Pet Health > Sick iquana >

HELP ME PLEASE! I inherited my son's iquana over a year ago. I have studied, and am very confident I am feeding Ozzy properly, keep his home made cage clean and at proper temperatures and humidity. Last night when I brought down his delicious salad of fresh collard greens, turnip greens, cilantro and blueberries (he loves his blueberries and cantalope and apples!), I took him out of his cage and began our normal ritual of him nesting in on my chest while I hand feed him, I noticed his bottom jaw is quite swollen. Because of the blueberries he definitely ate but it appeared he was having difficulty chewing them up. He ate "some" of the greens, but I was in a state of panic and put him back in his cage and put the rest of his meal where I usually rest it for him to access at his own choosing and ran to my computer. I am now petrified because it doesn't sound very good...Can I nurse him back to health at home? The nearest iquana vet to my home is almost 2 hours away....I am going to the pet shop first thing this morning and purchasing a new UV bulb, and I will buy every last Vitamin I can find for him......and I am praying the sun will be out today so I can take him outside!!! I am so sick over this that I couldn't sleep, and am going to take a vacation day from work so I can "mommy" my Ozzy to health today. PLEASE HELP ME.....If it is that disease that has me terrified (I'm sorry -- I can't remember what it was called -- fibro something or another --) How do I get Iguana antiobiotics? I just can't imagine Ozzy and I in a car alone together for 2 hours!!! (He is approximately 1 foot long (body length), and his tail is approximately 2 1/2 feet long....and his body is approximately 12 inches round...) He is very loveable and I will never forgive myself if anything happens to him! He's "my Ozzman". HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!

Optional Information:
Age: 2; Male; Breed: Green Iquana

Already Tried:
Searching internet for a local vet...to no avail! I am now taking tomorrow off from work so I can do whatever advice you can give me. I can't sleep -- I am so sick over my Ozzman being sick! And, the internet findings have me self-diagnosing and scaring the $%#@ out of me! HELP ME PLEASE.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Hello and thanks for researching this very important question!

Green Iguanas can develop a number of conditions related to poor nutrition and infective agents. Possible causes for this swelling include:

1) Metabolic Bone Disease--a condition resulting from too-little calcium in the diet--this is the most commonly seen illness in captive reptiles. An injection of calcitonin (a special hormone) is needed to begin the healing.

2) Infection (abscess) of the tissues surrounding the jaw--strong antibiotics specific to reptiles are needed, sometimes surgical intervention is used to remove the infection

3) Tumors can invade the tissues of the face--surgical treatment is necessary

***Both of these problems do require medical assistance at this stage, since he is having trouble eating. You can make adjustments to his temperature (raise the "hot spot" to 95F degrees to help his immune system, but he should be examined.***

You can use these links to look for more nearby assistance:

http://www.reptilecare.com/herpvets.htm

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

http://www.anapsid.org/vets/

Your concern has touched me--if you have follow-up questions, or need to clarify your case, please let me know right away! Your "Accept" helps me reach out to others!

Related Answers