Dehydration and Fluid intake

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Posted by BabyHerp on July 06, 1999 at 01:29:02:

Dehydration has really caught my attention ever since my female ig, Juana had been diagnosed with elevated uric acid levels...I was advised that she needed 15-20 ml of water daily...less is she is eating. She has never drank water from her dish and rarely when in the tub for a soak....I understand that water can be absorbed via the cloaca...but have yet come across any information that substantiates this. Recently I came across a website that has a table regarding the hydration of reptiles...which is very informative but ya gotta know your math! I will try to explain it as I understand it so that you can also see if your reptiles are recieving adequate hydration using the table and information I provided....I believe that Juana was dehydrated for the simple fact she feeds every other day. And the tables are based on daily consumption of water.I have changed her diet to daily even tho she is not used to eating such quantity...she nonetheless is getting more hydration than she ever has before. Here we go:

Fluid conversions:
1 gram = 1000 mg
4-5 grams = 1 dram
4 drams = 15 ml. (milliliters) = 3-4 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon

Weight conversions:
2.2 lbs = 1 kg (kilogram) =1000 grams

Juana is about 6 lbs =3 kilograms or 3000 grams
Based on the table (link provided).....Juana should be getting
approximately 62 ml. of hydration/fluids per 24 hours
62ml divided by 15ml = to about 4 Tablespoons of hydration per 24 hours.

Since iguanas get most of their water from the foods they eat...Lets say she eats 2 cups of collard greens....Per USDA Database...1 cup of collards =32 grams of water...so she has prolly 64 grams of water from the food she eats on any one day.So using the tables above:
64 grams divided by 4grams=16 drams
16 drams divided by 4 drams= 4drams
4 drams x 15 ml = 60 ml....of water consumed by the foods she eats. Close to the 62 mls of water she requires per the table (link)
Hopefully my math is correct. Dehydration did seem to be one of the culprits in her elevated uric acid levels and more than likely low humidity factors may have played a significant role as that seems to be the only other area she was lacking.
I hope that you find this information helpful in determining your iguana/s hydration or lack thereof. Take it from me dehydration, low humidity....and elevated uric acid levels (precursor to kidney disease) is one thing you don't want to sign your igs up for.And if you read in Maders or Hatfields that its okay to feed an adult ig every other day....just think about Juana.
Happy Herping
Gina

Dehydration

Follow Ups:

Thanks for the website!! Good info :o) n/p Iguanamomma 7/07/99 (0)
A suggestion for saving info off of forum Iguanamomma 7/06/99 (2)
- ignore my other post (pressed return and...well you know) Glenn 7/07/99 (0)
- Re: A suggestion for saving info off of forum Glenn 7/07/99 (0)
Re: Dehydration and Fluid intake cirsisue 7/06/99 (0)
Re: The change.........is wonderful to hear!!! But now only one more thing... Harry's Dad 7/06/99 (0)
Dehydration /Fluid Intake Table right link BabyHerp 7/06/99 (1)
- Re:Just read the whole article and yep it is for all herps... cirsisue 7/06/99 (0)

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: Dehydration has really caught my attention ever since my female ig, Juana had been diagnosed with elevated uric acid levels...I was advised that she needed 15-20 ml of water daily...less is she is eating. She has never drank water from her dish and rarely when in the tub for a soak....I understand that water can be absorbed via the cloaca...but have yet come across any information that substantiates this. Recently I came across a website that has a table regarding the hydration of reptiles...which is very informative but ya gotta know your math! I will try to explain it as I understand it so that you can also see if your reptiles are recieving adequate hydration using the table and information I provided....I believe that Juana was dehydrated for the simple fact she feeds every other day. And the tables are based on daily consumption of water.I have changed her diet to daily even tho she is not used to eating such quantity...she nonetheless is getting more hydration than she ever has before. Here we go: : Fluid conversions: : 1 gram = 1000 mg : 4-5 grams = 1 dram : 4 drams = 15 ml. (milliliters) = 3-4 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon : Weight conversions: : 2.2 lbs = 1 kg (kilogram) =1000 grams : Juana is about 6 lbs =3 kilograms or 3000 grams : Based on the table (link provided).....Juana should be getting : approximately 62 ml. of hydration/fluids per 24 hours : 62ml divided by 15ml = to about 4 Tablespoons of hydration per 24 hours. : Since iguanas get most of their water from the foods they eat...Lets say she eats 2 cups of collard greens....Per USDA Database...1 cup of collards =32 grams of water...so she has prolly 64 grams of water from the food she eats on any one day.So using the tables above: : 64 grams divided by 4grams=16 drams : 16 drams divided by 4 drams= 4drams : 4 drams x 15 ml = 60 ml....of water consumed by the foods she eats. Close to the 62 mls of water she requires per the table (link) : Hopefully my math is correct. Dehydration did seem to be one of the culprits in her elevated uric acid levels and more than likely low humidity factors may have played a significant role as that seems to be the only other area she was lacking. : I hope that you find this information helpful in determining your iguana/s hydration or lack thereof. Take it from me dehydration, low humidity....and elevated uric acid levels (precursor to kidney disease) is one thing you don't want to sign your igs up for.And if you read in Maders or Hatfields that its okay to feed an adult ig every other day....just think about Juana. : Happy Herping : Gina :

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