MBD rescue case - advice please?!

[CorinnaRae]

I have recently brought this little guy, when i saw him I realised that he had bowed legs and his veil was small and soft. In the few weeks that I have had him I have replaced his Uva and uvb bulbs, changed him from crickets on to gut loaded (mainly fruit and kale), calcium and D3 dusted locusts and got him feeding on approx 10 every other day, he will now also readily eat kale in between feeds. He has brightened up and will show his colours a lot more, his grip has got a lot stronger, he has doubled in weight and his veil has grown by at least 50% and become hard. All I was wondering was if there is anything else I can do for him, I know his legs won't ever be straight but am I doing enough to make him healthy? Does he look ok?
Thanks!

 

[werecat]

I have not dealt with MBD myself, but know that most chameleons need a special liquid calcium prescribed by a vet. If you have not had him evaluated by a chameleon vet, I would do so right away.

Also, is calcium with D3 the only supplement you are using? They also need calcium without D3 and multivitamins. You should consult a vet though because I'm not sure if the supplement schedule is different for a cham with MBD.

 

[CorinnaRae]

I am using Nutrobal which contains Calcium, D3 and multivitamins. He isn't showing any signs of currently having MBD that I can see but he has obviously had it before as he has deformed legs.

 

[Scoobthenoob]

I am using Nutrobal which contains Calcium, D3 and multivitamins. He isn't showing any signs of currently having MBD that I can see but he has obviously had it before as he has deformed legs.

Get pure Calcium, only use calcium with D3 every 2 weeks or so.

 

[Alex21]

use very little d3

 

[kinyonga]

When/if a chameleon has MBD its important to correct the imbalance by giving it some LIQUID calcium Sandoz or gluconate as well as correcting/providing appropriate supplements, temperatures, UVB lighting and providing proper food/gutload for the insects too.

Appropriate temperatures in the low to mid 80's F will allow for proper digestion and thus play a part in nutrient absorption.

UVB lighting will allow the chameleon to produce D3 which will allow the chameleon to use the calcium in its system to improve the bone strength and other things required for good health. D3 produced from exposure to the UVB will not build up in the system like D3 from supplements will as long as the chameleon can move in and out of the UVB at will.

Once the calcium levels are corrected and the bones, etc. back in balance appropriate supplements and gutloading/feeding the insects properly will help to keep the balance. Appropriate supplements recommended are phos. free calcium dusted on the insects at most feedings, phos. free calcium/D3 dusted on the insects twice a month and vitamin powder with a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A dusted on the insects twice a month before feedings. PrOformed sources of vitamin A will not build up like preformed sources will so this leaves you in control of the preformed vitamin
A.

Insects such as crickets, locusts, roaches, superworms can be fed/gutloaded with a wide assortment of greens such as collards, dandelions, endive, kale, escarole and veggies such as carrots, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, etc.

 

[CorinnaRae]

The thing is I don't know if he still has it or if he is just still showing the effects of having it before. His bones are hard and not at all fragile and he climbs with no problem, he's not weak and is feeding regularly. I tried him on liquid calcium and he won't take it and I don't want to stress him by forcing it. I will switch to pure calcium though and cut down on the d3.