Metabolic Disease

Question: why are there so many metabolic disease and few doctors? i live in iran and i know a little girl who has metabolic disorder .she is 10 months and suffer from lack of muscle tune .she doesnot gain weight and cannot eat well . the doctors says that she has metabolic disease but they cannot do enything for her there are very good doctors in iran but metabolic doctors are rare .i want to know that is it a new branch of medicine ? or there is some difficulties with distinguishing these diseases?

Answer: unfortunately, metabolic diseases are somewhat modern and it is more of a genetic disease and genetic disease is still hard to deal with and takes years to study .Even in western society , metabolic diseases are still hard to deal with, it is caused by inborn errors of metabolism which lead to improper or missing enzymes that are required in breaking down certain substances/chemicals in the body ( fat , protein, glucose , amino acid ). In this case , the girl may have defective enzymes that is required to break down amino acid and glucose as these two are needed for muscle growth and integrity The girl may to have muscular dystrophy which cause loss of muscle integrity leading to progressive loss of strength and greatly decrased life span This is genetic....I am very sorry as little can be done for the girl as researches on genetically muscular dystrophy are still underway.

Question: Anyone had a mouse with a Metabolic Disease? My little mousy Maisy just got sent to heaven... She had Metabolic Disease and the vet put her down... Anyone else had this with a mouse?? :( R.I.P Maisy

Answer: no sorry but rest in peace and bless her little soul you did the right thing :D good luck in the future :D

Question: does my lizard have metabolic bone disease? i have a bearded dragon but i was cleaning my brothers cage and i noticed his long tailed lizards lip was curled up.i heard that metabolic bone disease stars around lips.does he have MBD?

