When nursing exotic patients in practice it is important to have knowledge of ideal husbandry and accommodation techniques for that species as well as knowledge of the illness. Reptiles are notorious for having dietary or environmental illnesses one of which being metabolic bone disease which is the removal of calcium form the bones to keep the balance of calcium in the blood within normal range (Bartlett 2003). The reduced calcium levels within the bones can cause weakening of the bone structure and the formation of callus lumps over the body predominantly the tail, legs and spine (Martin 2005). Other symptoms of metabolic bone disease can be stunted growth and a spongey lower jaw (Kaplan 2014) which can be painful for the animal causing loss
