Chameleoco

Metabolic Bone diesease is a number of illnesses that are caused ultimately by there not being enough usable calcium in the chameleons body.

This is easily prevented through correct calcium, vitamin d3 and A and phosphorous intake.

If there is not enough calcium to go round all the functions that require calcium, the chams body will take calcium from the bones, as the bones are like a reserve bank of calcium, for use when levels in the body are low.

Calcium is needed for pretty much everything your cham does, muscle contraction, brain function, nerve function, so if there is not enough circulating in the blood stream, the chams brain will send messages that the bones need to release calcium. Eventually the bones will become so soft that they fracture. These fractures usually occur between the elbow and the foot and the knee and the foot.

This Female Chameleo Calyptratus has fractures in the common places associated with metabolic bone disease. And also a bow in the back thigh.

This is because calcium is needed in many more places than simply just the bones, such as brain and cell function so if calcium is lacking in the diet, or their is too little or absent vitamin D3 to ensure correct calcium absorption  from the gut, the Chameleons brain will send signals to the Parathyroid gland which in turn produces a hormone which is responsible for taking calcium out of the bones to be used elsewhere. This is called Parathyroid hormone.  Calcium deficiency which is triggered by not enough circulating calcium in the blood stream is refered to as secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism.

Parathyroid hormone also tells the kidney to secrete (produce) Vitamin D3 (for calcium absorption), and excrete (get rid of) excess phosphorus ( if there is too much Phos. calcium levels will fall, thus causing a calcium deficiency) so if the Kidneys are compromised, excess Phosphorus is not being expelled (because kidneys dont work) and Vitamin d3 is not produced or released by the kidneys, calcium is still not being absorbed and the parathyroid gland is still producing hormones to try and make the kidneys secrete d3 and hormones to take calcium out of the bones  and intestine. Along with calcium being absorbed from the intestine, Phos. is also absorbed, except its no longer excreted because the kineys are not working, thus knocking the calcium:Phos. balance off again.

For a superb explanation of this and other metabolic processes see

http://www.chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html

 A vet will perform blood and bone density tests to check the extent of damage.

UVb radiation stimulates the natural production of Vitamin D3 and is best sought from natural sunlight. However strip lighting is also sufficient.

Vitamin D3 should also be offered through the diet via suppliments if the cham is captive and has limited acces to natural sunlight

Too much vitamin A, too much phosphorus or too much vit d3 can also cause a calcium deficiency as the balnce of these essential vits needs to be strictly regulated depending on species

This Male Chameleo Calyptratus has MBD, notice his bowed front leg and wonky jaw. (along with other poor husbandry related health problems.)

This was the result of inssuficient vitamin d3. He was kept under old UVB tubes and not regularly supplemented with a Vitamin product that contained d3.

He had a diet of calcium dusted crickets and locusts.