Pet Blog July Archive

The secret of buying quality iguana food

By Kelly at 07/23/07 14:35

Green iguanas are native to the tropical forests. In the natural habitat, they forage on leafy plants, veggies and fruits. They lay in the sun to bask in order to digest their foods with the use of UV rays.

When I first bought my iguana, I had to do extensive research on iguana diets and care. One of the first things I learned is that iguanas cannot tolerate animal protein or animal anything in their diets. Their bodies are unable to process this stuff and their kidneys have to work extra hard to rid them of the toxins.

I was cleaning out my kitchen cabinets and came across a container of iguana food that I had purchased a long time ago before I started researching. Good thing I never fed him the stuff as you can see by how much is left in the container. I paid 8 bucks for it too, which is so ridiculous. You are buying food that will actually not help (and will probably harm) your iguana.

Do the research on the diets! There are plenty of good iguana websites out there to guide you. Look at several. If it tells you ANYWHERE within the diet to feed any animal anything...close the website and pick a new one!

Cold Green Iguana Broken Leg

This is Goblin the green iguana's x-ray of his poor broken leg. He climbed a tree in the backyard, which wasn't a problem since green iguanas are arboreal creatures, but as the evening progressed and got chillier, he either fell to the ground or caught his leg climbing down (I vote for the first option).

When iguanas are cold they pretty much lose their body control and can't really move around very well. I think he got so cold that he just couldn't hold onto the tree any more and fell about thirty feet down.

I honestly didn't notice his injury until about a week later since there wasn't any blood or any obvious weird behavior. I noticed the lump on his thing when I took him out to bask in the sun on the desk rail and saw how he was just kind of hanging his leg there.

The vet took this x-ray and it showed a completely broken thigh bone just a ways above his knee joint. Also note in this picture (on the positive) the perfectly formed and straight toe bones in his feet. This is indicative of healthy bone formation due to the proper diet, light and heat while his bones were forming.

Vet Soon to be Surprised by Huge Green Iguana

Goblin the green iguana is sitting on the examination table waiting for the doctor to visit him.

He fell from a tree about three weeks ago and I suspect that he has broken his thigh bone since it appears his knee isn't where it is supposed to be and he is dragging his leg.

As he sits and waits, vet tech after vet tech and the vets themselves file in to take a peek at him. They are all amazed he is so big and healthy (ther than his broken leg of course). Most iguanas that they see are sick with metabolic bone disease and have the associated problems. They take his picture and tell him how gorgeous he is and pet his head, which he handles with great patience. I am very relieved by this and am glad it is now that I am bringing him and not during breeding season when he gets a little more testy.

As the last tech filed, she says she PROMISES the doctor will be with us shortly, since every time the door opens we think it is the doctor coming in. I can't wait for the vet to come in and see how big he is since it has been 2-1/2 years since his last appointment!