(reposted from a local Facebook reptile group I help moderate. I posted it there and got an amazing response, so I'm pasting it here too. Just something to think about.)
I learned something mind-blowing today at the vet. And fairly controversial.
Dr Scott Echols is one of the reptile vets at Parrish Creek. He is also an international trainer on small animal surgery techniques and has been conducting significant studies on cardiovascular systems in birds and reptiles. This past summer, Dr Echols and another vet released a shocking study documenting the rise of deaths in pet snakes caused by Metabolic Bone Disease.
The first thing out of my mouth was the first thing out of many vets across the country: "Snakes DON'T get MBD!"
He spent 15 minutes with me showing me bone density scans, CT scans, cytology and pathology reports for Green Tree Snakes and even some desert ground dwelling snakes, both normal and MBD snakes. One of the most common indicators with the GTPs is that they lose their teeth and have to be assisted with feeding. X-rays show their skulls riddled with holes and missing teeth. An extensive pathology report done on a normal and MBD GTP showed that it was not an infection that triggered the loss of teeth in the snake, it was a lack of bone density.
Wow.
Reptile vets are still wrapping their brains around this growing epidemic and are starting to come up with hypotheses why snakes are getting MBD. The main guesses are 1) lack of movement caused by the rack system; 2) poor quality of feeders; 3) lack of UVB.
There has never been a good study done on whether or not captive snakes need UVB. Obviously snakes in the wild are constantly basking in sunny spots, but researchers always assumed it was for the heat radiation only. There may be a benefit to captive snakes having a UVB. Also, wild snakes are very very active with the exceptions of waiting for prey. Most captive snakes (like the GTP in the lobby of Parrish Creek) don't move at all other than to shift positions. Exercise has proven in humans to prevent osteoporosis and that may have an impact on reptiles too.
It's amazing to me what the higher quality of scanning equipment is allowing vets to discover with pet animals. Parrish Creek will soon be adding a CT scanner that will allow them to provide even better diagnoses and treatment for all of their clients.
Honestly, my head is a bit rattled by this, but I've seen all the evidence and can't dispute it.
