Vitamin D3 (See Also Calcium and MBD)
Function
Promotes absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus from the intestinal tract for healthy bones and teeth.
Deficiency
Vitamin D3 aids in calcium homeostasis by facilitating the absorption of calcium. This nutrient can be obtained either from the diet or produced in the skin after exposure to Ultra-Violet Light. Vitamin D deficiency usually occurs through poor diet and/or no provision of Ultraviolet lighting but can also be the result of an absence in parathyroid hormone secretion (hypoparathyroidism) due to damage to the parathyroid glands. A deficiency results in the development of MBD characterised by poor bone mineralisation with the development of soft bendy bones or brittle bones that fracture easily along with muscle tremors. This condition can be exacerbated by high phosphorus or low calcium in the animals diet e.g. lettuce/ celery/ cucumber for herbivores or meat only /day old mice/ chicks for carnivorous species.
Toxicity
Hypervitaminosis D3 occurs due to over supplementation (especially in reptiles who are also exposed to UV light) which leads to the calcification of soft tissues such as the wall of the arteries and kidneys creating hypertension and organ failure. This often occurs in herbivores such as tortoises fed on tinned cat and dog food. Excess supplementation must be avoided as this too can lead to problems of calcification of the soft tissues.
Prevention
Vitamin D supplementation may be necessary, however, there is evidence that some reptiles may be inefficient at absorbing vitamin D from the gastrointestinal tract. There is further evidence that artificial Ultra-Violet light sources may be ineffective at maintaining skin synthesis of vitamin D as different species have evolved to take advantage of different wavelengths and dispersal patterns of UV radiation depending on the environment the species originated from. UV lighting may also require replacing after 6 months (even if they are still working) as they may lose part of their spectrum. Furthermore, UV lighting requires correct positioning to allow for the correct intensity of UV lighting to reach the animal. It is important to note that a range of species-specific strategies are used to obtain adequate amounts of D3 for calcium homeostasis. It is important to know whether your species relies heavily on photo biosynthesis, dietary sources, a combination or has simply evolved to not require any supplemental D3.
Promotes absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus from the intestinal tract for healthy bones and teeth.
Deficiency
Vitamin D3 aids in calcium homeostasis by facilitating the absorption of calcium. This nutrient can be obtained either from the diet or produced in the skin after exposure to Ultra-Violet Light. Vitamin D deficiency usually occurs through poor diet and/or no provision of Ultraviolet lighting but can also be the result of an absence in parathyroid hormone secretion (hypoparathyroidism) due to damage to the parathyroid glands. A deficiency results in the development of MBD characterised by poor bone mineralisation with the development of soft bendy bones or brittle bones that fracture easily along with muscle tremors. This condition can be exacerbated by high phosphorus or low calcium in the animals diet e.g. lettuce/ celery/ cucumber for herbivores or meat only /day old mice/ chicks for carnivorous species.
Toxicity
Hypervitaminosis D3 occurs due to over supplementation (especially in reptiles who are also exposed to UV light) which leads to the calcification of soft tissues such as the wall of the arteries and kidneys creating hypertension and organ failure. This often occurs in herbivores such as tortoises fed on tinned cat and dog food. Excess supplementation must be avoided as this too can lead to problems of calcification of the soft tissues.
Prevention
Vitamin D supplementation may be necessary, however, there is evidence that some reptiles may be inefficient at absorbing vitamin D from the gastrointestinal tract. There is further evidence that artificial Ultra-Violet light sources may be ineffective at maintaining skin synthesis of vitamin D as different species have evolved to take advantage of different wavelengths and dispersal patterns of UV radiation depending on the environment the species originated from. UV lighting may also require replacing after 6 months (even if they are still working) as they may lose part of their spectrum. Furthermore, UV lighting requires correct positioning to allow for the correct intensity of UV lighting to reach the animal. It is important to note that a range of species-specific strategies are used to obtain adequate amounts of D3 for calcium homeostasis. It is important to know whether your species relies heavily on photo biosynthesis, dietary sources, a combination or has simply evolved to not require any supplemental D3.
©2014 Cat Read