Thursday, March 19, 2009

Common Iguana Diseases Revealed

As an owner, you can prevent most iguana diseases by providing a proper diet and environment. There are numerous health problems that can result if you fail to do so. Some of these include metabolic bone disease, blister disease, and mouth rot. This article will discuss some of these health conditions.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease is one of the most common diseases of captive iguanas. The owner is commonly to blame since it's usually caused by gross malnutrition. The most noticeable sign is when the lower jaw becomes swollen which may cause trouble eating. Other common signs include general lethargy and swollen tail and limbs. The condition needs to be reversed by feeding a proper diet.
Mouth Rot
Another condition caused by malnutrition is mouth rot. Malnutrition leaves iguanas in a weakened condition which makes them susceptible to a bacterial infection of the mouth. Symptoms of mouth rot include increased salivation, mouth swelling, and accumulation of pus within the mouth. Your lizard will need to take antibiotics, fluids, and vitamins to treat this problem.
Paralysis
One of the next common iguana diseases is paralysis of the rear legs or tail. This problem usually occurs because of vitamin B1 deficiency. However, some cases are caused by mineral deficiencies such as calcium. Your lizard will have to receive injections of B vitamins to remedy the situation.
Blister Disease
Blister disease is also relatively common. This condition occurs as the result of poor hygiene and sanitation. This leaves your iguana exposed to bacteria for prolonged periods of time. This causes blisters to develop on the body. If left untreated, the blisters will become severely infected. Blister disease needs to be treated with an aggressive course of antibiotics.
These are some of the most common iguana diseases. If you're a new owner, there are many things you need to learn about green iguana care. So, come on over to green-iguana-care.com to learn everything you need to know such as recognizing the signs of a sick iguana

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