Re: At my wits end with this breeding season!

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Posted by iguanafriend on December 06, 2002 at 18:26:57:

In Reply to: Re: At my wits end with this breeding season! posted by PH Meliss on December 06, 2002 at 10:22:21:

Thank you Melissa for replying. I so value your opinion. When I first got my iguana, Hercules I was handed a printed out version of your website. You and James Hatfield have taught me a lot about iguana's.
Hercules is being followed closely by an extremely reputable vet here in my area. After much searching for a good vet I found one (after anothe vet almost killed him and misdiagnosed him). Hercules just went in two weeks ago because I knew something was wrong and I was right--his uriates were orange and slightly crystalized. He had some kidney strain from dehydration and a slight infection. I bathed him every day for half and hour and gave him 9CC's of water a day for a week plus nutri-cal, and the anitbotic's. On Tuesday he went back and all his kidney levels and organ levels were very good. The doctor felt at this point that Progestrone would help with his behavior. Now that he is feeling a lot better he has definitely become a lot more aggressive. Would you still not recommend progestrone?
My cycles are all messed up so I am not even sure where I am at in the cycle. I heard that it can effect aggression.
Today he actually seemed a little bit better and since we weren't home during the day he was not disturbed. :)
Janeen

:>>I also gave him some progerstrone that the doctor gave me.

:Please don't! Hormones are complicated. Progesterone is just one of the hormones associated with behavior. Depending on what is going on with the other hormones in the body, progesterone may or may not have any effect on aggression - and may increase it.

:>>I know part of the problem is because I am female.

:Where are you in your cycle right now?

:Have you had him thoroughly checked out by a reptile vet? As I discuss in my Further thoughts on spaying and neutering... article, some cases of what appear to be extreme breeding season or general aggression are actualy reaction to pain and/or progressive system failure. While we tend to expect lethargy and flat affect as a reaction to pain and illness, that isn't always the case...see the Tough Love for one such case.

:So, please have him checked out by a reptile vet - lab, xray and/or ultrasound, even a laparoscopy to really get a look at the internal organs. Hormones may be a viable option if the behavior is related to hormones, but they will need to be tested first to determine what their levels are to determine which one to try...

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:PH Meliss
:Pet Hobbyist Volunteer * Iguana Forum
:Iguanas for Dummies
:Anapsid.org: Herp & Green Iguana Care, Herp Societies/Rescues & Vets

Follow Ups:

Re: At my wits end with this breeding season! PH Meliss 12/08/02 (0)
Re: At my wits end with this breeding season! rjward97 12/07/02 (1)
- Re: At my wits end with this breeding season! iguanafriend 12/07/02 (0)