Re: Need help with sick/dying iguana

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Posted by Jamie/Jbug on April 05, 2000 at 22:29:29:

In Reply to: Need help with sick/dying iguana posted by Dustin on April 05, 2000 at 21:39:27:

Hi, Dustin,
This is just a guess, because I haven't seen him, obviously, but it sounds to me suspiciously like some sort of staf infection to me...I look up some more on that in a bit and get back to you. Henry's address is: henry@herp.com I'm pretty sure that's his current one, altho I'm not positive that he does amputations. You'd have to write him and see. What I would do if I was you is take the ig to a vet (any vet will do for this) and have them run a culture on the gunk the wounds when the tail splits open. The vet can tell you what kind of antibiotics will kill this particular infectious matter. Then I'd thank him kindly and go home. I (and at least one other gal, Gina/BabyHerp) have Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery. We could probably tell you what kind of antibiotic would be best if we know what the infectious material is. Most likely Injectable Baytril (Enrofloxacin) or injectable Amikacin (Aminoglycosides) will be best, as they are both well used by herp vets and have the least nasty side effects. I've used both on assorted herps at one time or another, with no adverse effects. If you get an accurate weight on your iguana for us, we can also tell you the proper dosage. Any vet can run a culture on infected 'ooze' and be able to tell you what it is, but I wouldn't feel real comfortable with 'any vet' dosing a herp for me. Just IMO. Let us know what we can do to help. Also, keep in mind, if you do amputate the tail yourself, it's usually a good idea to put them on an antibiotic for a little while afterwards. Most antibiotics can be gotten thru mail order without a perscription, if you know where to look. Good luck! Keep us posted!
Best,
Jamie/JBug
: ive been a hepetoculturist for almost 8 years now and kept many species. i currently own an iguana wich apears to be having some problems. i live in an unherp-freindly area of canada and the presence of qualified herp vets are lacking. this has forced me to rely on various sources to try and keep my animals in 100% health. if something goes wronge i have to fix it myself. as i was saying one particular iguana i now own continues to get lumps on his tail, then the tail splits open and looks verry unapealing, then finally drys up. this is unlike anything ive seen before in any herp including iguanas. if you know anything about this please let me know so i can try to do something about this.

: ive almost come to the conclusion that amputation can be the only choice but i am unexperienced in amputation and could use more knowledge on the procedure. if anyone knows EXACTLY how to do this and HAS DONE IT BEFORE on a lizard with a regenerating tail then please let me know what i have to do. thank you for your help,
: Dustin

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: Hi, Dustin, : This is just a guess, because I haven't seen him, obviously, but it sounds to me suspiciously like some sort of staf infection to me...I look up some more on that in a bit and get back to you. Henry's address is: henry@herp.com I'm pretty sure that's his current one, altho I'm not positive that he does amputations. You'd have to write him and see. What I would do if I was you is take the ig to a vet (any vet will do for this) and have them run a culture on the gunk the wounds when the tail splits open. The vet can tell you what kind of antibiotics will kill this particular infectious matter. Then I'd thank him kindly and go home. I (and at least one other gal, Gina/BabyHerp) have Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery. We could probably tell you what kind of antibiotic would be best if we know what the infectious material is. Most likely Injectable Baytril (Enrofloxacin) or injectable Amikacin (Aminoglycosides) will be best, as they are both well used by herp vets and have the least nasty side effects. I've used both on assorted herps at one time or another, with no adverse effects. If you get an accurate weight on your iguana for us, we can also tell you the proper dosage. Any vet can run a culture on infected 'ooze' and be able to tell you what it is, but I wouldn't feel real comfortable with 'any vet' dosing a herp for me. Just IMO. Let us know what we can do to help. Also, keep in mind, if you do amputate the tail yourself, it's usually a good idea to put them on an antibiotic for a little while afterwards. Most antibiotics can be gotten thru mail order without a perscription, if you know where to look. Good luck! Keep us posted! : Best, : Jamie/JBug : : ive been a hepetoculturist for almost 8 years now and kept many species. i currently own an iguana wich apears to be having some problems. i live in an unherp-freindly area of canada and the presence of qualified herp vets are lacking. this has forced me to rely on various sources to try and keep my animals in 100% health. if something goes wronge i have to fix it myself. as i was saying one particular iguana i now own continues to get lumps on his tail, then the tail splits open and looks verry unapealing, then finally drys up. this is unlike anything ive seen before in any herp including iguanas. if you know anything about this please let me know so i can try to do something about this. : : ive almost come to the conclusion that amputation can be the only choice but i am unexperienced in amputation and could use more knowledge on the procedure. if anyone knows EXACTLY how to do this and HAS DONE IT BEFORE on a lizard with a regenerating tail then please let me know what i have to do. thank you for your help, : : Dustin

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