Frozen Iguana

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Posted by Steve Bowman on January 06, 2001 at 09:54:42:

Two days ago, I came home from work to find my 3'-4' female iguana laying semi-limp and non-responsive outside - one eye was hanging-open. The HIGH temp for the day was 27 degrees F!!! and she actually had some ice on her neck from melting snow dripping on her and re-freezing!!! She had gotten out of her cage and then went out the dog-door! She was still right in front of the dog-door - must have cooled off very fast. I immediately brought her inside and started warming her in warm water. As she warmed, she became more limp and both eyes drooped open. While warming her, I perfomed chest massage to stimulate her heart and to pump air in and out of her lungs. I did this for about 10 minutes and felt some small tremmors in her gut, but no where else - still limp. I gave up after a few more minutes and left her in the water with her head propped up. I returned a few minutes later to find her eyes closed and it felt that she was holding them closed - still no breathing. I resumed the stimulation and shortly she got very stiff and seemed to be struggling for air. There was no air pumping this time. She then took some short breaths and opened her eyes. I continuted the stimulation for a few mor minutes until she was moving around ing the utility-sink. I returned to her cage where she acted very aggitated - tail swatting which she almost never does. She moved very little that night and the next day. Yesterday she seemed almost normal.
She had very active prior to the escape so I think she might have eggs - she is alone but her belly is swolen and her appitite has decresed greatly. I placed a covered box with repti-bark in her cage last night.

Whew!!! What health problems should I look for or anticipate.
Her feet and tail look normal.
I do not know of a reptile vet in my area (Southern Ohio).
Anybody know of any vets in my area?
Is there a better medium for the laying-box?
Her cage is 6'x3'x6' with a large waterfall that she seems to like very much.

Follow Ups:

Ohio Vets Harry's Dad 01/06/01 (0)
Re: Frozen Iguana Samcin 01/06/01 (1)
- Frozen Iguana Update Steve Bowman 01/06/01 (0)

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: Two days ago, I came home from work to find my 3'-4' female iguana laying semi-limp and non-responsive outside - one eye was hanging-open. The HIGH temp for the day was 27 degrees F!!! and she actually had some ice on her neck from melting snow dripping on her and re-freezing!!! She had gotten out of her cage and then went out the dog-door! She was still right in front of the dog-door - must have cooled off very fast. I immediately brought her inside and started warming her in warm water. As she warmed, she became more limp and both eyes drooped open. While warming her, I perfomed chest massage to stimulate her heart and to pump air in and out of her lungs. I did this for about 10 minutes and felt some small tremmors in her gut, but no where else - still limp. I gave up after a few more minutes and left her in the water with her head propped up. I returned a few minutes later to find her eyes closed and it felt that she was holding them closed - still no breathing. I resumed the stimulation and shortly she got very stiff and seemed to be struggling for air. There was no air pumping this time. She then took some short breaths and opened her eyes. I continuted the stimulation for a few mor minutes until she was moving around ing the utility-sink. I returned to her cage where she acted very aggitated - tail swatting which she almost never does. She moved very little that night and the next day. Yesterday she seemed almost normal. : She had very active prior to the escape so I think she might have eggs - she is alone but her belly is swolen and her appitite has decresed greatly. I placed a covered box with repti-bark in her cage last night. : Whew!!! What health problems should I look for or anticipate. : Her feet and tail look normal. : I do not know of a reptile vet in my area (Southern Ohio). : Anybody know of any vets in my area? : Is there a better medium for the laying-box? : Her cage is 6'x3'x6' with a large waterfall that she seems to like very much.

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