Previous Chapter
Next Chapter [ Home ]
Colds, or upper respiratory infections are one of the most common disorders seen in captive reptiles. Pneumonia comes a close second and involves the deeper tissues including the lungs.
A "cold" in reptiles usually presents itself with one or more of the following symptoms; runny, watery eyes and or nose, sneezing, sometimes the reptile is observed in the unusual position of placing itself in the corner of the cage and standing on his hind legs with the front legs usually off of the floor. This position makes breathing easier for a congested reptile, but does nothing to allow excess secretions to be removed from the body. Early symptoms could be as subtle as sluggishness or excessive sleepiness, decreased appetite, difficulty breathing/labored breathing, open mouth breathing, you might hear a faint rattling, popping or wheezing sound while the Iguana is breathing.
One of the most common causes of this disorder is stress on the immune system. Frequently this stress is caused by excessive or more commonly insufficient cage temperatures, and/or too high of a humidity level in the cage.
When someone calls me about a reptile with the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. My first question is usually; what has the cage temperature been? Unfortunately, most owners answer this question with "I don't know, I think it's warm enough!"
Please for the health of your reptile invest in a good thermometer and thermostat for your reptile, it will save you money in the long run, on unnecessary Veterinary expenses!
When a "cold" has just started, you have a good chance of a quick recovery if you catch it quickly and simply increase the cage temperature to 90-95 degrees (not the entire cage, only one end of it) and be sure to add a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement to his food. This may require you to become a little creative, as some Iguanas will not eat food that has been dusted with vitamins. You may need to be persistant and a little creative to get the Vitamins into your reptile. I have even had to resort to injecteing the Vitamins into small pieces of fruit on very stubborn reptiles.
You should see an improvement within a couple of days. However, if the "cold" is severe, the Iguana stops eating, or the "cold" does not respond to the above treatment, you must take the Iguana into an experienced reptile Veterinarian right away. If the Iguana is obviously sick or distressed he must be taken to the Veterinarian immediately, don't wait! The Veterinarian will probably want to do some lab tests to determine the best course of action and to prescribe the correct antibiotic necessary to effect the best course of treatment. Unnecessary delay could cost the reptile it's life, and of course cost you more money.
As with respiratory infections, the most common cause of "Mouth Rot" is stress. However, excessive or insufficient cage temperature, and/or excessive humidity, as well as improper nutrition, can all be causes of mouth rot. All of these factors lower the reptiles immune system and make it susceptible to disease.
Nose rub related injuries as well as other types of injuries to the mouth can also cause mouth rot. Usually it is a combination of several factors, rather than just one factor alone, that causes the swelling and bleeding of oral tissues, associated with mouth rot. Once an injury to the oral tissues occurs, the swelling is usually caused by a secondary bacterial infection. Of the most common types of infections; Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Salmonella, and Aeromonas seem to be the most common. In all cases of mouth rot it is best to take your Monitor to a Reptile Veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment of the infection, as some of these organisms can also cause illness in humans.
A reptile with mouth rot is at a serious disadvantage, because even though it may be hungry and want to eat, it will be unable to and may starve without quick intervention.
In the early stages of mouth rot the symptoms may be as subtle as excessive salivation and poor appetite. If left untreated however the swelling increases and cracked bleeding swollen gums quickly develop. This swelling can become so severe as to prevent the reptile from closing it's mouth. Mouth rot can even lead to permanent tooth loss, eye infections and Pneumonia.
In severe cases the infection will spread to the glottis. I have had reptiles come to me thru the rescues whose glottis was so badly infected that it appeared as if a thick straw was stuck into it and the tongue was cemented inside of it's chamber! Mouth rot can also invade the surrounding tissues forming a pocket or abcess. If left untreated this abcess can not only destroy underlying tissues, but also underlying bone. If an eye infection develops the eye may be lost if left untreated.
