Re: HELP

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Posted by Kate on January 08, 2003 at 12:22:16:

In Reply to: HELP posted by roadspawn on January 07, 2003 at 12:21:36:

Have you taken your ig to the vet? How old is it? Many rescue igs have Metabolic Bone Disease (like Lizard did). Parasites may also be an issue, especially in iglets. Get a fecal exam done to test for parasites. If your ig has been sick, it may take some time and patience to get him nice and healthy and fat. UVA and UVB lighting is essential, as well as a proper diet.

Anyway, here's how Lizard and I did it:
It took awhile. There were over 8 months between those pics. When I got him, he had MBD. He was lethargic and had no appetite at all. First thing was an emergency trip to the vet... Pretty expensive, but they did blood work and x-rays, as well as a basic physical exam. We got a prescription for a calcium supplement to give him (Neo-calglucon, I believe).

Also got him set up with an Iguana Light 5.0 for UVB, a basking light that produces UVA, and a diet of greens and veggies. The problem was, he wouldn't eat. He would look interested in the food when I put his salad down, and would eat about two bites. Then he acted like he was full, or had lost interest. His lower jaw was swollen, so maybe it hurt him to eat.

Anyway, after he ate his two bites on his own, I would help him eat. I would take a bite-sized piece of collard and slide it slowly between his lips. The lower jaw being swollen actually made this part a little easier. Sometimes he would let the food drop out of his mouth, but sometimes he would eat it once I put it in there for him. It was very time consuming, but it got him to eat more. When we couldn't get enough in him this way, we would fill a needless syringe with veggie baby food, and squirt this into his mouth. It was messy, and a lot of it came back out, but it still got more food in him than he would eat on his own.

After a couple weeks of this, he started to eat a bit more on his own. I remember the day that it happened... I gave him his food, and he started to eat as usual, and then kept going! Instead of stopping at two bites, he ate 9!! Nine bites is not very much, really, but it was a huge improvement for him. I felt like that was the day he decided he really wanted to live. After that, his appetite grew steadily, but very gradually. And at first he was a very picky eater, too. He only liked collards and dandelion greens, and then he decided endive was okay too. Now he'll eat just about any green, and a variety of veggies in his salad. He also LOVES squash, and other orange or yellow foods (bright bell peppers, carrots, etc.) He also has a dish of water and a bath every day to help keep him hydrated. Plus, I mist him a few times a day, and have a humidifier in the room. (Not in summer; then it's plenty humid without any help.)

:Hey Kate
:How in the world did you get that igg so healthy???/ Please give me some advice. I need to fatten up the ig I have. It was given to me about 3 weeks ago.....
:RoadSpawn
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