I Adopted an 8 yr. Old Iguana

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Posted by Jeanine on April 30, 1999 at 21:15:10:

hi! two days ago i adopted my coworker's female iguana (due to my coworkers failing health). i am experienced with monitors, geckos, bearded dragons, and chameleons but this is my first iguana.
"Iggy" (i know...*shudder*...i'm not the one who named her, ok?) was a very healthy lizard all her life until a few months ago when she became constipated. after a few vet visits and 2 weeks the iguana finally defecated and now defecates 2 to 3 x a week. however..."iggy" hasn't seemed to be able to recover...her appetite is way down and she is losing weight (although she still has a lot of meat on her..no bones sticking out yet). the vet told my coworker that sometimes they just don't recover from being constipated (doesn't make sense to me). i am keeping her very warm, putting her in the sun at least two hours on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends (or so i plan to). she is drinking a little water but not much, and i understand that iguanas need a lot of water. she has very little interest in food. as of now her "salad" consists of: dandelion greens, swiss chard, zuchini, banana, apple, strawberry, rose petals, papaya, and some romaine. she will take some of this by hand but not much.
i am quite taken with her and would like very much to see her regain her health. I will probably end up taking her to the vet very soon if her appetite decreases more.
do any of you have any suggestions on the best way to stimulate "iggy's" appetite?
thanks (sorry this is so long!)
jeanine

Follow Ups:

Re: I Adopted an 8 yr. Old Iguana Jeanine 5/01/99 (4)
- Re: I Adopted an 8 yr. Old Iguana BabyHerp aka Jeanine...lol 5/01/99 (3)
  - Re: I Adopted an 8 yr. Old Iguana jeanine 5/01/99 (2)
    - Re: I Adopted an 8 yr. Old Iguana BabyHerp 5/02/99 (1)
      - LOL gina....thanks again for the info :) nm jeanine 5/02/99 (0)
Herp Vet Connection Joan 5/01/99 (1)
- Thanks for the address for the Herp Vet Connection Meggy's Mom 5/01/99 (0)
thanks to everyone who responded so nicely....and a couple more thoughts jeanine 5/01/99 (2)
- Re: thanks to everyone who responded so nicely....and a couple more thoughts cirsisue 5/01/99 (1)
  - No Lives???? Joan 5/01/99 (0)
Re: I Adopted an 8 yr. Old Iguana cirsisue 5/01/99 (0)
Could she be gravid? Meggy's Mom 4/30/99 (0)
Re: I Adopted an 8 yr. Old Iguana iZ's mom 4/30/99 (0)

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: hi! two days ago i adopted my coworker's female iguana (due to my coworkers failing health). i am experienced with monitors, geckos, bearded dragons, and chameleons but this is my first iguana. : "Iggy" (i know...*shudder*...i'm not the one who named her, ok?) was a very healthy lizard all her life until a few months ago when she became constipated. after a few vet visits and 2 weeks the iguana finally defecated and now defecates 2 to 3 x a week. however..."iggy" hasn't seemed to be able to recover...her appetite is way down and she is losing weight (although she still has a lot of meat on her..no bones sticking out yet). the vet told my coworker that sometimes they just don't recover from being constipated (doesn't make sense to me). i am keeping her very warm, putting her in the sun at least two hours on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends (or so i plan to). she is drinking a little water but not much, and i understand that iguanas need a lot of water. she has very little interest in food. as of now her "salad" consists of: dandelion greens, swiss chard, zuchini, banana, apple, strawberry, rose petals, papaya, and some romaine. she will take some of this by hand but not much. : i am quite taken with her and would like very much to see her regain her health. I will probably end up taking her to the vet very soon if her appetite decreases more. : do any of you have any suggestions on the best way to stimulate "iggy's" appetite? : thanks (sorry this is so long!) : jeanine

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