Curmudgeon
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tycho Base, Luna
Posts: 1,843
I looked on the site, and saw that they did mention Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). This is a real possibility as the cause of your "disease", as one of the symptoms can be malformation of bones in young herps. PART of the "cure" for that is the same as what you read. More sunlight (Ultraviolet light in the "B" spectral range, or UVB for short). There is a lot more to it, however...
In herps, (as in most animals) sunlight containing UVB causes a chemical reaction that forms Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) from other chemicals and enzymes under the skin. This vitamin is necessary for the body to metabolize (use) calcium in the diet. Thats why, in America at least, most milk has Vitamin D in it. You get the calcium from the milk, and the Vitamin D (to help your body use it) at the same time.
However, giving Vitamin D in the diet is not as efficient as having it made through exposure to sunlight. To treat MBD most effectively, you need to have three things: Calcium enough to strengthen the bones, Vitaman D3 in sufficient quantities to help metabolize all that calcium, and Enough UVB to produce that D3.
I'd recommend that you see a good, qualified vet (sooner, rather than later), that has experience in dealing with reptiles and exotics. He/she can get you quickly started with injections of vitamins and calcium supplements if needed. A good vet will also check for other possible causes and complications that might have ensued.
In the meantime, give your Skink as much sunlight as you can. Be VERY careful to not get carried away. You don't want to cook him out in the sun!
A vitamin supplement made for reptiles would be good too. You can pick one up at any good pet store that deals in reptile. Follow the directions on the package.
A good diet, such as the one suggested on the web site you mentioned will supply calcium. You can also help this with a calcuim supplement. Again, you should be able to get some at a good pet supply/pet store. AND again, follow directions.
This is process that will take months to reverse, and there may be permanent malformations in some of the bones.
During this time, let me also urge you to handle your skinks as little as possible for the next six months to a year. Their bones are very weak, and you could damage them or cause more malformation to occur.
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