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Causes
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Inadequate intake of calcium or vitamin D can lead to a soft shell. Other causes include liver disease, kidney disease or disease in the parathyroid glands. Another reason turtles may develop the disease is because they receive inadequate exposure to ultraviolet light.
Symptoms
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When turtles get this disease, their bones begin to soften and often become malformed. The areas of the top part of the shell will often pull downward or the scutes become pyramid-shaped rather than laying flat. While the disease can be treated, deformities to the shell are often permanent.
Treatment
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Metabolic Bone Disease can be fatal, so if you suspect that your turtle has it, take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible to be evaluated. There are also a variety of things that can be done at home to help treat your turtle. Changes in diet to include more calcium and vitamin D-rich foods will help prevent the disease from progressing and help the shell restrengthen. Offer your turtle a variety of foods, such as romaine lettuce, collards, berries, earthworms, squash and snails. To increase calcium, consider buying a calcium supplement at a pet store, the kind often used for birds.
Prevention
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Metabolic Bone Disease is an incredibly dangerous disease for turtles, and can easily be prevented. The most common cause of the disease is a poor diet. Feed you turtle a nutrient-rich diet to keep it from getting sick.
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What Does it Mean When a Turtle's Shell Is Soft?
A turtle's shell comes in two parts: the upper portion, or the carapace, and the bottom portion, called the plastron. The shell is made of fused bones and is covered in keratin, which is what makes up human finger nails. The keratine forms shields or scutes on the turtle's shell. A turtle's shell provides protection, safety and shelter for the turtle, which is why shell health is so crucial. One danger to turtles is when their shell starts to soften, which is also know as Metabolic Bone Disease and can be particularly dangerous to baby turtles.