Gravid Iggy

[IggyJane]

My baby is gravid. She is a rescued Ig being raised by what I have read in Iguana's Book for Idiots, the IgDen, and Melissa Kaplan sites. She began acting weird and her eating fell off with think white urates and very very little poop. The xrays show eggs. The vet said they would be ready around Halloween or if she took her time as late as Christmas. The blood tests and xrays came to 500 dollars.
Now the spay starts at 600 and will more than likely be more. I never wanted an Iguana but it was left at my home and I fell in love with her during the taming process. 1. Is this the normal fees everyone else is experiencing? I like the vet but not her staff, so have some trust issues. When she is gone I am told to feed Ig bugs and dogfood. The doctor is wonderful with Ig and did her intership in Iguanas and is the only reptile doctor at the clinic, however it seems her specialty is birds. 2.Since I can't pinpoint when this started, how do I know when too long is and worry about infection? Between Halloween and Xmas seems a long streatch with lots of starvation going on. Her 1st blood test in May was excellent, her test now is very high in calcium and protein. The Dr said the calcium was high in the blood not because she had too much calcium, but because it was being leached out of her system to make the eggs and she would need a supplement during this time if I didnt spay. She did not tell me what supplement to use or how much...anyone have any feedback? I know we are not vets, but many times feedback on experience helps us double check the vets just like with human doctors! She also uses staples instead of stitches...seems like staples would come out too easy, but she said the ig would bit or scratch the thread stitches out. Feedback? I promise not to hold your feet to the fire on what you say..just hunting for feedback to help me research this decision while trying to come up with the funds. Feel free to email me at my aol [e-mail]. Janie

[Tesa]

I recently had quite the egging experience with my girl. I'll give you my opinion, based on my experience. Remember, you promised not to "hold my feet to the fire."

First and foremost, I'm not trusting your vet either! Iguanas only carry their eggs for around 60 days total. For that vet to say "somewhere between Halloween and Christmas" is WAY off base. If she is already showing outward signs of gravidity, I would guess you have 2-3 weeks tops.
(Is she trying to "dig a nest" in her enclosure? scratching at the door to get out? acting restless? acting lethargic? eating at all? propping herself up on her "elbows" to relieve pressure on her belly?)
I was lucky enough to accidentally run across one of the top reptile vets in the country. The total cost of Thrasher's spay (including bloodwork, X-rays, egg removal, hysterectomy, post- op meds etc) was 627.00. I nearly crapped my pants..but what can ya do? They let me break it down into 3 payments.
(btw...500 bucks for a blood panel and X-rays? Criminy! That's a bit overboard! More than double what I've paid in the past)

It's obvious that you are a very attentive owner and have good instincts concerning your girl. While it's not possible to be 100% confident when it comes to a potentially life threatening procedure such as this, don't disregard your gut instinct.

Ours was an emergency spay. I'd like for you to take a look at the following links that describe our experience. I've listed them chronologically. It's alot of clicking and reading, but they tell a very important story. (and have some pretty amazing pics too) If I had followed the advice of Thrasher's original vet I'd have lost her.
Feel free to send mail to my personal address or contact me via Yahoo messenger if there is ANYTHING I can do to help.
(email addy and yahoo ID listed under my sig below)
Please keep me updated and good luck!


tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1089086616

tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=health&action=display&thread=1089774931

tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=health&action=display&thread=1089921790

tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=pictures&action=display&thread=1089981135

[prism_wolf]

I would also only worry about a spay if you think it is medically neccessary in that the ig is in danger from laying. As long as you keep her well hydrated she should pass the eggs well. In lieu of the good foods...a couple of weeks with mainly hydrating treats will work fine with no lasting damage. Watermelon and grapes are very good for this.

I do not feel compfortable with your vet either. These costs are extraordinarily high. Mine costed about $60 just for bloodwork...fecal $15...office visit $35. And bugs/dogfood?

Bring her updated literature...or just bring her the link to Melissa Kaplan's sight. Hopefully she will be of the "open-minded" type and not get offended by what you know better than her? And that the ways of ig care have come a very long way.

Staples are fine for the ig. Many igs are given either one and I haven't heard anything about them coming out.

Remember...NO FIRE!

[Tesa]

Janie??
Update??

[IguanaKing]

Give her the opportunity for lots of climbing and other exercise too, she'll become much more active if she's gravid and this extra activity is necessary for a smooth egg-laying.

I agree that spaying should only be done if medically necessary as it poses its own risks that are many times more dangerous than allowing the eggs to come to term. Also, spaying is known to cause unpredictable behavioral changes in female igs. Halloween to Christmas is definitely an incorrect time frame as the gestation period is only 60 days like Tesa said. My baby Mercury always laid her eggs on January 16th for some reason, but she surprised me with an early clutch the third time...laid them right on the cage floor.

If she successfully lays her eggs, I recommend donating them to a local reptile humane society if you have one in your area. That's what I'll be doing with mine...granted, monitors will be eating them, but its better than having more homeless iggies running around in the world.