Posted by Harry's Dad on August 27, 2000 at 05:41:21:
In Reply to: Cost of vet visit? posted by Diana on August 26, 2000 at 23:40:49:
Visit: $35.00
Fecal: $18.00
Blood Work: $80.00
X-ray: $75.00
I would recommend the first three on the list. If you have a vet already lined up, I would call and have them work up an estimate on those three items. Prices vary from location to location.
Here's some things you can do to help keep your iguana healthy:
1) Give your iguana plenty of direct sunlight during the summer months. Weekly time outside under the natural sun should be a standard. UVB from the sun is 100 times healthier for your iguana, than the UVB bulbs on it's cage. If your seasons allow you to start taking your iguana outside around March (temps above 75 degrees) then start doing so.
2) If you allow your iguana free roaming time, make sure the floor and any area reachable by the iguana is FREE of small objects, pennies, hair, pebbles, plants (some can be deadly),
3) Humidity is very important when caring for your iguana. If you need to, supply a humidifier to keep the humidity level high in the room where the iguana is kept. Also, spraying the iguana couple times a day and/or giving the iguana a bath. Spray your iguana's food down before serving it.
4) Make sure at night your iguana has complete darkness when sleeping. Believe it or not, if an iguana doesn't get a good solid sleep in every night, it can take it's toll on the iguana and stress is something you don't want for your iguana.
5) DIET DIET DIET, I can't say it enough. This is where your iguana will benefit the most, is by you studying what type of foods are best fed to your iguana. There's plenty of information on the internet and a few good books ( be careful on the later) You can feed your iguana a poor diet and it will look fine for months or a few years, then all at once, start going down hill. Illness in iguanas for the most part, start from within and you won't see it for months.
If you need help with the blood work please let me know. Your Vet should go over it with you, if he/she doesn't.....I recommend finding a different vet!!! The lab results will have a range....and your iguana's results will either be in that range or....either low or high. If it's the latter, you need to focus on it, change the diet or raise the humidity....or consult your Vet about if it's something else.
Best Wishes
HD