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Post by missyK on Sept 23, 2004 14:33:03 GMT -8
Ive had George only about 6 months we think he is a year old. Last month he started dragging his left arm behind him. I called the vet and took him in it turns out he didnt have a uvb light and the vet gave us vitamines and a calcium supplement and we bought a better light for him. He got better and we are still giving him the vitamines, now his other arm is being drug behind him and moving spastically when he tries to use it. I was holding him, trying to get a better look at his right arm and he was struggling i heard a snap and now his is favoring one of his hind legs as well. I dont know what else to do for him to keep him healthy.
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Post by Lyn on Sept 23, 2004 14:45:31 GMT -8
Hi Missy and welcome to the zone...yes those little squirmy igs can really put up a fight...and if his bones were weak from lack of UVB, you very may well have broken his leg albeit accidently...another vet visit and perhaps some xrays are in order....
What do you feed him? have you checked out the food chart on this site? great info about his diet...What kind of UVB bulb did you end up getting? I hope all goes well for him...Lyn
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Post by missyK on Sept 23, 2004 15:04:34 GMT -8
well last time we were at the vet he gave us a new list of foods to feed him most the time in his bowl he has half kale, (its his favorite) or mustard greens and a little of all the following: carrots greenbeans limabeans broccoli cabbage yellow squash and somtimes avacado. with a small diced grape or strawberry. like i said, he has vitamines and rep-cal everyday since his last injury, the vet suggested it. He has an appointment with his vet on monday but last time it was the same kind of injury and he told us it wasn't broken.
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Post by prism_wolf on Sept 23, 2004 15:19:52 GMT -8
An iguana healing from MBD should not be held because the bones are so weak. Climbing branches and shelves should be taken down until it is stronger. Lights should be brought down to the lower level to where it is 6-10 inches away from the ig.
Here are some questions to answer so we can better help you:
1) What kind of UVB light do you use?
2) What are the temperatures in the basking spot?
3) What are the temps in the cool end?
4) What size enclosure do you have?
I can already tell you the kale is bad. This actually keeps any calcium from being absorbed by the ig. Here's a short list for your next grocery trip:
collard greens
turnip green
mustard greens
dandelion greens (if you can find them)
aragula (if you can find it)
watercress
summer squash
All these foods should be finely cut for easy eating and quicker digestion. The squash should be grated skin and all.
If you can get the ig in to the vet sooner, you may be saving his life. This is serious and mending a broken bone on MBD is difficult.
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Post by IguanaKing on Sept 23, 2004 15:27:44 GMT -8
Yup, like Veronica said, Kale is bad. Broccoli is also. Carrots and grapes should be kept to a minimum as well.
I concur that he should go for another vet visit, their bones are very easy to break just with simple handling if they have been weakened by MBD.
Thanks for posting here, we'll help as much as we can to get your little guy back to good health, but we need the info that Veronica asked about so we can tell you if you're moving in the right direction. ;D
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Post by missyK on Sept 23, 2004 15:38:16 GMT -8
well, about the type of light do you mean the brand? cause i dont know i just know we were using a uv light at first then the vet told us we need one that admits uva and uvb. so i got the one at the pet store that said it did. It is about 90 degrees F in the light and 80 degrees F out of the light. He is just a baby. he weighs 7 oz and is a little over a foot long (including tail) he is in a 20 gal aquarium, he looks cramped to me but the vet said it was fine until he gets bigger. he has a red light for night times thats just uv and the other one is for day. i used to take hiim outside on the cloths line but thats how i think he got hurt in the first place. He hasnt eaten anything today.  |
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Post by WillemsMom on Sept 23, 2004 16:18:21 GMT -8
This is so sad.
Do you still have the box the bulb came in? Maybe you can find it and tell us the brand.
Are you giving him any moisture/humidity.
There is a great deal you can to do to give him a good life, but FIRST...a visit to the VET is very important. Please try to do that tomorrow. Monday is far away if George is in pain. i agree with the foods you should REMOVE from his diet. The rest are good and the list prism gave you is right on!