Treatment can vary depending on the cause or causes of the mouth rot, and the severity of the infection. Any treatment of the condition is useless without correcting the problems that caused it to begin in the first place. Often a simple case of mouth rot can be cured just by increasing the cage temperature to the normal range. With localized infections, topical treatments in combination with increased cage temperature may be all that is required. With more severe infections you may also need to give appropriate antibiotics as prescribed by your Veterinarian. In extreme cases, Injectable antibiotics and/or surgery to clean damaged tissues may be required. With these cases attempting to open the mouth daily by the keeper can cause more damage and aggrivate an already bad situation.
One reason why appropriate Veterinary care is so strongly recommended is because other problems may mimic mouth rot. These conditions will not respond to the commonly used methods for treating mouth rot. Some of these other possible conditions include, reptilian herpes virus, Fungal infections, Metabolic bone disease, abscessed tooth, mouth or nose trauma, and mouth or gum cancer.
Eye infections are frequently caused by direct trauma to the eye. These infections should be seen by a Veterinarian immediately as any delay can cause blindness or loss of the eye.
Treatments usually include but are not limited to the use of eye washes, eye drops, or eye ointments. In all cases it is recommended that at least two persons be involved in giving the prescribed treatments, one to hold the reptile and the other person to administer the medication. The handler who attempts any treatments by themselves only invites injury to himself or the animal!
Metabolic Bone Disease or MBD as it is most commonly called. Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSHP) is most common form of this disease usually seen in adult females, and the one that I will focus on.
This disorder can be caused by any number of preventable factors. It usually results from a combination of both environmental and nutritional influences. There is a delicate balance that must be maintained between Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin D3 and UVB radiation. Without these factors in sync., metabolic problems can occur. This disorder is most often identified when a reptile is first taken to the Veterinarians for an exam after a broken bone or swelling along a bone or joint is noticed. If an x-ray is taken the Veterinarian will notice a decreased bone density and possibly several stress fractures. If left untreated the condition could progress to the point that euthanasia is the only option. Treatment of the condition alone is useless without finding and correcting the underlying cause of the disease.
Many different diseases of the bones can be placed into the category of MBD. These include Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia, Fibrous Osteodystrophy, Osteopetrosis, Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, Panosteitis, Hypertrophic Osteopathy, Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy. All of these disorders have the same types of symptoms, that is why it is so important to take your Monitor to a qualified reptile Veterinarian for diagnostic workup and evaluation. These different disorders require vastly different treatments, so arbitrarily increasing Calcium intake to treat symptoms is not recommended and could in some cases even be harmful to the Iguana, and in the case of males it could be fatal.
NSHP or rubber jaw, as it is commonly referred to, is directly caused by a deficiency of Calcium in the diet, with or without, improper Calcium Phosphorus ratio (usually phosphorus excess). When there is insufficient Calcium intake, the blood Calcium levels begin to drop (adult females, in an acute stage will have elevated blood Calcium levels as the body pulls Calcium from the bones to support nervous function). This Calcium is essential for proper nerve functioning, so the body attempts to compensate by pulling stored Calcium directly from the bones. As a direct result, the bones become brittle. To help prevent bone fractures, the body attempts to support the ever thinning and weakened bones by adding fibrin to the muscles. This gives the impression of beefy well muscled legs. If you were to feel these legs you would find them to feel firm and almost hard to touch. Often times the Iguana is noted to have an altered gait, there may also be accompanied muscle weakness and in extreme cases even tremors (Tetany). In young fast growing Iguanas there can also be an associated bone deformity characterized by bending of the long bones in the legs (Rickets) and bone fractures. An Iguana can develop serious bone deformity and still survive with proper treatment. In an adult Iguana this bending of bones, is called Osteomalacia (Osteo=bone, Malacia=abnormal softening). Other symptoms can include abnormal gait, or inability to walk at all, swollen face or lower jaw, horizontal rotation of the shoulder blades, intestinal prolapse, tongue paralysis, body tremors, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Treatment is usually aimed at correcting life threatening complications, treatment for any broken bones and correcting the husbandry practice that allowed the condition to become a problem in the first place. Vitamin and mineral supplements are usually prescribed to combat the malnutrition. Vitamin D3 therapy is usually also prescribed. Vitamin D3 can usually be synthesized in adequate amounts by healthy reptiles that are exposed to natural sunlight or UVB repti-lights.
