Metabolic Bone Disease in a Mediterranean Tortoise

Mediterranean tortoise with metabolic bone disease. This is what happens when tortoises are either not given enough dietary calcium, are not given access to full spectrum lighting, or both. Young growing tortoises have a very high requirement for calcium and MUST be supplemented with every meal. The shell of this tortoise was so soft that you can see the plastron being deformed with light digital pressure. Also the sheering forces caused by the the scutes moving relative to the underlying bone has caused extensive haemorrhage.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• tortoise