Common Iguana Illnesses

An iguana takes a long time to get sick and a long time to get well. In the wild, sick and weak animals have to hide their illness or injury. Any sign of weakness will attract a predator and because of this instinctive tendency it is hard to tell when an animal is sick until it is too late.

The most effective tool for knowing when your iguana may have a problem is by paying attention to anything you feel is different from what your iguana normally does. If you think something is wrong then don't wait to take your iguana to the vet. Most iguanas that are seen by vets are gravely ill and it is often irreversible.

Signs of a sick iguana:

> Reduced eating 

> Change from daily routine 

> Discharge from mouth, nose or vent. 

> Stool changes 

> slight or dramatic limping 

> Swollen limbs or trunk 

> Muscle weakness, tremors or paralyses 

> Changes in sleeping, eating, body colour, alertness, weight, appearance and energy levels.

Metabolic Bone Disease

75% Of iguanas seen by vets are there for metabolic bone disease and nearly all iguanas seen are calcium deficient.

Respiratory Problems

Causes:

> Habitat that is excessively humid and not enough ventilation. Pathogens breed and can cause respiratory infections. 

> Excessively dry habitat. The mucous membranes can dry and your iguana can easily get infections 

> Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures

Respiratory problems can go from bad to death in a short period of time.

Gout

Animal protein causes gout in iguanas.

Parasites

Iguanas usually get pinworms, roundworms and tapeworms that live inside the iguana's body and feed off the blood supply, cause compaction in the intestines and steal nutrient from the digestive system. Parasites that are left will multiply, spread and can cause death.

Ticks and Mites

Ticks deplete an iguana's blood supply and also carry diseases. It is very stressful and irritating.

Mites are as small as the dot above an i, by the time that you notice them there is already hundreds. They breed extremely fast and suck blood and transmit diseases. They spend most of their time under your iguana's scales and hide in places that are most difficult to clean. Their eggs thrive at the same temperature as your iguana.

Injuries

90% Of injuries occur due to improper diet, specifically lack of calcium and inadequate exposure to sunlight or artificial UVB. Accidents do happen and if you think your iguana has broken or fractured a bone then you need to take him to a vet for x-rays.

Dropping or breaking of the tail

Even wild iguanas lose their tails, it's part of having to drag a long, fragile appendage behind them all day.

Never grab your iguana by the tail, if you do that you will end up standing with only the tail in your hands and your iguana in a different part of the room. It also happens that the tail can get stuck somewhere and your iguana will drop it in an attempt to get away. When your iguana is in 'over-drive' to escape he can also break his tail because he throws his whole body into the escape mode. It is very stressful event for both the owner and the iguana.

Claw Pulled out

If an iguana's habitat is not prepared and maintained properly then problems can arise. It also happens when they are free roaming the house and get themselves into places where they do not belong.

Too Cold:

What feels warm and comfortable for you can be too cold for your iguana. An iguana that are cold and stays cold is in a dangerous situation. When cold your iguana will slow down to a point of no movement and loose all moving skills. I know of iguanas that died because they were left outside overnight.

Overheating:

Signs that your iguana might be overheated is when he opens his mouth wide and pant like a dog. His colour will also fade and loose all brightness. He may defecate an unusual number of times in a short period. Causes for overheating is usually because the cage are not designed correctly and there are no way to escape the heat. An iguana that overheat will die in a matter of minutes if left in that situation.

Thermal Burns:

Iguanas get burned on hot rocks and these rocks should never be used. A human heating pad can burn your iguana if left on high. Heat lamps need to be secured and out of reach. If your iguana does get burned you can treat a minor burn with Nolvasan or Betadine. Pat the area dry with a clean cloth and then apply a thin coating of Polysporin. If you are not sure how bad the burn is then it is best to see a vet.

Dehydration

If your iguana is severely dehydrated his organs will start to fail and death can occur. You can test if your iguana is dehydrated by 'pinching' his leg or arm, the skin should snap right back to its original position.