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Posted by iZ's mom on September 17, 2000 at 15:55:06:
In Reply to: IG - Urgent HELP needed (kidney / liver problem) posted by Thomas Hermanson on September 17, 2000 at 13:24:48:
my ig was diagnosed with severe kidney damage about a year ago when he was 3.5yo ... according to a kidney biopsy, this was caused by a undetected, long-term, low-grade bacterial infection ... iZ had never had animal protein either ...
iZ's blood tests did *not* indicate that his kidney problem was as severe as it was ... he ended up having emergency exploratory surgery and that's what diagnosed him ... the doctor and the lab that did the blood work can help you more as far as what the 'normal' levels should be ...
(tho iZ's calcium:phosphorus levels were also messed up ... phosphorus was *way* higher than it should have been ... )
since both kidneys and liver process the body's waste products, *yes*, extra fluids should help "flush" either or both organs ...
symtoms *will* vary from ig to ig, not all will have the exact same symptoms ... iZ's symptoms were dehydration, constipation (he'd poop but in *very small* amounts, more like pellets ...), his tongue + throat were swollen and his dewlap and crest were swollen, he was very very thirsty and drank *alot* of water on his own which filled him up so he wouldn't eat ... his kidneys were *Very* swollen (to the size of tennis balls!) + could be felt easily ... he lost alot of weight in a very short amount of time ... 2 kilos within a month ...
treatment ...
with the calcium:phosphorus level unbalanced, a "phosphorus binder" is usually given ... this binds the excess phosphorus in the blood and gets it out of the system ... most vets recommend using "Amphojel" (aluminum hydroxide), after alot of my own research, i have switched to using "TUMS EX" (calicum carbonate) ... it binds the excess phosphorus and has less side effects ... it's also alot easier to give ... (dog/cat vets, as well as people doctors are also beginning to use calcium carbonate in place of aluminum hydroxide) ...
since iZ's problems were due to an unknown infection, he was put on "Baytril" to make sure that cleared up ... (Baytril *is* just as effective given orally as by injection)
*lots* of water or better yet, something like "Infalyte" or "Pedialyte" to replace electrolytes that are lost during dehydration ... TUMS also helps to replace electrolytes ... iZ's vet recommended *at least* 20cc per kilo of weight per day for fluids ... more if possible ...
go *Slow* giving drinks with the oral syringe ... if the ig's throat/tongue are swollen, he can't drink/swollen very well ...
iguanas do *not* absorb water thru their skin or thru their vent ... if the extra baths are stressing your ig out or if it's not encouraging him to drink more or urinate more, i'd stick to one soak a day ...
make sure your ig is getting nutrition ... if it's tongue/throat is swollen, it may not be eating as much ... i had to put iZ's food thru the blender and liquify it to feed it to him with an oral syringe ...
"allopurinol" is for treatment of specific symptoms of kidney problems and shouldn't be automatically given ... (treatment of gout/arthritis-like problems)
keep your ig warm and as stress-free as possible ... keep everything you are doing to a strict routine as far as time of day and *where* and then leave the ig alone for the rest of the time to rest ...
don't know if you've seen Melissa Kaplin's site? link below to her pages on kidney failure/problems ...
feel free to reply on the forum or e-mail ... i know how awful you feel right now! hang in there!! iZ continues to have 'minor' problems now + then and will most likely always be on + off medication ... but he has regained most of the weight he lost and is a pretty happy ig (except during mating season!)
very best wishes!
Bon. + iZ
