Thanks everyone, for such kind words, and thanks a million for all the advice! It will definatly be used and is GREATLY appreciated! I don't care how much I read about taking care of an animal - especially one as complex as an iguana - it seems there is ALWAYS more that I can learn! So any and ALL advice/ideas are sooooooo welcome!
Mark - Surprisingly, her legs and jaw are both fine! I know that's generally where MBD becomes noticable first, I'm not sure why it happened this way for her, but it seems to all be manifesting itself 100% in her spine, at least skeletally (is that even a word? LOL) anyway.
My male iguana (Elvis) was also neglected, although he isn't showing the severity of the MBD as Angel does, his back legs are "buff" looking, really fat - not the "healthy Iguana" kind of fat either
but that's all that's "visable". I'm sure both of my babies have suffered internally for the neglect they underwent though
Elvis was also very thin, completly black (not the "cold iguana" black either - the vet was very surprised he lived given the condition he was in - but he's a healthy boy now!), and had layers and layers of shed that never came off, on his spikes and toes
He was also missing several toes, and has 2 toes that are worthless due to the MBD -
I'm actually thinking of having them amputated so he doesn't accidently tear them off or break them - any thoughts on that?Dominick - I've got her on the Ig Den diet - her main greens have been Collard Greens and Arugula leaves, with some squash, watercress, yams, and a dash of broccoli, kale & napa cabbage on the side, along with a small amount of purple seedless grapes & apples. I also let her try a banana the other day (I won't let her have banana's often, but I was eating one and thought "what the heck?") and she LOVED it! So did Elvis! It was very cool actually, the vigor they BOTH went after the banana! LOL.
As for lighting, I've got her under a regular flourescent light, along with a brand new 160 watt Mercury Vapor Flood lamp - which she LOVES! Her coloring, attitude and general overall health has greatly improved since I put her under it! I did have her under at Repti-Sun 5.0, and switched it to the MV Flood. I have my male under the Repti-Sun 8.0 (the 5.0 was 10 months old so I figured it was best to get a new one rather than risk it not putting off enough UVB).
She has been out in the real sun 3 times since we got her, for 30 minutes each time. The problem is she desperatly wants to climb, but I don't feel she's physically sound enough yet for that - not to mention that the vet clipped her nails REALLY short, so there's literally NO sharpness at all there for her (I generally don't clip THAT short
I like my babies to have SOME climbing ability even if I end up with "war wounds"). I didn't want her thinking she had grip when she didn't, then fall or otherwise damage her still very brittle bones
At night she sleeps on a human moist heating pad set on low, with 1 towel layer over it, and the remainder of the towel laid over her - so she gets "tucked in" at bed time
She's been on a light dusting of calcium twice a week, but will drop it to once a week (vet didn't say how often to do it, so I just guessed) and I will go out and get B-12 tomorrow! Thanks for letting me know that, I hadn't ever heard of using it, but anything that'll help her is great!
Humidity - now that one I'm having a hard time with. She's free roaming (in a very "Ig Proofed" room) in my daughters room - so it's so hard for me to keep it really humid AND livable for my daughter - so I've been doing the following:
** Misting her at LEAST 10 to 15 times daily
** Keeping her food moist - and replacing it every 2 1/2 to 3 hours
** Soaking her for 30 minutes at least twice daily
** Putting her in a very humid bathroom at least once daily - usually twice - for about 15 to 20 minutes
** Keeping a shallow "bathing bowl" available to her 24/7
** And of course, making fresh, cold water available to her all day
Is there anything else I could do to help with the hydration, short of humidifying my daughter right out of her room? LOL I'm trying to think of anything else I can do, I'm a disabled stay at home mom, so I'm able to do whatever I need to, for as long or as many times as I need to do it.
I have noticed that she LOVES to be around the family though! In fact, it's her preference! She gets very upset when we "ban" her to her room w/o someone hanging around with her in there, or at least coming in every 30 minutes to talk with her LOL. I think that's SO awesome! She is so very socializied and tame, I just can't fathom someone NOT wanting her - or being able to watch her condition deterrioriate w/o doing anything to stop it and help her. I shudder to think that her previous owners (I use that term loosely after seeing what they did to her) might own other animals
They're definatly NOT good people or people of conscience!
Anyway, any ideas or advice you (or anyone else!) has for me, I would be very grateful to hear!
Thanks again to everyone, for the warm welcome, genuine concern, and wonderful advice! Elvis, Angel, Myself and my Daughter Ashley (Angels "momma" - I'm "nana" lol) thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts!
~Nan