I'm sorry to see your little crying face. It really hurts when our babies stop eating or when they're hurting. Mine is just getting well again.
But it all starts with a visit to his doc. After that, we can really hep you.
Nancy
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Post by prism_wolf on Sept 23, 2004 17:01:43 GMT -8
As Nancy said...the brand is pretty important. Some are much better than others. The best UVB flourescent tube on the market is the Reptisun 5.0 or Iguana Light 5.0. They're made by the same company. The best Mercury Vapor bulb on the market is the Mega Ray which puts out incredible UVB readings and great for a calcium deficient ig...if you have the $75 for the initial cost. Replacement bulbs are $45. www.reptileuv.comBob who urged the design of this bulb is a very nice guy and over the top knowledgeable when it comes to UVB and it's properties, benefits and uses. Many igs have been rehabilitated with the flourescent tubes, but you will need two of them and the shop light fixture...the $20 ones from Lowe's or Home Depot...not the $7 ones from Wal-Mart. There is a difference. |
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Post by missyK on Sept 23, 2004 18:12:39 GMT -8
well i threw the box away but on the side of the bulb it says "super uv coil lamp, 13 watt" its the one my local pet store owner suggested. Because he is so small and his habitat is a 20 gal aquarium i think the light would fry him. he gets very dark on his head when he is in this light for a very long time. Can you explain his complete recovery and then his new very same injury. I am confused. i will look at our local pet store for these bulbs but like i said this is a very small town, where can i order one?
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Post by WillemsMom on Sept 23, 2004 18:59:16 GMT -8
Missy, I had what you bought. Many of us have meters that measure the strength of the uvb rays from our bulbs. I found the 13 watts bulb useless. The twenty watt bulb was good. I don't think many people like the coil lamps but I did! I would think a 20-watt bulb will be fine for now.
My ig has never had MBD, but I'm thinking that george may have looked like he had a complete recovery, when in fact his bones were still VERY weak. Wasn't it Prism who said that an ig recovering from MBD should not be handled.
I know it seems like there's alot to learn all at once, but, it is so worth it!
Please look for, or order, the 20 Watt coil lamp. But, remember, he will soon out grow it. All the other bulbs mentioned earlier are MUCH MUCH better.
Good luck, Nancy
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Post by prism_wolf on Sept 25, 2004 5:06:15 GMT -8
The problem with the coil lamps is that they do not cover a very large area. The UVB output may be good in the limited range it emits, but UVB needs to cover as large an amount of the surface of the ig as possible. Igs have still contracted MBD with the coil lamps, it just takes longer. UVB bulbs do not produce any heat to speak of. The bulbs radiate such a small temperature they are not even included in adding heat to any enclosure/tank. MBD as you know is a calcium deficiency. When an iguana does not have just ONE of the THREE things needed for core care (heat, UVB, diet), the body cannot metabolize the vitamin D3 that is crucial in the absorption of calcium. If the ig cannot bring in calcium form an ingested source, it will pull the calcium from it's own bones. This causes a weak skelatal structure and eventually becomes very hard on other vital organs in the body causing death. Calcium injections from the vet will help and is pretty much mandatory for a very sick ig. The proper temps of 92-96 basking under the PROPER UVB light (Reptisun 5.0 of Iguana Light 5.0 - 4' length), no lower than 75 for a sick ig in the cool end, 85 ambient temp. Food should be at the very least what I previously listed. A very good site to got to for more info: www.geocities.com/~pawsplus/carmen.html |
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Post by missyK on Sept 27, 2004 17:39:10 GMT -8
Just an update, George went to the vet today. the vet says he has nurve damange since his relflexes are not responding to three of his five toes. he has more stuff to take. A high calorie surup that is supposed to stimulate his natural healing capabilities and he will be ok. ;D The vet does not suspect mbd but will check up in three weeks.  |
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Post by WillemsMom on Sept 28, 2004 16:17:49 GMT -8
This is wonderful news, Miss Kitty! Just wonderful! I have a big smile on my face. Congratulations for taking that step!!!
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