In the wild exposure to natural unfiltered sunlight is not a problem. In captivity however it is not quite so easy to provide. In colder or extremely hot climates it is impossible to take reptiles outside most or part of the year. So how do you provide natural sunlight for your captive reptile? Repti-lights, or some form of reptile UVB light is essential. On days when you can take your Iguana outside is beneficial to do so. Use caution however to insure that the public is not unduly exposed to your reptile. Many people hold unreasonable Phobias about reptiles and could be easily frightened. Also allowing reptiles outdoors poses the potential for accidental escapes. Most if not all of the reptiles that I get thru the rescues from Animal Control were found wandering thru neighborhoods. What a shame to loose your animal in this manner, I am surprised as to how many go unclaimed by their owners.
While setting up the cage for your reptile please keep in mind that ordinary window or aquarium glass filters out the necessary UVB radiation. It is totally useless to spend the money for one of these lights just to place it over the glass lid of an aquarium. All UVB sources should be situated so that is an average of 16-24 inches above the reptiles preferred basking site. Be sure to follow the directions on the box that the light came with, it has information as to the length of time that the bulb continues to produce its beneficial effects. The bulb will burn long after its benefits have stopped.
Incorrect diet can lead to a number of Gastro-intestinal Disorders, such as Diarrhea, Constipation, Liver and Kidney damage. Intestinal parasites can also cause symptoms of Gastro-intestinal Distress or Disease.
A diet that is too high in fat and protein can cause liver damage characterized as light colored fatty or greasy looking stools. A diet that is too high in protein can cause Liver and Kidney damage. Chronic obesity damages the reptiles system as well.
Symptoms commonly seen in reptiles are the same as for people, diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration (identified by sunken dull eyes), Constipation, and associated abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Any reptile in this condition should be seen by an experienced reptile Veterinarian immediately for an exam and appropriate tests. Treatment and prognosis are directly related to the cause of the gastro-intestinal problem, the length of time the problem has been going on and the overall health of the Iguana.
Just as in cases of Cancer in people, many of the causes of tumors or cancer in reptiles are unknown. There are a few identified carcinogens, as well as viruses that are known to cause cancer. But often times the underlying cause goes undetermined. Tumors are nothing more than an overgrowth of tissue. The difference between weather a tumor is cancer or not is how invasive that tissue overgrowth becomes. Tumors are what is called encapsulated or confined to a given location, they may press against other tissues but do not invade these tissues. This pressing against tissues can cause some localized tissue death due to compression of blood supply. In cancer however, the tumor invades healthy tissue and the lymphatic system. This invasion destroys healthy tissue and causes spreading of the cancerous cells thru-out the body. Treatment for tumors is relatively easy in the Veterinary office by surgical removal of the growth, and usually does not recur. Treatment for cancer however is usually not permanent, as cancers tend to recur.
Diagnosis can only be performed by a Veterinarian and is done by taking a small section of the tumor (biopsy) and examining it under a microscope, this often requires the services of a lab, because different types of cancer or tumors require different treatments, and have different prognosis for recovery. Some tumors are fast growing and can be misidentified as cancer by the lay-person. Surgical removal of the entire tumor is not always feasible or recommended. Treatment is usually set around supportive care rather than a cure, as often times the tumors tend to recur. In cases of cancer you do not always have to consider immediate euthanasia as an option, as long as the animal remains pain free, and has a good quality of life.
Next Chapter