tHanKs iZ (+ mom)! more...

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Posted by T and Q on March 24, 2000 at 08:01:58:

In Reply to: tO Q ... (+ T) posted by iZ the drAgOn (+ mom) on March 23, 2000 at 20:32:38:

When I get home tonight, I'll let Q read iZ's
message.

I've been force-feeding Q for a nearly four months,
just like last winter. I force solids food into
him as well as pureed stuff in the hopes that he
won't forget how to eat entirely and to keep his
system working. With spring approaching, I'm
giving him a little strawberry Ensure daily; the
rest is forced greens and veggies (cut into long,
thin slivers).

Q does tend to have a swollen throat from the
kidney damage, and it gets worse during breeding
season. There have been a few days where it has
swollen nearly shut. I think that's a big part of
the reason he won't eat. When he was healthy,
his appetite would drop way off in the winter
(as with many iguanas). Now, however, his system
can't handle that stress.

I wish Q would make the connection that food=energy
and makes him feel better, but he hasn't come to
that realization. Either he's not that bright or
he takes after me. I'm notorious for forgetting
to eat.

When iZ's throat swelled, did you find anything
that helped alleviate the problem? Prednisone
helped initially, but I don't want to keep him
on steroids and the drug isn't as effective in
breeding season. Keeping Q's head elevated helps,
too. When his throat is highly swollen, we
minimize his activity to keep his blood pressure
down.

What Q really needs is spring. Last year, he had
a great summer after a winter where we nearly lost
him. It's amazing how iguanas know what season it
is even though their enclosure environment stays
pretty much constant.

Hope iZ is doing well!

T&Q

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: When I get home tonight, I'll let Q read iZ's : message. : I've been force-feeding Q for a nearly four months, : just like last winter. I force solids food into : him as well as pureed stuff in the hopes that he : won't forget how to eat entirely and to keep his : system working. With spring approaching, I'm : giving him a little strawberry Ensure daily; the : rest is forced greens and veggies (cut into long, : thin slivers). : Q does tend to have a swollen throat from the : kidney damage, and it gets worse during breeding : season. There have been a few days where it has : swollen nearly shut. I think that's a big part of : the reason he won't eat. When he was healthy, : his appetite would drop way off in the winter : (as with many iguanas). Now, however, his system : can't handle that stress. : I wish Q would make the connection that food=energy : and makes him feel better, but he hasn't come to : that realization. Either he's not that bright or : he takes after me. I'm notorious for forgetting : to eat. : When iZ's throat swelled, did you find anything : that helped alleviate the problem? Prednisone : helped initially, but I don't want to keep him : on steroids and the drug isn't as effective in : breeding season. Keeping Q's head elevated helps, : too. When his throat is highly swollen, we : minimize his activity to keep his blood pressure : down. : What Q really needs is spring. Last year, he had : a great summer after a winter where we nearly lost : him. It's amazing how iguanas know what season it : is even though their enclosure environment stays : pretty much constant. : Hope iZ is doing well! : T&Q :

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