Stress, calcium, etc.

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Posted by Iguanamomma on May 16, 2000 at 10:24:14:

In Reply to: Pls help, egg binding in Montreal, Canada posted by Janet on May 16, 2000 at 06:46:40:

Is this her first time to your knowledge? Our female laid one egg her first time then laid the rest a week later. Little did I know back then that this was not really *normal*. Personally, I think (in my humble opinion) that it can be *normal* because I read of it a lot. However, sometimes the reason there is such a time gap is because the iguana is lacking in calcium. The eggs pass thru a tube where they get their coating/shelling. If the iguana doesn't have enuf calcium stores, then she cannot coat the eggs. This *could* cause her to retain her eggs waiting for more calcium. What she has laid--did it look white? If so, it had a coating. If it looked yellow, then it passed thru with no coating. If it were yellow, then I certainly would get back to the vet NOW. The vet can boost her quickly with an injection AND do x-ray to see what the state of the eggs are---are they still there, etc.

I *hope* that you are not about to move her into her new enclosure. I realize that this is something you are probably proud of and anxious to provide for her. But igs stress easily as you probably know for various reasons. But one reason for sure is new habitat. With her being gravid and trying to lay, I personally think I would hold off on moving her.

The exercise is VERY good for her. You might try moistening her digging spot. The first time ours laid that seems to have been what did the trick.

IMHO you shouldn't force feed. With all the eggs they simply can't hold much after a certain point. This is why they go off feed. You could try chopping her food up finely or even puree-ing it OR using baby food (Gerber First Foods).

Generally what happens is they go off feed; start consuming what appears to us massive amounts of water (considering how we don't usually realize they've drunk in the past); digging begins and drives us nuts until they finally lay those eggs.

My best advice at this point is to go back to the vet with her and ask for an x-ray AND discuss with him/her calcium supplementation. I urge you not to wait this out. Don't go by the fact that lots of igs have some days between eggs before they all come out. Whereas everything could be perfectly fine, it could also not be fine. A close forum friend lost her girl due to egg-binding. Another of hers came "this close" to being in serious trouble due to broken eggs inside which leads to septicimia which can quickly cause death. Our female had to be spayed on an emergency basis during her second egging when she prolapsed while trying to lay. The prolapse allowed eggs to drift in to her abdominal cavity and some broke. Thank goodness I was given the name of an excellent, experienced iguana surgeon/vet. He saved her. You need to question your vet about his/her experience with this BEFORE you decide on whether or not to spay---even if she needs to be for her health you've got to make sure that the vet is skilled in this surgery. If you're not sure about this OR if your vet admits he has little experience with it, let the forum know and we can help direct you to someone else hopefully who DOES have the experience. I can't express strongly enuf how important it is that the vet have experience--with success stories of course *grin* It's not the same as with dogs/cats. If the vet made the regular mid-line incision to begin the spay as on dogs/cats......he severes a major artery on an iguana and they bleed out before he even realizes *oops*.

I realize I have a lot of doom & gloom in this reply...but I'm truly trying to be helpful and we all try to have others benefit from our troubles.

Good luck and keep in touch. Hope all goes well.

glenda

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: Is this her first time to your knowledge? Our female laid one egg her first time then laid the rest a week later. Little did I know back then that this was not really *normal*. Personally, I think (in my humble opinion) that it can be *normal* because I read of it a lot. However, sometimes the reason there is such a time gap is because the iguana is lacking in calcium. The eggs pass thru a tube where they get their coating/shelling. If the iguana doesn't have enuf calcium stores, then she cannot coat the eggs. This *could* cause her to retain her eggs waiting for more calcium. What she has laid--did it look white? If so, it had a coating. If it looked yellow, then it passed thru with no coating. If it were yellow, then I certainly would get back to the vet NOW. The vet can boost her quickly with an injection AND do x-ray to see what the state of the eggs are---are they still there, etc. : I *hope* that you are not about to move her into her new enclosure. I realize that this is something you are probably proud of and anxious to provide for her. But igs stress easily as you probably know for various reasons. But one reason for sure is new habitat. With her being gravid and trying to lay, I personally think I would hold off on moving her. : The exercise is VERY good for her. You might try moistening her digging spot. The first time ours laid that seems to have been what did the trick. : IMHO you shouldn't force feed. With all the eggs they simply can't hold much after a certain point. This is why they go off feed. You could try chopping her food up finely or even puree-ing it OR using baby food (Gerber First Foods). : Generally what happens is they go off feed; start consuming what appears to us massive amounts of water (considering how we don't usually realize they've drunk in the past); digging begins and drives us nuts until they finally lay those eggs. : My best advice at this point is to go back to the vet with her and ask for an x-ray AND discuss with him/her calcium supplementation. I urge you not to wait this out. Don't go by the fact that lots of igs have some days between eggs before they all come out. Whereas everything could be perfectly fine, it could also not be fine. A close forum friend lost her girl due to egg-binding. Another of hers came "this close" to being in serious trouble due to broken eggs inside which leads to septicimia which can quickly cause death. Our female had to be spayed on an emergency basis during her second egging when she prolapsed while trying to lay. The prolapse allowed eggs to drift in to her abdominal cavity and some broke. Thank goodness I was given the name of an excellent, experienced iguana surgeon/vet. He saved her. You need to question your vet about his/her experience with this BEFORE you decide on whether or not to spay---even if she needs to be for her health you've got to make sure that the vet is skilled in this surgery. If you're not sure about this OR if your vet admits he has little experience with it, let the forum know and we can help direct you to someone else hopefully who DOES have the experience. I can't express strongly enuf how important it is that the vet have experience--with success stories of course *grin* It's not the same as with dogs/cats. If the vet made the regular mid-line incision to begin the spay as on dogs/cats......he severes a major artery on an iguana and they bleed out before he even realizes *oops*. : I realize I have a lot of doom & gloom in this reply...but I'm truly trying to be helpful and we all try to have others benefit from our troubles. : Good luck and keep in touch. Hope all goes well. : glenda

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