Please Help Metabolic Bone Disease!

[reyesjoshuacruz]

Hey all,

Rescued 1.2 all under 5 months yesterday. two with very obvious cases of mbd. They were in a wooden enclosure( all three ) bark, waterfall, cfl source for uvb. How do i help these guys out? ive tried researching but i trust this comun and would like to make sure these guys get well and have a chance at enjoying life. I plan on using nat CA sunlight and using a dust with no d3 almost every feeding? They've already been to the vet, and i have a liquid calcium sup. What should i do?
Will their bones ever recover fully? straighten out?

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

I would suggest getting them to a vet first (they will prob give a calcium shot)...then worry about the lighting and supps.

About those supps...just dusting a lot with calcium is not going to help them, you need to give them cal with D3 (I would say at least 2 times a week). Also, yes nat light is great but make sure it isn't going through glass and you need to have a UVB bulb for them as well (unless you give them nat light w/o any filtration all day everyday).

-chris

 

[Justin Carl]

Hey all,

Rescued 1.2 all under 5 months yesterday. two with very obvious cases of mbd. They were in a wooden enclosure( all three ) bark, waterfall, cfl source for uvb. How do i help these guys out? ive tried researching but i trust this comun and would like to make sure these guys get well and have a chance at enjoying life. I plan on using nat CA sunlight and using a dust with no d3 almost every feeding? They've already been to the vet, and i have a liquid calcium sup. What should i do?
Will their bones ever recover fully? straighten out?

I just want to say thank you for helping those poor little guys.
The Vet visit was the best thing you can do. The liquid calcim will help them for sure. It may help tp know what species they are. As far as natuaral light goes, make sure they are warm enough. Yea, if they are outside they wont need any D3, but you may want to supplement with it once a week if you move them indoors. Make sure they are in their own cages. after the age of 3 months it is time for them to have their own cage. They stress out when they are together. depending on how bad the MBD has progressed they may not make a 100% recovery, but should be able to function normally.

thanks again! good luck and keep us posted

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Since you have already been to the vet and seem to have everything you need ... I would say: good job, I think you've got it under control.
Their bones will probably not "straighten out" completely or ever develop like they would under ideal circumstances.
Good for you on the rescue!
What are the details of that story?
What species are they? I'm guessing veiled.

-Brad

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

You, with your vets help, could aggressively treat them with special calcium injections. When the calcium level is high enough in the blood, a different injectable drug will pull much of that calcium into bones and organs more quickly. It's a bit tricky but it can turn things around more quickly. Otherwise, the oral liquid calcium and D3 in some form along with unfiltered sunlight are the major necessities. I might be tempted to dust with Ca/D3 (to get the D3) at least several times a week if not more often along with the liquid calcium. Your vet should be able to advise you on what is best. Is your vet experienced with MBD and chameleons? Exactly what did the vet tell you to do? Which vet did you see? A liquid form of vit D3 is available in the reptile marketplace. Using it along with liquid calcium might be a good choice but check with your experienced vet first. By the way, liquid calcium makes its calcium (atoms?) more available to be adsorbed by the intestinal lining than the powdered calcium that we normally use. Follow your vets advice, assuming that it is sound.

How far down in O.C. are you located?

 

[reyesjoshuacruz]

I sold my 1.2 veiled to buy jerambis breeding pair( very hard choice ). Had the cash when my wife points out an add on craigslist 3 chams + cage . I asked for pics from the seller. I saw close up shots and noticed the MBD right away. It was obvious these guys were in need of a proper home. And couldnt wait. I wanted the breeding pair, but i knew these guys were better off with me than taking the chance of some new making things worse for them. I contacted him and made arangements. I wasnt able to make the first apt and he got mad, so i just straight out asked him if hes just trying to get rid of them> he said yes and i knew with that attitude they were in trouble and couldnt wait a day longer, so i cxld my plans and went and got them. When i got i saw the waterfall, the cfl bulb, one plastic vine in the center, all wood except for two screen doors in front, bark, wood caves. bark was infested with bugs, there was just a bowl of dirt in the middle, where he would put his crix. no misting, just the water fall, i took it apart and showed him the build up in the back and the sludge. the mbd was worse then i thought and they were all supposed to be 8months+but 4 months is more like it. he raised one from a neo and it hasnt grown. one was given to him and is doing fantastic. the other is the worst, mbd and prominent bumps above nasal passages. The two with mbd are a crack up. They will all get their own cage, and for the two mbd no more climbing things. just low stable wide features for them to climb on. Thanks everyone for your advice, i cant wait to get home to continue the recovery process. Ive never had any under 1yr so them being so small is outstanding to me and my wife. Also he said he feels bad and that for some reason people just contact him to give him veileds, so he'll give them to me if he comes across any.

 

[reyesjoshuacruz]

"You, with your vets help, could aggressively treat them with special calcium injections. When the calcium level is high enough in the blood, a different injectable drug will pull much of that calcium into bones and organs more quickly. It's a bit tricky but it can turn things around more quickly. "


the quicker ( as long as its safe ) the better i live in santa ana what vet should i visit? i didnt go with them to the vet( couldnt get off work ) it was an emergency animal practice in garden grove, one vet had experience with egg binding and some with MBD, no offense to him but i still want to see another vet that has had solid experience with mbd

"Otherwise, the oral liquid calcium and D3 in some form along with unfiltered sunlight are the major necessities. I might be tempted to dust with Ca/D3 (to get the D3) at least several times a week if not more often along with the liquid calcium"

So D3 with nat sunlight is ok? For some reason i thought D3 replaced nat uvb rays as far as allowing chams to properly absorb and process calcium?

so proper vet visit. D3, calcium liquid supps, and natty light in the meantime

Can anyone suggest a liquid D3 and liquid calcium sup?

 

[reyesjoshuacruz]

bumps above nasal passages?

 

[kinyonga]

What is a cfl source of UVB??? (I'll likely kick myself when I hear...but it just isn't clicking at the moment.)

I have used calcium sandoz or calcium gluconate liquid calcium for any that I have rehabbed.

 

[Brad]

The thread linked below may help you find a qualified veterinarian.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/veterinarian-resources-67/

 

[Brad Ramsey]

What is a cfl source of UVB??? (I'll likely kick myself when I hear...but it just isn't clicking at the moment.)
.

Compact fluorescent?

-Brad

 

[Dave Weldon]

...i live in santa ana what vet should i visit?
...Can anyone suggest a liquid D3 and liquid calcium sup?

Howdy,

Dr. Tom Greek isn't too far away from you so long as you have transportation . He's working out of another vet's office in Diamond Bar until he gets his new one built in Yorba Linda. Try him at www.tomgreek.com for phone numbers etc.

I don't know anything about this product other than it exists :
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...icines-and-cage-cleaners/-/t-rex-solar-drops/
If you make it to the vet, see what's recommended.

As Kinyonga mentioned calcium gluconate is a common liquid calcium that is available over-the-counter at your local Walgreens type pharmacy. It usually comes in an 8oz bottle for $20-$30. I've got plenty if you need any . My emergency rescue bottle probably still has a 2000 doses .

I've got the next 3 days off .