Answer: ADDED AFTER posting; I am so sorry.. my answer had too much I guess<?> and only about half is here... one site i found mentioned mouth turning out with swelling link; http://www.petuniversity.com/reptiles/li… info on mouth rot<in case>; http://www.anapsid.org/stomatitis.html i had recommended if mbd is suspected not only the preventive measures but vet assistance.. due to the various ways/calciums for treating.. site to good articles one or both explain importance of vet; http://www.anapsid.org/mbd2.html http://www.anapsid.org/mbd.html since the end was cut; thank you in advance for taking time to read this I hope this is of assistance much luck... hello! just a thought.. but could it be just that his lip was curled? and nothing more? at times, as 'parents' of these unusual yet wonderful babies of ours.. we tend to worry, fret and stress over the smallest, most remote idea at one physical sign of anything 'different' and jump to the ones we know to be the worst... which is not bad.. it is really great you picked up on such a small thing... pretty awesome parenting! <I say that.. cause I probably would not have until it worsened... yay me? not> yay you though!! ok so.. first thought is really.. his lip is curled.. lol.. we have an olde english bulldogge.. her tongue hangs out/gets stuck <she does not know... lol> and one or more of her teeth get caught up in her lip at times.. funny sight... and it is just to illustrate.. it 'could' be just that... now you have noticed.. now there needs to be some research.. observation.. and then you will be able to determine; simply a curled lip... or mbd.. or mouth rot.. or something else? kay.. some of the info below might not be for the 'gentler'-more sensitive stomachs... so just put yourself in 'parent' mode and don't jump.. kay? ;) kay having said that... you suggest/ask about whether or not it is mbd... something about mbd you should know then.. in case... mbd is an ugly, horrible and painful debilitating and life threatening disease... most of the time, by the time it has progressed to physical symptoms, it is too late for anyone but the most advanced caretakers of herps.. and/or vets... does you lizard have it? well without pictures or more information that is impossible to determine... I can give you symptoms to look for, signs... even links to a great site that can help you out with determining you heard it starts around the lips is not true -- the jaw swells to a much larger size -- it starts in the bones.. anywhere --the jaw swelling is a sign not always first.. at times it is much further into the disease that it shows other symptoms; <<NOTE:>> each case is individual and not all signs show everytime! - very usually plump legs can be a sign early on the lizard can not break down the calcium to make bones without vitamin "D" which they absorb via sunlight uvb... except that uv rays do not penetrate glass.. not all bulbs are equal <IF YOURS DOES NOT HAVE UVB IMPRINTED ON IT.. IT IS NOT UVB! THEY ARE IMPRINTED> sorry for the caps - dragging of limbs --- paralysis of one or more locations... leg or two on one or both sides.... sometimes earlier it seemingly comes and goes temporarily; so is overlooked at first later it could be all limbs, the spine and does not come and go... - broken limbs... no calcium usage ability, no healthy bones - one side growing at slower rate <giaganticism of sorts> half the lizard may look much smaller one of the earlier physical signs - slowed growth overall - rubber jaw.. before it swells it might be rubbery - lethargic and slow moving, non responsive - seizures -- later stages the lizard will start seizing up if the diet has lacked supplements of calcium if the diet has been poor <lacking the veggies/fruits> or no balance if the lighting has no uvb <not the same as uva another very important uv ray needed> if the husbandry has been missing any of the elements needed - including proper heating, humidity, diet - all it could lead to mbd do not panic; first it never makes it better also, when we panic most of the time, we miss something become careless... so; if you are already getting that building fear, scared, worried take a deep breath and remember your fear/panic might upset/harm your dragon... it could make you become careless that guy, he's depending on you... and all you can give is what you have so far your best... also, you could be looking at something else... we'll do what we can to assist with answering... okay, treating the mbd is simple enough but understand... even though it can be halted and even some effects <Some not always all> can be reversed... all you and the vet << I am recommending highly that you find and get the lizard to! asap if it is metabolic bone disease>> can do.. the rest is up to the patients' ability to get better... desire to -survival instinct... which blessedly are usually generally fairly strong in reptiles... --for starters check the light. alright if you have one? when did you buy it... most of these lights have a six month life... in other words, the uvs start diminishing over time until they have none they give off... the recommendation is to replace every six months... there are a few online sites that have better prices for lighting <and know what they are talking/typing about> than most pet stores; http://www.magazine-agent.com-sub.info/r… http://lllreptile.com/ http://www.bigappleherp.com/REPTILE-SUPP… --second double check the diet/supplements -both.. -supplements are should be given two to three times weekly for younger -baby/juvenilles and once weekly for adults... I do two days for my iguanas of vitamin mineral supplements and - calcium supplement; I prefer the liquid spray calcium I found.. on the days I do not add supplements, I spitz the food lightly.. I like this sort of product because if a lizard shows signs of having/or has mbd you can administer it orally this link below is to an online store I found that sells a similar liquid calcium; http://www.bigappleherp.com/T-Rex-Drops?… that of course is only one of many products.. so you might want to look into it some more.. you are going to have to take the lizard to a vet if most likely, if this is mbd.... cause only a vet can really say "how much" calcium will not be toxic.. you could accidently make things worse... or the correct form/type of calcium may not be what any of the things on the market are... and could make it much worse... and in the end might be treating one disease and have it end up another... -like dehydration... it at times can look, react and/or even lead to mbd... a water dish is something a lizard needs to usually be taught is there and usable.. they prefer drip system, spraying.. and need the humidity of misting time to time.. even semi-desert dwellers like dragons or you describe the lip as "curling" that could be due to a rubbery type effect, although it sounds more like mouth rot to me now I said I would give you sites that can assist you in determining mbd, and how to stop the deterioration of the bones... this is one of my favorite sites to use.. I find something new every time I visit.. the research and detail I have honestly not found in almost any other... the knowledge base.. well.. while others are busy arguing their "opinions" this person was working hard to compile facts known.. find facts not known and/or obscure and put them all in a user friendly format! I recommend any one listens to not just check it out.. read it.. use it.. but bookmark it... hers and all the rest you can... okay; main page; http://www.anapsid.org/ iguana page second picture down is mbd swollen jaw; http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/index.html information on the disease mbd, and some on care/prevention; http://www.anapsid.org/mbd2.html quote on diagnosis -wish I saw this before all that typing..lol; Diagnosing MBD Most diagnoses are made based on a combination of the physical presentation of the iguana and information provided by the owner relating to diet and environment. Swollen limbs and soft or swollen jaws are the most common presentations, as are lameness, partial paralysis, tremors (hypocalcemic tetany) and painful movement. Anorexia and emaciation are common when the jaws have become so weakened that eating is difficult or impossible. Blood serum tests may be less effective; lizards with even severe MBD often present normal serum levels. Radiographs may show weakened bones; the bones show more faintly than healthy solid bone material. They are useful in determining the degree to which bone loss has occurred, and are helpful in assessing the efficacy of treatment. link to an article about lighting; http://www.anapsid.org/liteheat.html link to uv table - some info on differences - you may not be buying what you think you are; http://www.anapsid.org/uvtable.html awesome lighting article -a new perspective; http://www.anapsid.org/gehrman2.html I realize you probably have tons on your lizard.. but, might just have some info you did not know.. or had forgotten? never hurts to have more info.... bearded dragon info; http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html a site I found and frequently use regarding bearded dragon.. love this one! tons of info also link there to good salads; http://www.reptilerooms.com/Sections+ind… feedi

