In clinical terms, metabolic bone diseases
may result in bone pain and loss of height
(due to compression of vertebrae), and they predispose patients to fractures.
What are the symptoms of metabolic bone disease?
Early symptoms of MBD include
bowed or swollen legs, arched spine, bumps along the bones of the legs, spine and tail
, bilateral softening of the jaw (commonly referred to as rubber jaw), and softening of the carapace and plastron in turtles and tortoises.
Can metabolic bone disease be cured?
Treatment and Prognosis
Fortunately, if detected early enough,
MBD can often be corrected and reversed through making changes and improvements
to the husbandry of the animal by providing the needed or adequate levels of UV-A and UV-B lighting and heating, proper supplementation, and other nutrients.
What is treatment for metabolic bone disease?
A balanced diet with adequate amounts of
vitamin D and calcium
and an adequate amount of physical activity are needed for normal bone metabolism. Your doctor may prescribe osteoporosis medications to help slow the rate of bone loss, and in some cases, to replace the lost bone structure.
Does metabolic bone disease hurt bearded dragons?
Due to the bone, muscle, and tissue damage caused by metabolic bone disease, the
affected bearded dragon becomes weak and deformed
. Left untreated, MBD can end in death.
Can you fix mbd in bearded dragons?
Metabolic bone disease usually requires immediate oral calcium supplementation, rehydration with fluids, nutritional support, treatment with
injectable vitamin D
3
, and injections of calcitonin (a drug which helps re-deposit calcium back into bearded dragons’ bones).
What happens if you give a bearded dragon too much calcium?
Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the body) is rare in bearded dragons, but it can happen, and it
can result in illness and death
.
How long does it take to develop metabolic bone disease?
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.”
What doctor treats metabolic bone disease?
Orthopaedic surgeons
are doctors trained in the care of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, such as congenital skeletal malformations, bone fractures and infections, and metabolic problems.
What causes metabolic bone diseases?
Metabolic bone diseases are disorders of bone strength usually caused by
abnormalities of minerals (such as calcium or phosphorus), vitamin D, bone mass or bone structure
, with osteoporosis being the most common.
How do you test for metabolic bone disease?
DIAGNOSIS: Disorders of bone formation are diagnosed by both lab tests and
bone density scanning
(also known as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)). The DEXA scan allows practitioners to calculate a T score, which indicates how your bone density compares to a healthy 30 year-old.
What disease causes bone deformities?
Metabolic bone disease, any of several diseases that cause various abnormalities or deformities of bone. Examples of metabolic bone diseases include
osteoporosis
, rickets, osteomalacia, osteogenesis imperfecta, marble bone disease (osteopetrosis), Paget disease of bone, and fibrous dysplasia.
Is metabolic bone disease genetic?
Many metabolic bone diseases have
a genetic basis
, which may be a germline single gene abnormality (i.e. a monogenic or Mendelian disorder), a somatic single gene defect (i.e. a post‐zygotic mosaic disorder), or involve several genetic variants (i.e. oligogenic or polygenic disorders).
Can tortoises recover from metabolic bone disease?
A reptile that is only mildly affected by metabolic bone disease will usually
completely recover with dietary improvements
, calcium and vitamin D supplements, and greater access to full-spectrum ultraviolet light.
What does an endocrinologist do for bone loss?
Endocrinologists specialize
in treating and preventing bone loss and preventing fractures
. In addition, endocrinologists treat disorders that may affect bones, such as hyperparathyroidism, low and high levels of calcium. Become familiar with osteoporosis risk factors.
Why is osteoporosis a metabolic disease?
Osteoporosis is characterized by
skeletal fragility and susceptibility to fracture attributed to reduction of bone mass and deterioration of bone micro-architecture
[6]. It is a metabolic bone disease occurring in both men and women, particularly when they grow older.
