Metabolic Bone Disease
- Metabolic bone disease affects lizards in captivity, particularly young green iguanas
- The condition is caused by:
- Dietary deficiency of calcium and vitamin D
- For example, due to poor lighting (which diminishes viatmin D production).
- Dietary excess of phosphorus
- Certain toxicities
- Diseases of the kidneys, liver or parathyroid
- This aetiology is rare
- Dietary deficiency of calcium and vitamin D
- Clinical signs include:
- Lethargy
- Inability to support weight
- Rounded skull
- Spontaneous fractures
- Adult animals also show signs of hypocalcaemia
- The skeleton shows reduced density on radiography.