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Post by zeke101 on Sept 20, 2004 11:30:27 GMT -8
Hi all! I'm new here, but I just have some concearns about my iguana, Zeke. My sister bought him January of this year (2004) and we were told he was about 6 months old, but we believe he's at least 2 years old because he's quite big. Ever since we got Zeke, his appetite hasn't been normal, from what we've been reading in a book on iguanas we have.. We've fed him fresh lettuce, cantaloupe, carrots, bananna and that sort of thing, but he'll eat a tiny bit, and leave it, and it'll just end up going bad the next day or so.. But lately my sister and I have noticed that Zeke hasn't been able to walk. His hind legs seem to be VERY swollen, and he just drags his back end around.. It looks as though it is very difficult for him to get around.. If I pick him up, he just lies on my hand, and puts his head down and closes his eyes.. He has zero energy lately.. And his coloration is off. It's a yellowish tint since last night, and it's concearning me greatly.. It's hard for him to eat also, the past month or two I've had to hand feed him and the past few days he's not able to open his mouth as freely as when we first had him. Its breaking my heart because I know he's sick, and I'm not shore what the illness is, but my sister and I believe to think it's MBD.. Since we've assumed this, we've put calcium on his food and water.. and we've kept his uv lights and his heat lamp on the majority of the time.. but it doesn't seem to be helping.. Can anyone give some advice? I love this iguana dearly, and I don't want to lose him!!!
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Post by Lyn on Sept 20, 2004 11:57:25 GMT -8
Hi and welcome to Iguana Zone...sounds like you have an extremely sick lizard there...Exactly what kind of UVB lamps do you have? Reptisun 5.0 or Iguana light 5.0 are the standard lights that work...and they have to be a foot or less to the iguana for proper UVB measurements...
Lettuce shouldnt be fed to iguanas because it has no nutrients for them...collards mustard greens, chicory, dandelion greens etc should make up the main part of his diet...
Has he been to a vet? sounds like he should go ASAP please let us know what happens...Lyn
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Post by zeke101 on Sept 20, 2004 12:08:47 GMT -8
Thanks for the advice! Anymore, anyone?
Uhm, well He hasn't been to a vet yet, but my sister will call in about it ..
One light that is in the fixture is called "Night Glo" (moonlight lamp by EkoTerra) and it's 25W.. The other light in the same fixture is just a normal white light, the same size as the moonlight lamo, but I'm not shore what kind it is, we threw out the box.. And the heat lamp we have is called "Heat Glo" (infarared light by EkoTerra) and that one is 150W..
The enclosure that we have Zeke in is an old floor TV unit with everything on the inside taken out, with plexiglass across the front, and a door on the top.. I think it might be farther than a foot away from him, but there's a hut that he can climb on to get alot closer to it..
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Post by zeke101 on Sept 20, 2004 12:25:49 GMT -8
I just ran outside, grabbed some dandelion greens, washed them off and hand fed some to Zeke, and he actually looked like he wanted to eat it! Before it was a struggle to get him to eat the lettuce, but he actually looked like he was trying to eat it! ;D But I do understand that that isn't the only thing that will help him get better.. What else can I do??
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Post by zeke101 on Sept 20, 2004 12:38:53 GMT -8
Oh, and is it okay for them to eat pears? Because I just got out a fruit cup, and chopped up some pears from it, and Zeke absolutely devoured it! He went crazy! He was munching on my fingers because he wanted to get at it so bad! But the worse part is that his jaw doesn't look too well It seems as though the bone isn't solid.. like it's gone to.. mush ? I don't know.. It concearns me!
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Post by Lyn on Sept 20, 2004 14:56:30 GMT -8
Just a warning about dandelions from outside...if you use pesticides or fertilizer of any kind on your lawn it could kill your ig...
I read the post about the lighting...neither of those is giving proper uvb rays ...he needs either direct sunlight (not through the window) or a real uvb bulb...like I listed...good luck..Lyn
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Post by prism_wolf on Sept 20, 2004 16:32:33 GMT -8
Since you have titled the post so, you must be aware that MBD is a good possibility of what your ig has. You have described classic symptoms. If the MBD is not treated aggressively at this point under a vets care, it's very possible that your ig can die. MBD is the #1 killer of most sunloving reptiles...a solid #1 for igs.
