Metabolic bone disease in wild collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

Abstract

The records of 666 casualty collared doves examined at a wildlife hospital in south-west England over a period of five years were reviewed. Signs of metabolic bone disease were recorded in 51.2 per cent of the juvenile birds but in only 9.6 per cent of the adults. The incidence of the condition was highest between December and February and decreased almost to zero between June and August. Histological lesions in 11 of the juvenile doves were consistent with vitamin D deficiency, possibly as a result of inadequate exposure to uvb light during the short winter days.

Metabolic bone diseases in a wild crab-eating hawk and a caboclo hawk in Paraiba

“…Metabolic bone diseases are much more frequent in young specimens than in adults because of the rapid growth of the birds, which reach adult size five times faster than mammals (COUSQUER; DANKOSKI; PATTERSON-KANE, 2007). Therefore, there is a great need for an adequate supply of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in the diet.…”

Medical Management of Hypovitaminosis D With Cholecalciferol and Elastic Therapeutic Taping in Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) Chicks

“…Osteodystrophy can develop because of a deficiency in dietary calcium, vitamin D 3, or both or from an inadequate dietary ratio of calcium to phosphorus. 9 Birds, compared with mammals, are at increased risk to develop osteodystrophy because of their rapid rate of growth and the accompanying increased requirement for calcium deposition. 10,11 If the required deposition of calcium cannot be maintained during growth, normal mineralization fails and can result in bone deformities.…”

“…Common clinical signs associated with metabolic bone disease in bird species are deformable beaks, sterna, and tibiotarsi; an inability to ambulate or fly; lower limb lameness and folding fractures of the tibiotarsi; and retained feather shafts. 9 Hypovitaminosis D is a common cause of osteodystrophy in birds. 10,12 Hypovitaminosis D can be the result of an imbalanced or incomplete diet or insufficient exposure to UV-B light.…”

“…10,12 Hypovitaminosis D can be the result of an imbalanced or incomplete diet or insufficient exposure to UV-B light. 9 Vitamin D 3 (cholecalciferol) functions by stimulating absorption of calcium and phosphorus via the kidneys and intestine and stimulating bone mineralization. In cases of vitamin D 3 deficiency, plasma concentrations of calcium and phosphorus fall below the level required for the proper mineralization of bone.…”

“…9 Dietary vitamin D 3 is considered a more significant source for avian species than cholecalciferol synthesized in the skin. 18 One study reports that clinical response in vitamin D-deficient chicks is more rapid with supplemental calcitriol, 19 whereas another found dietary cholecalciferol to be equally effective to fluorescent lighting or dietary calcitriol alone in reducing the severity of hypovitaminosis D in chicks.…”