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     Buy It For Less At...  |
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Buy It For Less At... |
One of the most common problems seen in Green Iguanas is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). MBD results from a combination of poor husbandry and improper nutrition. It is a deficiency in dietary calcium, an improper calcium to phosphorus ratio, an excess of dietary phosphorus, lack of vitamin D, or a combination thereof.
The are a variety of clinical signs of MBD but some of the most common signs are:
Weakness, limping, bone fractures, swollen limbs/face, anorexia, lethargy, seizures, tremors, softening of bones, etc. Some are more acute forms of the disease and some are seen in more chronic conditions. Left untreated, this is a life-threatening disease and requires immediate veterinary medical attention.
Diagnosis is made usually by a combination of blood work, xrays, and the results of the physical exam.
Your veterinarian will first provide treatment for the most life-threatening conditions which can include hospitalization, injections of vitamins and minerals, fixation of fractures, and possibly force-feeding to provide supportive care. On-going care is necessary because healing is delayed in animal's that are not on a good plane of nutrition. You will be asked to become involved in the treatment of your iguana by providing an appropriate diet, vitamin/mineral supplementation, and exposure to UV light. (UV light is necessary for vitamin D synthesis which is necessary for calcium to be absorbed from the intestinal tract. Without UV light, all of the calcium in the world in the diet will be passed unused!) Natural sunlight (UV light) is the best for your iguana and most commercially available bulbs do not possess enough of the proper UV spectrum to promote vitamin D synthesis. Most glass windows and plastic filter out UV light; therefore are ineffective in providing the proper light. Some bulbs may provide better spectrums of UV light, please ask your veterinarian for the most current recommendations for diet, vitamin/mineral supplementation, and resources for UV light.
As with any species, knowledge of husbandry and proper diet are key to enjoying a healthy, happy pet. Also, early detection for disease gives your animal the best chance at survival.
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