The swelling of the jaw is sometimes mistaken for an abscess. Abscesses, however, are rarely bilateral, and quick a discussion of diet and environment are often all that is needed to confirm a diagnosis of fibrous osteodystrophy. As the bones weaken, the body tries to compensate, and a network of soft connective tissue forms, stretching across the weakened areas. This results in hard lumps. Most noticeable in the long bones of the legs, they can also be felt in the tail.
Many owners mistakenly think their lizard is healthy and strong based on the appearance of the legs.
In fact, the lizard is highly susceptible to broken bones, and such breaks may go unnoticed due to the overlying swelling. Treating MBD Treatment depends upon the cause of the problem. In many instances, it may be just as difficult to make an owner see that there is a problem in these areas as it is to get an animal to eat foods which it is not accustomed to eating. The old, inappropriate foods may be mixed in with the proper foods, in decreasing quantities, if the animal absolutely will not make the switch to the proper foods. Owners are encouraged to provide access to direct sunlight whenever possible, augmenting that on days which are too cold or overcast with adequate exposure to fluorescent lights developed to provide ultraviolet radiation.