You need the right UVB. As Lyn said, what you have is not UVB emitting bulbs. Please look in the diet section for a list of the correct foods. There is a chance your ig will fully recover...mine did with those same symptoms AND neurological convusions/siezures.
It does take an aggressive regimin though and right now. Take him to the vet...get a %100 diagnosis and go with the treatment the vet puts him on.
I'm really glad you came to seek help for your ig. We'll be looking forward to updates as his health improves.
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Post by WillemsMom on Sept 20, 2004 17:41:08 GMT -8
Please take him to a good reptile vet. My ig is sick to and it's an awful feeling. I haven't encountered MBD yet, but from what you describe it is BIG possibility. As far as I know pears are okayto tempt him to eat, but he really needs the good greens that Lyn listed. he sounds like a smart little guy who won't eat the lettuce that's bad for him.
By the way.what are you doing for humidity. Please mist him several times a day from a misting bottle (cheap..any supermarket or walmart) Change the water in the bottle every day. Also make sure Zeke has a bowl of fresh water every day.
Sounds like he already feels good with you..eating from your fingers and all. I wish you so much good luck with him!
Please tell us what your vet said and what changes you have made. Also, it needs to be 95 in his enclosure all day. Important! Get a few thermometers.
Good luck and prayers for Zeke.
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Nanshe
Senior
I am owned by Elvis & Angel :)
Posts: 167
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Post by Nanshe on Sept 20, 2004 21:11:31 GMT -8
OMG, I feel soooo bad for your Iggy. When I first got Elvis he also had some of the classic symptoms of MBD: Swollen back legs and feet Very lethargic Very thin Not thermoregulating Soft jaw He was so bad the vet didn't think he'd live through it. Today, he's a fat, happy, healthy, green boy ;D It took a lot of work - and for me it was even worse, because I had no idea whatsoever what I was doing. I'd never owned an Ig before - my hubby had but that was back in the late 1980's and the care back then wasn't nearly what it is now, so all his recommendations were way off base! Fortunatly we were smart enough to by the Iguana's For Dummies book the same day we bought Elvis - if not for that book, Elvis probably wouldn't be here today. You HAVE to get that Iguana to a (qualified reptile) vet ASAP - tomorrow (Tuesday) if at ALL possible! In the meantime you should do the following: BUY A UVB LIGHT The best out there are the Mercury Vapor Bulbs. They're cheaper to order off the internet (from places like http://www.reptiledirect.com) but you don't have time to wait for it to get here unless you live in a climate - and have the time to devote - to taking him outside (supervised) in the REAL sun for several hours each day until that bulb arrives (the real sun is better than any product out there!) At the pet stores, the Merc Vap bulb can run very high. One pet store here wanted to charge me $75.00 for a USED 160watt Merc Vap bulb But Reptile Direct has them for $32.95 + shipping. If you can't afford or get your hands on that bulb - get a Reptisun or Iguana Light 5.0; 8.0 or 10 as Lyn mentioned - but be sure to get the fixture also, making sure it doesn't say anything about "diffusing" (I made that mistake! LOL) If you get the Reptisun/Iguana Light, make SURE it's within 9 to 12 inches of where he lays MOST of the time - not where he COULD lay, but where he USUALLY lays - so he'll get the most benefit from the UVB. The Merc Vap can be further away. CHANGE HIS DIET[/u] Read the diet section as Prisim mentioned above, and start feeding him the healthy food. NO LETTUCE, minimal fruit (you can use it to whet his appetite). CHECK TEMPERATURES[/u] The basking spot temperature should be between 92 & 98 degrees, and a cool spot in the cage around 78 to 82 degrees. The overall temp of the rest of the cage should fall somewhere inbetween. HYDRATION[/u] Mist him & his food down several times daily with a spray bottle as Willems Mom suggested, also try to bathe him every day for as long as he'll stay. Maybe others have additional ideas - the people here are pretty Iggy savvy. But honestly I think the best advice is GO TO THE VET ASAP [/color]- Zeke is in danger ........ Best of luck to you and Zeke - I will keep you in my prayers. Sincerely, ~Nan
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Post by Merlin on Sept 21, 2004 4:00:59 GMT -8
I would have to add that the best thing that you can do for this iguana is to get it to a vet NOW! The rubbery jaw is classic MBD! This is a very ugly crippling and fatal disease and needs to be treated now.
