|
Post by jrsu37 on Feb 22, 2012 15:51:20 GMT -8
Ok...Oscar here has been in good health since we got him last May. Over the past week his jaw has seemed to have gotten misaligned or something and it's scaring me. Looks like the bottom of his jaw has flattened or something. Any help? I'm getting a bit worried but it's too late to call the vet I think.
|
|
|
Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Feb 22, 2012 17:45:58 GMT -8
It looks a bit puffy so it may be an abscess but it also looks stunted so it may be Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) which is caused from a lack of Calcium/Calcium absorption. A healthy diet (look in our diet section) and a good source of UVB light are the best prevention of MBD and added calcium supplements may be needed if it is MBD but a vet is The Best person to diagnose and treat the issue. Oscar is a beautiful little green iguana. Could you post an update after he/she has seen a vet so we know how the little guy is doing? Thank you for joining and welcome
|
|
|
Post by jrsu37 on Feb 22, 2012 17:57:40 GMT -8
This page is now bookmarked so I will update. It does look a little stunted to me as well. It looks much better after a warm bath and some dice red lettuce, romaine lettuce and shredded carrots.
The problem started after he had a short lived addiction to strawberries. It's all he would eat for about 2 weeks. He went nuts on the carrots tonight though. I don't think I was cutting his food small enough at first as he was having some trouble getting the bigger pieces of lettuce down. Also all I was feeding him were the pellets we got when we bought him and romaine lettuce...That's all they said he needed, and I didn't know any better.
I called a vet and set a tentative appt for Friday at 5:30. I say tentative because I don't know if I can get out of work on time.
I really appreciate your help.
|
|
|
Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Feb 23, 2012 9:39:00 GMT -8
Pet stores make me tick some times and this is definitely one of those times. They so very often have no idea how to care for these animals which leaves them and their new owners in a bad situation. The first thing to do is change that diet pronto to take out the lettuce and add collards and mustard greens along with shredded or finely chopped butternut or acorn squash. The carrots and strawberrys are ok but you are correct that he/she should be limited and not be able to eat only that. Just strawberrys for two weeks is not healthy for an iguana and the iguana doesn't have a clue so he/she keeps on eating them because they taste good. Pellots are not a sustainable iguana food and pet stores promote them because they sell them and can make money that way. If you do decide to still feed pellots only do it every once in awhile and soak them before you feed them to your iguana to help with hydration. Also, get the alfalfa based kind, not the kind with corn as the main ingredient. I know this may be an overwhelming amount of info all at once but just work to improve his/her diet and with time you will learn more
|
|
Ryan
Full Member
Posts: 78
|
Post by Ryan on Feb 23, 2012 10:13:24 GMT -8
Ya and it's not very expensive in the produce for all those veggies. I think the most expensive was the 3 peppers. $15 for everything. 8 different things. I chopped them all up and fed him this morning and he loved it, especially the peppers
|
|
|
Post by jrsu37 on Feb 23, 2012 16:10:07 GMT -8
I'm such an idiot...I should have done more research post purchase. I did mix in Mustard Greens over the past 2 months...He seemed to like them till the Strawberry incident.
I talked to the vet today and she said to immediately get him a new UVB lamp, some calcium carbonate(actually came with the bulb) and bathe him daily to start. I did all that. She also stated that if I can't get over there Friday afternoon that she could see us Tuesday. This works for me because I just got a new job sooo I don't mind ticking off my current employer if it's going to help save "Oscar of Puppets" as my 6yr old son calls him. She said since he is still active, climbing, walking with his body off the ground, swimming and eating that I shouldn't bee too worried in the immediate future, like from now till we see her.
I'm just so mad at myself...I got up 3 times last night to check on him. I just really hope he will be ok.
