Bone Diseases in Whitetail Deer
Whitetail deer can be susceptible to both genetic and acquired types of bone disease. While it is extremely rare to find bone diseases in whitetail deer in the wild, there have been studies on whitetail deer in captivity. In some instances bone disease is able to cross over from the skeleton bones and affect antler bone tissue as well.
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Types
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The more debilitating of bone diseases in whitetail deer effects skeletal bone structure. The two most common types of skeletal bone diseases in whitetail deer are metabolic bone disease, referred to as MDC, and cancer. Antler malformity is another form of bone disease in whitetail deer that affects antler development, as antlers are also made up of simple bone tissue that the deer grows, sheds and regrows every year.
Causes
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Most bone diseases in whitetail deer are genetic. Acquired bone disease can occur and may come from environmental contagions such as pesticides or other chemicals, or can be passed among deer via water or forage. Metabolic bone disease can result from a lack of vital nutrients such as calcium. The most common type of bone disease affecting antlers can occur if a deer should suffer injury to its antlers during their annual growth cycle.
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Effects
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Skeletal bones diseases in whitetail deer can have debilitating effects that can cause the bones to become swollen, weak, brittle or malformed in both shape and size during or after growth. While generally not debilitating, antler bone disease can also result in the antlers growing as stunted or malformed. Once compromised, a deer's antlers will usually continue to grow malformed each year throughout the animal's lifespan.
Prognosis
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In the case of skeletal bone disease in whitetail deer in the wild, deer will usually not live long enough to reach maturity. As the disease progresses, the deer becomes increasingly weaker until it is either no longer able to run, making it easy prey for predators, or becomes too weak to stand long enough to forage to sustain itself. In the case of bone disease affecting antler growth, sometimes the deer will not achieve sufficient antler development, causing it to suffer injuries during a fight that can lead to premature death.
Expert Insight
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Chris Lena, wildlife biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, reports that in his experience, whitetail deer with bone disease do not live long enough in the wild for their illness to be discovered. While studies with captive deer have shown that skeletal bone disease can affect antler development, Lena states he neither has first-hand knowledge nor knows of any studies that conclude that antler bone disease in whitetail deer is capable of being transmitted to skeletal bone tissue.
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References
- Photo Credit whitetail deer buck image by Bruce MacQueen from Fotolia.com
