EMERGENCY HELP SERIOUSLY

[kronicrobot]

My iguana ritchie is about a year and couple months old and he has just lost weigth and has a swollen leg and can barely eat please help:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :

[Jen]

You need a vet immediately! Im thinking broken bone, as I can clearly see the your Ig has Metabolic bone disease from lack of proper diet and or UVB lighting. What haveyou been feeding himand what kind oflight and heat source have you been using?

[prism_wolf]

This iguana is emaciated, and as Jennifer says has clear signs of Metabolic Bone Disease (swollen jaw is a clincher and broken bones are common)...your ig needs a vet immediately and placed on a program for healing. A calcium injection will be needed to jump start, but you aslo need the right temps, UVB and diet. Please seek a vet immediately. You might have to travel for a good one, but here are some links to help:

www.anapsid.org/vets
www.herpvetconnection.com
www.arav.org <---click on "Members"

[kronicrobot]

its the lights that were recommended to me by the pet store
i have to get him to a vet

[Jen]

Those lights do not put out UVB rays, unfortunately you cant just rely on petstore information most of the employees have very little knowledge of the proper care requirements of most reptiles. What size enclosure are you using? If its still warm out I recomend getting your little guy out for some natural sunlight, it will help. What have you been feeding him?

[kronicrobot]

ive been feeding him rommaine broccolli calcium dust and fruit. i brought him outside and in the cun hes gettin better color. any other suggestions

[kronicrobot]

its a wire and glass cage

[Jen]

Your diet needs some serious changing ditch your current diet, visit this link tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=diet&action=display&thread=1427
Cut the food up small since his jaw is so deformed and probably feels like rubber. If he cant eat the smaller food, let me know and I'll give you a slurry recipe. You have a long way to go with this guy, depending on how bad the damage is, he may recover, however he will always have deformities and be smaller than normal. Im glad you found us when you did. Keep up with the natural sun light, at the very least 20 minutes a day, more would be great. Do some reading on here and learn as much as you can.