Also what about canned organic pumpkin? I was told that that is good to get him eating more if he is possibly constipated. Not just the pumpkin though. but to put a little bit in with the greens. Is this a bad idea?
|
|
|
Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Feb 23, 2012 19:31:42 GMT -8
There's no need to be upset with yourself the pet stores need to gain some responsibility and learn about the animals they sell so they can correctly inform those who buy the animals. I'm not sure about canned organic pumpkin because of preservatives but I don't think it would hurt him any in small amounts. I haven't done research on the subject so I haven't heard the pros and cons but I do know fresh pumpkin is good.
|
|
Ryan
Full Member
Posts: 78
|
Post by Ryan on Feb 23, 2012 19:49:08 GMT -8
I hope your iguana gets better buddy. I can't believe how green he is. Just out of curiosity, how old is he?
|
|
|
Post by jrsu37 on Feb 24, 2012 4:33:02 GMT -8
Not exactly sure how old he is, but I think around 11 months.
Another question...I wonder if the hard water in the bath helps with the possibility of MBD due to the high content of Calcium Carbonate?
Hmmmmm...
|
|
|
Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Feb 24, 2012 9:02:29 GMT -8
I haven't heard of high calcium water but I have heard of hard water I just wasn't sure of its meaning. The water might help, its worth a try at least Oscar is still pretty small, he looks closer to 6 months old but it depends; some iguanas are just smaller/larger than others weather it's from genetics or health.
|
|
|
Post by jrsu37 on Feb 24, 2012 15:45:20 GMT -8
You are prob right...I thought we got him in may, but it could have been closer to Late June or July. I'll look at the dates on the pics I took of him.
The pet store we frequent(we have two painted turtles in a 40gal breeder tank) had like...20 baby green iguanas in a huge floor to ceiling custom habitat. I lived with a full grown green in college for 3yrs named Igamo, and I always wanted one. My son went nutz and they were only like $15.99 so we got one. Oscar had some fungus (in the pics you can see a little spot on his tail that re-appeared recently). I used neosporin on them and when he shed they disappeared. He has been real active and fun. We take him out and play with him daily, and on the weekend he likes to lay on the top of the TV due to the heat emitted. In retrospect not sure if that is a good idea.
The guy who owned Igamo actually just built us a custom cage and I'm going to pick it up this weekend.
Anyhow I just pureed some fresh pumpkin, shredded some carrot and squash and shredded some collard greens. After his bath he ate a little, but then decided he wanted to strut around his cage and awkward eye me.
|
|
Ryan
Full Member
Posts: 78
|
Post by Ryan on Feb 24, 2012 16:56:32 GMT -8
It seems like he has a good personality. I was thinking about letting my iguana lay on the tv but I'm too afraid that he will jump off. Turbo loves to jump from my arm to the couch when I'm holding him
|
|
|
Post by jrsu37 on Feb 25, 2012 8:47:21 GMT -8
Yeah Oscar is a leaper too, but on the TV he just sprawls out and basks in the heat. Sometimes he will 1/2 turn and his back legs and tail are just hanging in front of the TV.
His mouth looks MUCH better today by the way. It's completely closing and doesn't look stunted anymore. It's still a little bit off on the right side, but the left looks almost normal again.
It's weird though...He used to not really like me to touch his head much, but now he seems to like when I stroke the bottom of his neck and jaw. He def seems less stressed out now.
Also I'm an idiot...The pictures say August 15th. Soooo I was about 3 months off on my purchase date. I guess it just seems like he has been a part of our family for longer ;D
|
|
|
Post by JennaAndIguanaGwen on Feb 25, 2012 10:51:21 GMT -8
;D That's great to hear his jaw is getting better! It's been a long long time since I've had a small iguana (speaking of my previous iguana before Gwen) but I do remember that they can be fast and sometimes like to weasel their way into small places. Gwen likes to dig around in blankets and pillows and lay under them but I haven't had much of a problem of her getting stuck in small places. Weather that is because she knows not to do that or if its because I have set up my room so it's difficult for her to do that I'm unsure. Probably the latter of the two
|
|
Ryan
Full Member
Posts: 78
|
Post by Ryan on Feb 26, 2012 2:27:39 GMT -8
Haha. Turbo is starting to go to the floor now and walk around. It's funny to see him bite at the carpet. Also I am as well glad to here that Oscar is doing better now. Hope he continues to stay healthy
|
|