Question: Diabetes is a serious metabolic disease that affects many body systems? can someone describe the pathogenesis of type I diabetes, the complications of the disease in detail as it affects 3 other body systems/organs

Answer: Most of what you want to know about diabetes is available at the Medline Plus article: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/…

Question: Will you help me educate PetSmart about metabolic bone disease? On the website "Turtle Shop" they have a photo of a turtle with metabolic bone disease, a/k/a pyramiding. I hope people don't get the idea this is a photo of a healthy animal. Here's more info on the disease: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?… Here's the page with the deformed turtle: http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp… Please contact them and let them know.

Answer: Educate Petsmart? I have found that most pet stores, ESPECIALLY large ones, have absolutely no clue when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. They generally keep herps in bad condition, misidentify animals, and give out bad information. No wonder so many people that post here are so ignorant about these animals. I have tried, many many times, to educate pet stores, with virtually no success. They generally give me the "who do you think you are" attitude, as their herps languish. One pet store manager said it best- "You sure don't know much about retail, do you?" as the turtles ate the newts that were kept with them, and the "marine" toad was drowning in a tank FULL of water. I have given up. I haven't purchased a herp from a pet store in over 20 years. I hope you have better luck with the pet industry than I have.

Question: How can I prevent metabolic bone disease from a lizard? I used to have a bearded dragon, but he got it from the lack of calcium. the lady said that he needs to eat a combo of veggies and crickets with that powder calcium stuff on it. Thing is he would never eat it if i put the calcium on there so he died in two years. I plan on getting a new lizard (leopard gecko) but dont want it to happen again. any tips?

Answer: You can use lights such as Reptisun 5.0. They put out UVB rays that gives the lizard calcium. Make sure when you get the lights you take off any plastic or glass covering the light, they will greatly reduce the amount of UVB rays that gets to your pet.

Question: How to treat metabolic bone disease in leopard geckos? Its his back legs for know.

Answer: You can not treat it entirely yourself. You need to get it to a certified reptile vet (NOT a cat/dog vet who will see a reptile) as soon as possible. That said, this will be a condition you will have to deal with for the rest of his life, unfortunately. The main cause of this condition is a calcium deficiency. If you do not have sand as a substrate (and at this point if you do, I'd strongly advise you take him off ANY particle substrate - sand, wood chips, millet, etc., and put him on plain paper towel at least until he is doing better) put out a small dish of calcium supplement powder. The leopard gecko is able to regulate their own calcium levels if that is available. Just make sure they can't eat sand or other substrate with it, or it will only make the problem worse. Your vet may also recommend a low level UVB light. Normally they don't require one, but in cases of advanced MBD, as you are describing, you'll need that extra boost. Whenever you can, you'll also want to take the leo outside to get real sunlight. This will help him immensely. Remember FIRST to get him to a vet. The things I mentioned will only help treat him IF all he has in MBD, and then only certain stages of it. He could very well have impaction, or an infection that is causing swelling or paralysis in his back legs. (I assume those are the symptoms.) Only a certified herp vet will be able to accurately diagnose and treat him. If you need a link to a list of herp vets in your area, please email me. I don't actually know your area, but I have lists that cover most of the United States, and I'm sure I could find similar list for other areas. I hope he's able to recover.

