Reptile & Amphibian Forums

someone mentioned it in an earlier post, and i was just curious as to what it is, what it is caused by, and how its cured?
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0.1.0. Leo
1.1.0. WTF
0.1.0. Irish Setter
2.2.0. Holland Lop Bunnies
1.1.0. House Cats
Too Many Fish!

mbd = metabolic bone disease

causes = lack of calcium suppliment or poor diets
cures = proper calcium suppliment or a trip to the vet

It is what Snarks says, Metabolic Bone Disease, and it is caused by a lack of calcium. However, calcium can only be absorbed two ways,

1) By providing UBV, or

2) By providing a calcium supplement that includes vitamin D3. D3 is needed when natural sunlight (NOT just through a window) is not provided. It allows the calcium to be absorbed. If your calcium supplement doesn't have D3, get a new one right away. You should also provide a dish of straight calcium carbonate in you leopard gecko¡¦s enclosure.

However, you do need to be careful, over supplementing (I have been told) can be just as serious as under supplementing.

Without one of the above your reptile will most likely develop MBD. The effects of MBD can take a VERY long time to show up (years in fact). Unfortunately it is also not always curable in serious cases. When my leopard gecko had MBD the only signs he showed at first was a decrease in his food intake and he became more lethargic, everything else was normal. Some other signs that showed up when I started treating him for MBD were:

Tremors- usually in his tail. I sometimes heard a vibrating noise from the other room. You know how their tails shake when they are about to pounce on food? This was about 5 times faster, and went on for periods of 10 seconds.

A complete uninterested in food- of any sort, I tried everything. I even made cricket and mealworm smoothies.

Constant diarrhea- which was the only reason he got up most of the time. It was also all liquidy, like snot. There was no real substance to in because of course, he didn't eat anything.

Sever gaging- unable to swallow anything without violently gaging. This was the worst part of his illness. Trying to force feed him and give him water, but at the same time causing him extreme pain. The last time I tried to give him water is when he died gaging.

Hope this helped. I didn¡¦t really know what MBD was either, until Rex had it. All I knew was that he needed calcium for some reason.

Any more questions, just ask ļ

Lisa
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0.1 Hypo Leopard Gecko
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko
1.0 Albino Pacman Frog
1.0 Lovebird (Tony)
1.0 Elkhound Cross (Otto)
0.1 Malamute Cross (Paris)
6.0 Bettas

Thank you so much for you replies! im not concerned about this as i have been duting my leos food regualrly for the past 7 years, but i did go and check that it had vit D3 in it! (and yes it dose)

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0.1.0. Leo
1.1.0. WTF
0.1.0. Irish Setter
2.2.0. Holland Lop Bunnies
1.1.0. House Cats
Too Many Fish!