MBD

[sodman]

I received a baby blue tongue skink yesterday. It is supposedly 3 months old. It apparently has MBD, which is very upsetting. I think it is a Merauke.. It has a lump on its back above its hind legs. Its legs are also kind of weak, it kind of pedals them while it walks and sometimes tips over in the rear end. It ate some canned food, collared greens, and strawberry bits right when I got it out of its box. It is very happy in my tank, basking and exploring, eating and drinking water. Overnight, it has gotten better, more active and using its rear legs a bit more, but the hump is still there and the pedaling is still happening for the most part. Is there any possible way that this could improve and it could end up a healthy skink, or is it too late once a lump is visible? I have contacted the breeder to see if I can get a refund, but meanwhile I need advice, because I am also debating being a hero and keeping the poor thing.

[Scincus]

If it's 3 months old, it probably isn't captive bred since I don't believe they are dropping at this time. Do you think you could post a picture of the skink?

[sodman]

Here are some pictures of it. I couldn't attach them before because they were in the wrong format

[sodman]

Sorry about that one flipped picture, not sure what happened there

[Meeper]

The general rule with mbd is that once you notice the bumps, there is physical bony change. Some of what you're seeing may be some swelling due the skeletal change, and some of the swelling may go down with good diet and good lights. As far as the neurological symptoms go, well, that depends on whether they're being caused by the shift in the pelvis structure of if it's from the swelling. Hopefully the swelling, but more than likely its a bit of the two- my guess is that some of the paddling may go away, but she'll always be a special little girl.

[Scincus]

I have a rescue skink that was treated very poorly and also received a fall. She also has a "humo" like that by her back legs, and she does not have much movement in them and will stumble, waddle, and fall as well. I'll see if I can get a picture of comparison.

[Susann]

I would suggest taking him in to a reptile veterinarian for an x-ray, to determine the cause and extent of the damage. It's pretty rare to see that degree of MBD in a BTS that young, so there may possibly be something else going on, perhaps a previous injury.
If it is MBD, with a good diet and good growth, the lump may very well become virtually obscured; it won't actually go away, but if you halt the progression at this point and give him a good balanced diet, he may well live a happy healthy life with you.

[Meeper]

I wish I could borrow it and take it to work with me... I'd snap you some xrays, I'd love to see them!