Question: what to do about metabolic bone disease in a chameleon? i have increased calcium and have gotten a uvb mercury vapor bulb to help. i read this is the best to do and this is what the vets do along with tests ofcourse. does anyone else know of anything else to do to help the healing process?

Answer: i know nothing abt this subject i checked it out online though and will supply link so you may read it yourself if you want to.... TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS Treatment for MBD in chameleons must address several issues. The first is to correct proper nutrition. A varied diet of gut-loaded insects that are dusted regularly with calcium, especially for hatchlings and juveniles, is extremely important. Avoid biasing the diet with insects with a poor Ca:P ratio. Additionally, add appropriate UV lighting, and correct husbandry practices. Treatment (under a veterinarian's supervision) generally involves administering medications which may include oral or injectable calcium, injectable vitamin D3, and/or calcitonin. Symptoms and specific medical problems will need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis, and may include procedures such as tube-feeding, correction of dehydration, or fracture stabilization. Be very careful handling patients with MBD as their bones are very fragile and subject to further injury if mishandled. Radiographs (X-rays) are useful to assess bone density and confirm suspicion of MBD, and measuring blood calcium and phosphorus levels can also aid diagnosis and help guide therapy. Those chameleons that recover from MBD and regain strong solid bones will probably still retain some hint of bumps or bends in the legs, which represent healed fractures. These animals can however go on to lead good quality lives. Sometimes other skeletal abnormalities may persist including general stunting, shortening of the mandible or maxilla, and spinal deviations. In general, MBD is a treatable disease if diagnosed and treated early. i DONT know if this helps as im not even very keen on anything with more then 2 legs....

Question: Is there a way to get rid of MBD ( metabolic bone disease)? my iguana has metabolic bone disease and i was wondering if there was a way to get rid of it. can anyone tell me?

Answer: Any reptile that has MBD *has* to be taken to a herp vet for calcium/vitamin injections. While there are things you can do after to help it get betted, you *NEED* to take it to the vet's. This is an extremely dangerous condition that causes broken bones, paralysis, and death. There isn't really anything you can do yourself to cure MBD which is why you need to go to the vet-immediately. DO NOT try to self administer drugs without directions from a vet. To keep it from getting worse you need a good UVB specific light bulb-the tube style that specifies that it produces UVB. Normal flourescent and full spectrum bulbs don't produce anywhere near enough UVB. The bulb should be about a foot from the iguana in the area of its enclosure that it spends most of its time in. You also need to be dusting its food with calcium powder (preferably with vitamin D3 in it as well). Note: you still need to take the iguana to the herp vet no matter how annoying the trip may be. The bulb and dusting the food aren't enough by themselves-especially if the MBD is so severe that you noticed it yourself. If you can't get it to a vet that regularly treats reptiles then you should take it to a regular vet to have it PTS so that it doesn't suffer any more.

Question: Is Gaucher's disease a metabolic disorder? I need to do a biology project on a metabolic disorder that is caused by a defective enzyme. JUst wondering if Gaucher disease is metabolic. If there are any other metabolic diseases that someone knows that is caused by an enzyme please let me know. Thanks

Answer: Gaucher's is a metabolic disorder. The link below gives a ton of information about it: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gauch… This is a link to a lot of information about metabolic disorders. It gives you the name and cause of each, and is a great source for reliable information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/metab… There are so many disorders that it would take pages to list them all with their description. At the second link I gave, there is a list of specific disorders, and you can click on the name of each to get a short summary of cause and prognosis, then you can go from there, Googling the name of the disorder to get more information if you need it.