Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A 03

This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A.

This 15-year-old red-eared slider turtle had been raised since it was a hatchling on a diet of peeled shrimp and iceberg lettuce. At the time that it was presented for examination, it was not using its hindlimbs; rather, when it was picked up and held vertically, they dangled loosely. The turtle’s shell was flat, deformed and markedly soft to the touch.

Question	Answer		Article
What is your tentative diagnosis?	Chronic metabolic bone disease and secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism due to a calcium-poor, phosphorus-rich diet.		Link to Article
What would you do to confirm your diagnosis?	Radiographs revealed a deformed and poorly mineralised skeleton; blood calcium on the day of presentation was 4.6mg/dl.		Link to Article
How would you treat it?	Calcium gluconate (2.5mg/kg intracoelomically every 48 hours for one week). The diet should be changed immediately to include whole fish, freshly caught earthworms, calcium-rich collard leaves, and algae. Exposure to natural unfiltered sunlight or ultraviolet irradiation; oral vitamin D3 at a dosage of 1–4 IU/kg twice weekly.		Link to Article