The diet and the lights definately need to be changed and if your ig care book says to feed lettuce throw it away! Pick up Iguanas for Dummies or Green Iguana the Ultimate Owners Manual. You can get either one for abut 20 dollars and wil give you the bet up to date info available. And we will all be here to help as well.
However as stated first thing is the vet. ASAP! Good luck and keep us informed!
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Post by WillemsMom on Sept 21, 2004 10:09:17 GMT -8
I have been doing some research this morning and I've read about some igs with MBD that sounds similar to how you describe Zeke. These igs recovered well, as prism said.
But I realized there are no short cuts to take. Please do everything your vet suggests, check it out here if you like. Nan outlined very important things for you to do. Start NOW to do everything to save Zeke. You CAN do it.
Take him to a good vet ASAP!
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Post by IguanaKing on Sept 21, 2004 10:33:37 GMT -8
Yes, definitely take him to a good reptile vet. When you get back home, throw your iguana book in the trash along with the lettuce. Also, in a sick ig, bananas and carrots are not recommended because they're actually pretty hard on his system. He can eat pears, but since they are fruit, they should be a very small portion of his diet. Tesa has compiled an excellent list of good foods for your iggy in the "Feeding section". Keep your existing lights, the IR bulb you have, as long as its pointed at his basking spot, will do an unbeatable job of keeping his body temperature up. However, it might be a little too powerful if he has a small enclosure. What are the dimensions of his enclosure? Also, in addition to these lights, you'll need a good UVB lamp as others have said. I recommend the MegaRay EB Flood. read this thread for my experience with the MegaRay EB Flood: tesa.proboards24.com/index.cgi?board=light&action=display&thread=1095791156
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Post by zeke101 on Sept 21, 2004 14:23:14 GMT -8
Well.. an update on Zeke.. He's still not doing good.. I've fed him dandelion greens, and a bit of pears since, but he's not looking any better.. His jaw is even worse.. He can't barely grab at the food with his mouth.. So I have to gently try to open his mouth, put it in, and hope he swallows it, but sometimes he can't; he just spits it out.. His mouth looks horribly deformed:S But it seems as tho he's actually been able to walk a tiny bit better when i take him out and put him on the floor... He just lys in one spot in his cage though.. And when i have him on my arm, he can't grip with his back legs.. So he strains with his front legs to keep balance and stay on my arm.. He hasn't been to a vet yet because my sister has classes at university all day, and my dad isn't a great fan of the iguana, and says its our fault if he dies.. So I'm going to get mad at my sister if she doesn't take him soon! I'm so worried.. I don't want anything to happen to Zeke! :
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Post by WillemsMom on Sept 21, 2004 14:41:05 GMT -8
Forgive me for being blunt but 'soon' isn't soon enough. How about this evening to an emergency vet hospital if there is one that knows about reptiles. If not, definitely tomorrow. Tell your vet's office why he to see Zeke tomorrow.
Please don't look for any improvement. I think you will only discover Zeke getting weaker and weaker. He will begin to improve after you Vet sees him and gives you instructions to follow.
Lastly, I wouldn't handle or test him... anything like that. I've been told to feed and medicate Willie as instructed and then leave him alone so he can heal.
keep his environment as close to ideal as possible..high humidity, good heat, and good rays. You've been given all the numbers by other posters.
I'm sorry about your Dad. I wish he wasn't so firm about not helping, but it is true, you and your sis brought Zeke home and the bottom line is you both are responsible for him.
There is such a thing as 'too late'.
Good luck! I know you care or you wouldn't have written to us.
Nancy
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Post by prism_wolf on Sept 21, 2004 14:44:40 GMT -8
If this iguana can not take in food...the right foods...he WILL die. If he does not go to a vet...HE WILL DIE.
Your sister...if she is a good student...can afford to miss a class in order to get him the medical treatment he needs. He may seem like he's walking better, but I can gaurantee you, if this is MBD...and I'm really sure it will be diagnosed as such...he is NOT getting better in such a short period of time. It's a long road to recovery.
Urge your sister into taking him in.
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