Fecal matters (sorry)

[Cyndi]

After Neera's story, this seems kind of insignificant...

At what point do you say that an iguana has diarrhea?

Kyo has been off her feed for a couple of days (she's in the middle of a MAJOR shed, and just looks extremely uncomfortable). Yesterday afternoon, I gave her a couple of raspberries for a treat (1st time).

Today, she is still just nibbling now and then, but she has gone potty 5 times. The first two were normal amounts (she normally goes twice a day) and the last three have been small amounts. The feces holds its shape (not runny), but the last time smelled different-not bad, just different.

Could the raspberries be doing this? All this morning, she was just pacing around and climbing her walls, like she was trying to scratch. I removed all of the loose shed as soon as I can, we gave her a bath, and I have a baby brush that she likes to be brushed with, but nothing seems to help.

She has finally settled down in her basking spot, but she's just not "right".

Cyndi

[dominick]

Hi Cyndi-

Ig care is NEVER insignificant! I'm glad to see that you are so in tune with your Iguana. It's the best preventative care we can give them.

Behavioral change, change in eating habits, fecal properties all could indicate heat or being gravid.

Following is a post Darry Conner made to the TIR group about gravidity and a late season this year.

Darry Conner wrote: "Anyone with a female over 18 months needs to be alert to the probability of eggs. Although I thought Dec.-Mar. was the prime egging time, it seems that many females are just getting around to it now. If you have a female, be sure to carefully watch for the signs. If they start to show signs, please supplement their calcium daily. Make sure that as eating starts to slow down, they have plenty of access to water. If they don't drink enough voluntarily, you will probably need to force hydrate in some manner. DO NOT JUST FILL A SYRINGE WITH WATER AND SHOVE IT IN THEIR MOUTH! You can aspirate & kill them doing that. check out bobmac's article on forced hydration at <http://members.tripod.com/debbiemaccargar/id39.htm>.

Also, see this page: www.anapsid.org/signs.html

Let us know what you think after you have read all the material.

[Cyndi]

Thanks, Dominick. I just feel like such a worry wart sometimes...

I had be at work early today (6 am) so my husband got her up and fed her. He said she acted fine, and there was only 1 pooh when I got home. Still nibbling at her food.

However, I sat down at my desk, and she has immediately started climbing around again. But today it's more like a little kid exploring.

As for gravidity, we are not really sure how old she is (femoral pores are still pinpoint, abt 7" svl). She had a day of odd poops last month (urates were thick, small amount of feces). That lasted one day, then back to normal. We though of gravidity then, called the vet, he said to keep an eye on her. Never suggested an xray, fecal check or anything. So, until I can find a new vet, we are kinda S.O.L. (He also had never heard of spaying an iguana!) I just heard about a vet 2 hours away. I am going to visit there tomorrow.

We started calcium supplements then, just in case. She has kinda tanked up around the middle, but I can't feel anything. Building a nesting box this afternoon, just in case...

Thanks again,
Cyndi

[prism_wolf]

Females don't usually become gravid until they're about 10" svl. Age really doesn't count 100%...size plays a big role, too. I hope the new vet is a good one...even if it is that far.

[Tammy]

Hi Cyndi -

Just curious how you made out with the new vet? Hope all went well.

[Cyndi]

This new vet seems very good! (hip, hip, hooray!) It's only about an hour and a half away. I had my list of questions, and she answered them before they could be asked.

Everything seems back to normal with Kyo, but we are going to see her next Monday anyway.

Thanks,
Cyndi