Reptile · Pogona vitticeps · typical adult weight 0.38–0.51 kg
Vitamin D is used in bearded dragons for Metabolic bone disease (with UVB). Routes documented in bearded dragons: PO. A typical adult bearded dragon weighs 0.38–0.51 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Vitamin D in bearded dragons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Calcitriol, Cholecalciferol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | Vitamin D3 critical for calcium metabolism | Per veterinary guidance (D3 supplementation) | Long-term | Metabolic bone disease (with UVB) | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your bearded dragon's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Active form (calcitriol) binds VDR promoting intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption, bone mineralization, and parathyroid hormone regulation.
Calcitriol: used for renal secondary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. Narrow therapeutic index — hypercalcemia risk. Monitor ionized calcium frequently. Do not confuse calcitriol with cholecalciferol.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for bearded dragons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Vitamin D dose range in bearded dragons, with cited source references: PO Vitamin D3 critical for calcium metabolism Per veterinary guidance (D3 supplementation). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Vitamin D in bearded dragons: PO.
Cited course lengths for Vitamin D in bearded dragons include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Vitamin D is indicated in bearded dragons for: Metabolic bone disease (with UVB).
These are general warnings for Vitamin D across species; consult the bearded dragon dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Calcitriol: used for renal secondary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. Narrow therapeutic index — hypercalcemia risk. Monitor ionized calcium frequently. Do not confuse calcitriol with cholecalciferol.
Why a species-specific page? Vitamin D pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in bearded dragons — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.