The popularity of reptiles in Brazil has increased exponentially.One of these favorite “new pets” is the green iguana (Iguana Iguana). Due to life in captivity, there are several problems, especially when the caregivers of these animals do not have enough information.about the basic care of this species.
To make sure your iguana is ok and has no problems, in addition to all the essential basic care, you must make regular visits to your veterinarian specializing in exotic animals!It is important that from an early age, your iguana is properly monitored to ensure it grows and develops smoothly.
- In this Animal Expert article.
- We summarize the most important information you should know about the most common diseases in iguanas.
- Read!.
As with any animal species, including humans, good nutrition is the basis for preventing any disease The iguana is no exception!This reptile, a strict herbivore, must have a proper diet in captivity that allows it to grow smoothly and strengthen your immune system.
Iguanas can suffer from all kinds of diseases of different systems, respiratory, reproductive, gastrointestinal, etc.However, there are problems that we see more assiduously in clinical practice and these are the ones we will talk about for you!
Metabolic bone disease is one of the most common problems in captive green iguanas.
The main causes of this problem are due to inadequate management of tutors.Read our comprehensive iguana maintenance guide so you don’t make these kinds of mistakes.This disease is mainly due to:
The most common clinical signs of this disease are
To avoid this problem, you should make sure that your iguana has a balanced diet based on green leaves, in terms of ultraviolet B light, whenever you have this possibility, you must provide direct sunlight to your iguana, if this is absolutely impossible, you must place an ultraviolet lamp of artificial B spectrum in the terrarium, exposing the iguana to a period of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.You must ensure that in the case of direct sunlight and in the case of the use of an artificial light lamp, there is no plastic or vessels between the light and the animal, otherwise ultraviolet B radiation will be absorbed by them and not by the iguana.
The plants and trunks that are used in terrariums to enrich the environment of the iguana and bring it closer to its natural habitat, sometimes bring some parasites, the most common parasites are those of the genus Hirstiella and can usually be seen with the naked eye in the animal.skin (red spots), as you can see in the image.
If you have recently detected these red marks on your iguana, consult your exotic veterinarian to diagnose the problem and initiate appropriate treatment, if it is confirmed that the mites we are talking about may be used with ivermectin or other acaricide that your veterinarian deems most appropriate..
Other common parasites in iguanas are internal parasites, if you visit your veterinarian regularly, the veterinarian will observe the iguana droppings under a microscope and rule out the presence of parasites or, if detected, perform proper deworming!
Abscesses are very common problems in iguanas, especially those that are housed in groups and attack each other for territorial reasons.
To treat an abscess, antibiotic prescribing will be necessary and surgery may even be necessary.If you notice swelling of your iguana, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.Never try to drain an abscess from your pet yourself!Contamination and opening of a wound can be very dangerous for the animal.
One of the most common reproductive problems in captive female iguanas is dystocia, basically what happens is that the eggs get stuck in the oviduct and the iguana can’t expel them.
The main causes of this problem are
This problem, like almost everyone else, is mainly due to the poor management of the tutors, if you have all the right conditions for your iguana and you make regular visits to your veterinarian any problem is more complicated, however, as you can see in the list of causes, there are some internal aspects that you cannot control.
For this reason, it is important to know these clinical signs:
If you think your iguana is experiencing this problem, seek medical attention right away.Treatment usually involves the administration of calcium and oxytocin.More severe cases with obstruction may require surgery.
Behavioral problems are one of the main reasons for the abandonment of these animals, especially in the case of iguana males, when they reach puberty, they can begin to show more aggressive behavior for territorial reasons.
Some veterinarians may suggest castration to mitigate aggressive problems, however, it is important to accept that this is a natural behavior of this species and that in most cases it can be avoided if provided with adequate space and environmental enrichment.
You should always take your iguana from below, as if your arm were the trunk of a tree and could cling to you, never catch on it, your iguana may feel threatened, which will cause aggressive behavior out of fear.
The best way to know if the iguana is sick is to monitor your behavior every day, carefully, if for some reason your behavior has changed, you have stopped eating, drinking, urinating or defecating: these are the first signs that something is wrong.Your!
Even when everything is apparently normal, it doesn’t mean that your iguana is well inside, so regular visits to your veterinarian are very important, small changes may not be visible to you but will not go unnoticed by the clinical eye of a professional who specializes in these animals.Reptiles are very resistant animals and sometimes it is difficult to realize that something is wrong and when you realize that it is too late.
All home care, proper feeding and visits to the veterinarian are the key to avoiding any problems with your pet.Invest in prevention!
Have you recently adopted any of these animals? See our article with the names of the green iguana!
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Other Health Problems section.