absorb calcium from the diet efficiently without active vitamin D, also known as vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 helps the intestines absorb calcium from food. UVB light absorbed through the skin helps animals convert inactive vitamin D to active vitamin D3. Without proper sun or UVB exposure, pet reptiles can be deficient in vitamin D3 and therefore deficient in calcium."



Since I provide both natural sun and uva/b bulbs, I still would not use vitamin D3 supplements for my dragons for fear of toxicity. Since Vitamin D in any form is not water soluble, it is not easily eliminated. I have been advised by several vets and a manufacturer of products that I used not to use D3 supplements for dragons. My previous comments only apply to bearded dragons. I have never had a case of MBD in my dragons.



You also brought up another excellent point.



"Other sources of Vitamin D3 in food are all food sources dragons don't eat, such as salmon, cod, and other seafood (mushrooms). "



If that is in fact the case, why would you use D3 dietary supplements for an animal who, in nature, has no naturally occurring dietary source of vitamin D3?



I do not used D3 currently, and would not recommend it to others. This advice can be taken or left by the readers, but does reflect my personal opinion.
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