Any help greatly appreciated.....

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Posted by Mia on December 17, 2000 at 01:33:47:

Hello everyone : )

I'm a visitor from the beardie forum, and do not have an iguana. I came here hoping maybe some of you could help with an iguana problem we ran into at work the other day, though. I'm a vet tech at an animal hospital, and the other day a couple brought in their adult, male iguana. He has somehow managed to pull or scratch out all but one of the nails on his front legs, and is now missing some on his back feet as well, and has been doing some head banging. They say he gets really stressed this time every year, presumably because he has no mate, but he has never been this bad before. He has a very large cage, and is given roam of the house for a long time every day. They said that in the past they have had to cover all the mirrors and glass he can see his reflection in so he doesn't "fight" himself, which decreases the face banging, but they have no idea how he's pulling his nails out.

It seems to me that he's obviously stressed, but given that there is nothing new (aside from what they say is his breeding season), they can't figure out what to do to help decrease his stress, and being only a beardie person myself, I wouldn't know either. The vets at work are running some tests at present to rule out health problems, and are treating him for any possible initial infections in his toes, but I thought I would mention the situation here in case any of you have experienced anything similar or have any additional suggestions that might help him.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have. : )

-Mia

Follow Ups:

Ooops...forgot this part Mia 12/17/00 (4)
- And have they tried this,,, sue1 12/18/00 (0)
- Re: Medical test Harry's Dad 12/17/00 (2)
  - Thanks HD and Travis. I'll pass along the info. n/p Mia 12/17/00 (0)
  - Re: Medical test Travis 12/17/00 (0)

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: Hello everyone : ) : I'm a visitor from the beardie forum, and do not have an iguana. I came here hoping maybe some of you could help with an iguana problem we ran into at work the other day, though. I'm a vet tech at an animal hospital, and the other day a couple brought in their adult, male iguana. He has somehow managed to pull or scratch out all but one of the nails on his front legs, and is now missing some on his back feet as well, and has been doing some head banging. They say he gets really stressed this time every year, presumably because he has no mate, but he has never been this bad before. He has a very large cage, and is given roam of the house for a long time every day. They said that in the past they have had to cover all the mirrors and glass he can see his reflection in so he doesn't "fight" himself, which decreases the face banging, but they have no idea how he's pulling his nails out. : It seems to me that he's obviously stressed, but given that there is nothing new (aside from what they say is his breeding season), they can't figure out what to do to help decrease his stress, and being only a beardie person myself, I wouldn't know either. The vets at work are running some tests at present to rule out health problems, and are treating him for any possible initial infections in his toes, but I thought I would mention the situation here in case any of you have experienced anything similar or have any additional suggestions that might help him. : Thanks in advance for any advice you might have. : ) : -Mia

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