Calcium Confusion

[underlashes]

Hey all, I'm real confused and hopefully someone could help me out! I've had my northern, Meatball, for over 5 years now and things have been going great, but last year I took him to the vet for an RI scare (me being paranoid) and his bloodtest showed high levels of calcium, but he was great otherwise.

This year, the vet wanted to get another bloodtest on him and I agreed because I was curious about his calcium levels (I had since stopped supplementing his meals for the year to try and get it lowered to a normal range, since dog food is supplemented anyway.) The vet called me, baffled, because his calcium levels were even higher than last time.

I'm so confused, is there a reasonable explanation for something like this? Should I be doing something else? The vet has no idea why it's so high, either, especially when he looks and acts fine.

His main diet is a mixture of high quality dog food, fresh veg (usually arugula, squash, or cactus pad because I have them on hand a lot, but he gets a pretty wide variety overall), and feeders (hornworms, dubias, snails, occasional nightcrawler). He has UV in the tank and also gets outside sun in the summer.

[mb606587]

How often do you feed? I always caution against over supplementing for precisely what you stated that canned dog food already has a high amount on its own

[splashy07]

With the exception of gestating females and any in active growth period (babies, juveniles first year) I do not supplement at all. For adults a good diet is all they need.

[underlashes]

Thanks for the replies, I feed once a week! When I was supplementing it was added once a month. Is there any reason why it would get even higher after cutting supplementing altogether?

[mb606587]

That is odd. Maybe try a different brand, use less dog food per feeding and add more vegetables

[DracoDussumieri]

No expert here but as far as I know reptiles need Vitamin D3 to be able to absorb and utilize Calcium efficiently. That's why you get calcium supplement products with added vitamin d3. Furthermore UVB Light helps the animal to produce Vitman d3 themselves. But I don't know if a high calcium level of calcium in the blood would be an indication of not enough vitamin d3.

[underlashes]

His d3 should be fine, since his calcium is high that'd be an indication he is absorbing too much (since if he tested low, it would mean MBD risk). I will try switching brands around and see how that does! Thanks everyone

[rixusaku]

You mentioned that you use UV. What brand and percentage are you using? You might want to switch to a bulb that has a lower output

[underlashes]

I can try that if the food brand switching doesnt help, but since the light is screened off (strength considerably reduced) and I havent changed the type in my 5 yrs of having him (ive obv changed out the tube itself, just not the brand lol) so I think that's less of a variable. It's a reptisun 10, but its pretty high above anything in his tank, so between the mesh and the height it's at I doubt anything close to the full strength reaches him.

[rixusaku]

Hmm, yeah I don't think a screened off Reptisun 10 would be the factor then. How strange! Let us know if the switching of the food brands helps. I'd be curious to know what's causing this

[underlashes]

Me too! I'm just glad he looks/acts ok and the vet didnt seem too concerned, but as his caretaker I'M concerned and would like to know whats up

Thanks!