Metabolic Bone Disease in Baby Owls

Owl with MBS

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), also called Rickets, is a condition where the bones do not develop normally and either become soft/bowed/deformed or are brittle and prone to fracturing. MBD does not have a singular cause. While it is usually diet related and due to nutritional deficiencies, there are also genetic conditions that can cause or contribute to MBD.

MBD is much more common in birds raised under human care than it is in wild birds. Nearly every baby admitted to our hospital with MBD is one that was being kept and fed by a member of the public prior to being brought to professional care. Baby animals have very specific nutritional requirements in order to develop properly. These needs vary between species. Raptor species need a proper mix of muscle meat, bone, organs, and fur for their diet. This balance changes between species and with age as the baby grows.

This is just part of why it is so important to get a baby animal to a licensed professional right away if you ever find one. Wildlife Rehabilitators have the knowledge needed to provide appropriate care for the animal, including essential nutrition. While mild cases of MBD may be able to be corrected if caught in time, severe cases are non-reversible and mean that the animal has to be humanely euthanized or live its whole life with limited mobility.

We've already received 2 baby Great Horned Owls this year that had MBD. Sadly, both had to be euthanized as neither would ever be able to stand correctly due to severe bowing of the bones in their legs. One was the most severe case we've ever seen and we suspect an underlying condition that contributed to poor nutrient absorption or bone formation, as this bird was not fed by humans prior to intake.