I had never heard that! Thanks! nm

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Posted by Thumper on March 08, 2000 at 10:42:06:

In Reply to: This is my public service announcement to all of you...please read posted by Booger's Dad on March 08, 2000 at 01:11:51:

: I realize that many of our resident IG-perts probably already knew this, but I just learned something today that I thought everyone should be aware of.

: A few weeks ago I turned Booger over on to her back so that I could get a good look at how her surgery scar and remaining stitches are healing. She looked soooo darn cute cradled in my arms with her forearms crossed on her chest looking up at me.

: NEVER TURN A LIZARD UPSIDE-DOWN!!!

: They do NO have a diaphragm to move air in and out of their lungs like we mammals do. When inverted, their other organs press on their lungs and they have difficuty breathing. If left in this position for any period of time, they WILL SUFFOCATE!

: Apparently, when someone turns their lizard over for the first time and is enjoying how "cute" they look, they do it for a long enough time that the lizard closes his/her eyes due to suffocation. The poor owner doesn't realize that the lizard is in great distress, rather he/she thinks that the lizard is sooooo relaxed in this position.

: The same laboured breathing occurs if you "hang" your lizard downwards (ie. either hold it by the tail -- BAD, or just hold it by the vent area with the head dangling -- STILL BAD).

: Thank heavens that I didn't have Booger inverted on her back for a long enough time to cause her any great harm, and you can bet that I'll never be doing that again, after finding this out today.

: Please pass this message along to any lizard owners that you know -- it might one day save a life.

: Thnak you. :)

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: : I realize that many of our resident IG-perts probably already knew this, but I just learned something today that I thought everyone should be aware of. : : A few weeks ago I turned Booger over on to her back so that I could get a good look at how her surgery scar and remaining stitches are healing. She looked soooo darn cute cradled in my arms with her forearms crossed on her chest looking up at me. : : NEVER TURN A LIZARD UPSIDE-DOWN!!! : : They do NO have a diaphragm to move air in and out of their lungs like we mammals do. When inverted, their other organs press on their lungs and they have difficuty breathing. If left in this position for any period of time, they WILL SUFFOCATE! : : Apparently, when someone turns their lizard over for the first time and is enjoying how "cute" they look, they do it for a long enough time that the lizard closes his/her eyes due to suffocation. The poor owner doesn't realize that the lizard is in great distress, rather he/she thinks that the lizard is sooooo relaxed in this position. : : The same laboured breathing occurs if you "hang" your lizard downwards (ie. either hold it by the tail -- BAD, or just hold it by the vent area with the head dangling -- STILL BAD). : : Thank heavens that I didn't have Booger inverted on her back for a long enough time to cause her any great harm, and you can bet that I'll never be doing that again, after finding this out today. : : Please pass this message along to any lizard owners that you know -- it might one day save a life. : : Thnak you. :)

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