Metabolic bone disease in dugongs
Metabolic bone disease in dugongs is a skeletal disorder that mainly affects animals kept in captivity, such as in rescue centers or aquariums, following rescue. It results from an imbalance in the formation and renewal of bone. Bones becom...
What is it?
Metabolic bone disease in dugongs is a skeletal disorder that mainly affects animals kept in captivity, such as in rescue centers or aquariums, following rescue. It results from an imbalance in the formation and renewal of bone. Bones become less dense, more fragile, and sometimes deformed. This disease is not contagious—it is a disorder linked to the animal's diet and living conditions, not an infection.
The dugong is a marine herbivorous mammal that normally feeds on seagrass rich in minerals. When its diet in captivity or its environment does not properly replicate these mineral inputs, the skeleton can suffer over the long term.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Signs are often subtle at first and develop gradually. A reluctance to swim normally, less supple swimming, or apparent difficulty moving or maintaining position may be observed. The animal may seem tired, less active, and lose weight despite apparently adequate feeding. Tenderness when touched on certain parts of the body, visible deformation of certain bones, or slowed growth in a young dugong may also be noted. In advanced cases, fractures can occur even with gentle handling or normal movements.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
The main cause is an imbalance between intake and requirements for minerals essential to bone strength, particularly calcium and phosphorus, as well as a deficiency in vitamin D or adapted light that helps their absorption. In captivity, it is difficult to accurately reproduce the nutritional composition of the natural seagrass on which wild dugongs feed. An inadequately balanced supplemental diet over an extended period, particularly during the rehabilitation of stranded or injured animals, can promote this imbalance.
Dugongs kept in prolonged captivity, especially in rescue centers or rehabilitation facilities following stranding, are most at risk. Young animals that are growing, whose mineral requirements are proportionally higher, are particularly vulnerable. A poorly balanced replacement diet, a lack of variety in the plants offered, or insufficient exposure to adapted light can increase the risk. A prolonged captivity period increases the likelihood of the disorder developing.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
Diagnosis is based on clinical examination of the animal by a veterinarian specialised in marine wildlife, supplemented by imaging techniques such as radiography to assess bone density and structure. Blood tests make it possible to check levels of calcium, phosphorus and other markers linked to bone metabolism. The animal's feeding history and captive conditions are also essential elements for guiding diagnosis.
Treatment
Management is based on correcting the diet, with mineral and vitamin supplementation tailored under veterinary supervision. Improvements to housing conditions, particularly exposure to appropriate lighting, may be recommended. In painful cases, pain relief treatments may be used. No treatment can replace correction of the underlying nutritional cause.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Prevention is based primarily on a diet as close as possible to that found in the natural environment, with a varied and balanced intake of marine plants and minerals. Regular nutritional monitoring by marine wildlife specialists, along with an appropriate captive environment, helps reduce this risk. Whenever possible, it is preferable to limit the duration of captivity and to favour return to the natural habitat as soon as the animal's health status permits.
Possible complications
Without management, bone fragility may progress to spontaneous fractures or fractures during normal handling, skeletal deformities that may impair swimming and feeding, as well as overall decline favouring other health problems.
When to see a veterinarian
A captive dugong shows abnormal swimming or difficulty moving.
The animal loses weight or appetite without apparent cause.
Deformity or abnormal sensitivity of part of the body is observed.
A young dugong appears to have slowed growth for its age.
Prognosis
Prognosis depends on the stage at which the condition is identified. When detected early and corrected through appropriate diet, the outcome is generally favourable. Conversely, advanced bone lesions or fractures may leave lasting damage and compromise the chances of release back to the natural environment.
Frequently asked questions
Does this disease affect wild dugongs?
It is very rare in the wild because dugongs find a balanced natural diet of seagrass there. It mainly affects animals kept in captivity, for example during care following stranding.
Can this disease be prevented in a dugong admitted to a rehabilitation center?
Yes, a varied and balanced diet, regular veterinary monitoring and suitable housing conditions significantly reduce the risk.
Can a wounded dugong return to the wild?
It depends on the severity of the bone lesions. If the condition is corrected early without major consequences, reintroduction remains possible after a thorough veterinary evaluation.
Is this disease contagious to other marine animals?
No, it is not an infectious disease. It results from a nutritional imbalance specific to the animal in question.
References
WOAH — Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (ex-OIE)
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 24 August 2026
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