My iguana and newly dianosed kidney problems

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Posted by Pat Scherschel on June 13, 1999 at 19:43:31:

In Reply to: Kidney damage - long-term care posted by T Q on June 07, 1999 at 12:17:13:

I am hoping to get some additional advice from someone here. My six year old female iguana is having kidney problems. We noticed her not eating as usual and took her to the vet on 6/12/99 Our vet, who is experienced with reptiles, said that her kidneys were swollen and that she was retaining water. He did an xray but no blood work. She is on 1 ml. of lasix twice a day and also 100 mg. of allopurinol twice a day. She is only eating if force fed baby food fruits and vegetables. Yesterday she was able to pass a very orange and thick liquid but no feces. This morning she did pass a normal amount of feces and some white fluid. We first noticed her acting strangely about three weeks ago when she would deficate in her cage daily. We normally had to put her in the tub every two to three days. If we put her in there more she would get right out. She knew when she had to go and when she did not. If we tried any more than that she would get very aggitated. The increased bowel movements confused us so I started keeping an eye on her. This lasted at least a week. She was still eating but not as much. We thought it might be the seasonal change around here in Indiana. It had become very hot here. She was last weighed on May 12 and was 8.2 pounds and 52 inches long. She has been very active
and not wanting to stay in her cage. This also confused us. We have her in a large 5 ft long by 28" high and 28" deep cage that was hand built. It is attached to the wall and she also has a platform above a window beside her cage to sit on. She loves to sit on the top of her cage where the warmth of her cage makes it nice for her. She is caged the majority of the day. She also has a heat rock and log to crawl up on for sleeping. Whenever she wants out she will scratch at the door and we put her on top. She stays there until we go to bed and then she is put back in the cage. This is not a daily routine but when she asks for it.

Kermie has been fed various dark green leafy vegetables such as Kale, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Spinach and thawed frozen mixed vegetables. We have even last year and this grown fresh greens in our garden for her. She would get scrambled eggs occationally (she loved them) but no more than once a week. She was never much of a fruit eater but liked occational banana, blueberries or strawberries. She did eat some cantaloupe the other day. Her
cage is kept at 85-100 degrees with an 8X11 water pan. She has a UV light, black light (for at night)and regular light during the day for heat control. She has darkness at night and I have to admit that perhaps we didn't mist her as often as we should.

Up until just recently Kermie was a picture of health. She is quite tame and visits the school where I work each year for the sixth grade children. That was about a month ago. I am quite concerned and worried that I will lose her. I just read an article that said that an iguana with kidney failure needs fluids and hydration and my vet is giving her a diuretic. I would appreciate any advice that you have to offer as my vet is very willing to listen to other opinions. Please email me with any suggestions that you may have.

Thank You

Pat
petsgalor9

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: I am hoping to get some additional advice from someone here. My six year old female iguana is having kidney problems. We noticed her not eating as usual and took her to the vet on 6/12/99 Our vet, who is experienced with reptiles, said that her kidneys were swollen and that she was retaining water. He did an xray but no blood work. She is on 1 ml. of lasix twice a day and also 100 mg. of allopurinol twice a day. She is only eating if force fed baby food fruits and vegetables. Yesterday she was able to pass a very orange and thick liquid but no feces. This morning she did pass a normal amount of feces and some white fluid. We first noticed her acting strangely about three weeks ago when she would deficate in her cage daily. We normally had to put her in the tub every two to three days. If we put her in there more she would get right out. She knew when she had to go and when she did not. If we tried any more than that she would get very aggitated. The increased bowel movements confused us so I started keeping an eye on her. This lasted at least a week. She was still eating but not as much. We thought it might be the seasonal change around here in Indiana. It had become very hot here. She was last weighed on May 12 and was 8.2 pounds and 52 inches long. She has been very active : and not wanting to stay in her cage. This also confused us. We have her in a large 5 ft long by 28" high and 28" deep cage that was hand built. It is attached to the wall and she also has a platform above a window beside her cage to sit on. She loves to sit on the top of her cage where the warmth of her cage makes it nice for her. She is caged the majority of the day. She also has a heat rock and log to crawl up on for sleeping. Whenever she wants out she will scratch at the door and we put her on top. She stays there until we go to bed and then she is put back in the cage. This is not a daily routine but when she asks for it. : Kermie has been fed various dark green leafy vegetables such as Kale, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Spinach and thawed frozen mixed vegetables. We have even last year and this grown fresh greens in our garden for her. She would get scrambled eggs occationally (she loved them) but no more than once a week. She was never much of a fruit eater but liked occational banana, blueberries or strawberries. She did eat some cantaloupe the other day. Her : cage is kept at 85-100 degrees with an 8X11 water pan. She has a UV light, black light (for at night)and regular light during the day for heat control. She has darkness at night and I have to admit that perhaps we didn't mist her as often as we should. : Up until just recently Kermie was a picture of health. She is quite tame and visits the school where I work each year for the sixth grade children. That was about a month ago. I am quite concerned and worried that I will lose her. I just read an article that said that an iguana with kidney failure needs fluids and hydration and my vet is giving her a diuretic. I would appreciate any advice that you have to offer as my vet is very willing to listen to other opinions. Please email me with any suggestions that you may have. : Thank You : Pat : petsgalor9

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