Hello,
I am looking for opinions on the ability for Leopard Geckos to contract Metabolic Bone Disease.

I have been following a thread on another forum, where the vet has said that they believe that the Leopard Gecko presented to them had somehow contracted a case of Metabolic Bone Disease. I disagree with the vets diagnosis of the problem, with reason, but want to hear what everyone elses opinions are on this. Here is the basic information:

Here is the leo in question:




This is the exact thread I responded to as well as the image I responded to.

What do you think caused this? If you believe it appears to be Metabolic Bone Disease, please tell me why you believe this is possible.

If you believe that a diagnosis of Metabolic Bone Disease in this leo is innacurate, please post why as well.

I am very curious as to what everyone percieves this to be and why.

I would say that Metabolic Bone Disease would be unlikley in a Leo that is given the adequate amount of calcium, but not impossible.

As I understand it, as in all reptiles, the animal requires D3 to process the calcium. As Leopard Geckos do not require a source of UVB then to aquire that D3 they must be supplemented, and obtian it from the food they eat. If the correct levels of D3 were not met then yes Metabolic Bone Disease is a possibility, but as all the Leopard Geckos where kept the same I would say not in this case.

I would have thought going on what you posted that I would be a genetic problem of sorts, one of our Bearded Dragons has a crocked back and walks funny but this is not Metabolic Bone Disease as again she has been kept the same as all our other Bearded Dragons.

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I'll think of something to put here soon.......

Hello,
The picture above offers more than the writing does. Metabolic Bone Disease is the inability to absorb/utilize dietary calcium. Crooked limbs, rubber jaw, etc. are signs of advanced Metabolic Bone Disease. Now look at that picture, and in conjunction with the story, why else would this be hard to swallow as a case of Metabolic Bone Disease?

(Joes note on the leo recieving the same calcium is one of the reasons I have listed, but it isn't the main supporting factor for why I believe that this leo is being misdiagnosed.)

Thanks for your input Joe. If you have more to add, please share. I plan on responding to this thread later on when I return from work. Both on this site, as well as the site where this was originally posted.

I greatly appreciate the input from those members on this site that would like to add to this thread. I want to see what everyone else thinks when they are presented with this type of situation.

I can't see the pic, all I'm getting is a pretty white box with a red x in it lol

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I'll think of something to put here soon.......

Hello,
This was the response that I recieved after inquiring about the vets diagnosis of this ailment. As you may have noticed, the above post was her diagnosis. This is what she writes:

Sorry I can't be more insightful, but I find it hard to believe that Metabolic Bone Disease is the problem as I have never heard of a case of a leo having it before. I can't see the pic either for some reason (stupid works computer ) so I'm only going on what has been written.

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I'll think of something to put here soon.......

I can see the pic and the thing that seems quite worrying is the apparently regurgitated or undigested meal worms? Or are they just meal worms that have not yet been eaten? >is that the thing you were pointing at when talking about the pic Rich?

Could be a genetic abnormality??

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Honestly Rich, I would agree with the Metabolic Bone Disease...I have recently adopted my aunts 2 female Leopard Geckos, one of which is absolutely fine and the other has slightly crooked front legs like the pic you are showing. She never dusted crix or provided a calcium bowl (they dove into it when I put one in their enclosure). While she eats fine, and is fat and sassy, she has a prob with her front legs and prolly will never be normal. She is about 2 yrs old. Thats what I can offer....Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

The leo in question looks to young to have got Metabolic Bone Disease in such a short time, I think its a genetic defect too..

Are you suggesting, Rich, from the mealworms in the pic, that the damage could be from paralysis, from too big or the wrong food items?

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004