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Some Reptillian Basics

As a general practice we see quite a mixture of animal species including more than a few reptiles.  While we are in no way reptile experts we are able to help with a variety of problems in this class of animals including parasite control, trauma, skin and mouth infections.

There is one particular problem that we see with regular monotony in lizard species and that is Nutritional Osteodystrophy or metabolic bone disease.  This is caused by an imbalance in the correct ratio of calcium, phosphorous and vitamin D in the lizard’s system and results in extremely weak, soft bones which, when x-rayed, can hardly be distinguished from surrounding muscle and ligament (as in the x-ray of the bearded dragon bottom right).  Eventually the bones get so soft that they start to fracture following even normal movement and gentle handling.

This condition is particularly frustrating for us (and the lizards aren’t too happy about it either) because it is extremely easy to prevent - it is a condition that we should never need to see.  So what follows is a ‘potted version’ of:

How To Avoid Metabolic Bone Disease in Your Lizard:

1/ Feed the right stuff

The basis of avoiding dietary problems is to have a good, balanced diet at the outset.  Even a meat (including insect) eating reptile needs a source of vitamins and minerals in addition to just meat.  Dark, leafy vegetables are best at providing these extras.

Do your research and find out what your particular pet needs and give it to them.  That means give it ALL to them, not just the crickets because it doesn’t like the cabbage, not just the fruit because it doesn’t like the mealworms - it needs everything, not just the stuff that is easy to give.

2/ Provide UV light

Vitamin D is one part of how you ensure good bone strength.  The ingredients for vitamin D are contained in a balanced diet or supplements but diet alone is not enough.  You also need a source of Ultra Violet radiation to allow the reptile to make Vitamin D proper from the dietary ingredients you are providing.  Without these UV rays your reptile will not get enough vitamin D no matter how much you are giving in the diet.

To supply UV rays AT THE CORRECT FREQUENCY you need a proper strip lamp in the vivarium which is specially manufactured for use in reptiles.  Using one designed simply to show up the colours of aquarium fish will not do the job.  Once you have installed the reptile lamp you must change it every 6 months.  Just because a lamp is giving out visible light doesn’t mean it is giving the correct wavelength to create vitamin D - you can’t tell by looking whether it’s still working.

Run the UV lamp along the length of the vivarium, with the heat (basking) lamp at one end.  That way the reptile will get UV rays no matter what temperature zone it’s in.

3/ Give BALANCED supplements

The three dietary ingredients you need for strong bones are Calcium (Ca), Phosphorous (PO4) and Vitamin D.  The ratio, or balance between these ingredients is vital so pick a supplement with all 3 of these ingredients.  If you give any one on their own or in the wrong balance you will do a lot of harm and will make soft bones worse, not better.

‘Straight’ supplements are available with just calcium or just phosphorous or just vitamin D but if you try to mix and match these yourself you will get it wrong (unless you have a qualification in reptile nutrition in which case I bow to your superior knowledge).  It is much better to buy a supplement with all 3 ingredients already in it, in the correct balance.  This type of supplement will tend to be more pricey than single ingredient supplements.  “Calcium”, for instance is usually sold, on its own, in the form of powdered chalk (though it won’t say that on the tin!), really cheap but fatal if given on its own; vitamin D is available in the form of cod liver oil, again very cheap but give it on its own and all you’ll get is rickets and soft bones.

If cheap or easy is your highest priority you should not be keeping reptiles.

4/ Do your research

There are some extremely good and helpful specialist petshops full of reptile enthusiasts desparate to go on at great length about the intricate details of husbandry - talk to these people.  There are an even larger number of specialist web-sites in cyberspace - read this information.

Once you’ve read the information and taken advice FOLLOW IT.  The advice won’t always be easy or cheap but, as I said, if you are looking for cheap and easy then you’ve got the wrong pet (in fact you shouldn’t have a pet of any description).

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© Orchard Veterinary Group

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An x-ray of a bearded dragon showing soft bones and a fractured humerus