Iguana Iguana, can I rescue it?

[protheus]

Hi everyone.

It came to my attention over the weekend that the local humane society was asked (by the previous owner, I guess) to take an Iguana. While I appreciate that the previous owner didn't just put it out on the street, it seems to have been kept in pretty substandard conditions for a time. I hope that it didn't spend its life so far in those conditions (It's supposed to be 8 years old).

When the humane society received this lizard, its tail was partially missing, and it had some skin rubbed off of its nose, presumedly from thrashing around in an enclosure that was just way too small : (

There don't appear to be many knowlegable people at the humane society unless you're talking about cats or dogs, and some of them are afraid of lizards. My wife has been working with them since they got it to try and get it in an acceptable habitat, and on an acceptable diet, etc, etc.

Now, I'm not "qualified" by any means, but my opinion of its condition is that it should be managable. The tail autotomy thing is common, though supposedly stressful. The wound on the nose is superficial. Absent any long term health problems, which can be mitigated with a good diet, proper lighting, and probably calcium suppliment in the present.

I even filled out an adoption request for this one the day after it came in. Now comes the bad part. I've heard today that the examiners to which the society sent her are saying that there's a problem with some of the bones in the tail (a fracture, I was told), which may cause later complications, and they recommended that she should be euthanized.

I guess I'm getting in over my head here, but does this sound absolutely insane to anyone else? I have read a number of articles on tails which have had to, for some reason or another, be amputated. I have never heard of a complication with this procedure, and, given that she would have a home (mine), why would it possibly make more sense to euthanize her?

I would love to hear opinions from anyone who knows reptiles, or anyone else for that matter. Time may be short, unfortunately.

Chris

 

[Wade]

I agree that this sound ridiculous. Euthenize it because of fractures in the tail?! If they really think it's that big a problem (and I don't see how it could be) why not just amputate the tail? Are these "examiners" veteranarians with reptile experience? My guess would be that this rescue group doesn't have a clue about how to deal with a reptile, and they'd rather euthenize it than deal with future problems. I doubt they'd do this to a dog with a fractured tail!

I'd suggest you contact the nearest reptile or iguanna rescue group and have them contact this other group. Check kingsnake.com to see if you can find one near you. Hopefully, they'll be able to talk some sense into them!

Wade

 

[protheus]

I'd suggest you contact the nearest reptile or iguanna rescue group and have them contact this other group. Check kingsnake.com to see if you can find one near you. Hopefully, they'll be able to talk some sense into them!

I'll do that. If it comes down to it, I'll have them talk to whatever group I can find, locally or otherwise. I've spoken to the people at the humane society just this morning. It does turn out that it's not just the tail. They're worried that she may have some fused vertebrae somewhere, too, and that this could cause her pain in the future. I must admit that this is a more serious problem, but I think it sounds like they're jumping the gun with this euthanasia thing.

The vet also seems worried about the iguana's age (she's 8 or so...), which is coming up on the end of their life expectancy in the wild, I understand, but in captivity, I'm told that the average is more like 15 years (I have read of a certain long-lived male iguana which reached 29 years), which would put her squarely in the "middle aged" category; it would be a shame to see her life cut so short compared to what it otherwise could be.

On the posative side, and much to the credit of the local humane society, they seem happy to discuss other options, and it doesn't seem that they like the idea of euthanizing this animal any more than I.

Chris

 

[Wade]

Well, if they have reason to believe that the lizard is in some kind of perpetual pain, I can understand why they'd want to euthanize, but if they're just basing it on a physical examination and not behaviour I'd question the decision. Euthanizing now to prevent pain (that may or may not happen) in the future still seems a little crazy to me. The reptillian nervous system is different from that of mammals. I currently have two reptiles (a Tai beauty snake and a fire skink) with spinal kinks (birth defects) and likley fused vertebrae that lead apparently healthy lives. I certainly don't know if their suffering any sort of pain, but nothing in their behavior indicates that they do, both eat and move about with no problem.

Anyway, good luck!

Wade

 

[skinheaddave]

Sorry to head on a tangent, but the other day I was talking with my friend who is a vet tech at a large animal hospital. Apparently someone called at night with a ball python that had been burned. Nobody from the avian/exotics ward is there at night and the on-duty vet turned it away because he was not experienced with reptiles. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a burn a burn a burn? I realize that reptile skin is different and all, but the treatment should be similar. With a little research I am sure the vet could have dealt with the problem.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[protheus]

Good news. It seems that the humane society, and it seems even the vet, after looking into the bone problems, agreed with me that there should be no need to euthanize this animal. My wife and I are now the proud (umm...) keepers of a green iguana.

That's without having to call the herp. societies

The fused vertabrae are at the end of (what's left of) the tail, so if they become a problem, it turns out that amputation would be an option. They did warn us that this might impair her balance somewhat, since the tail is so short already, but they say that it should only be a problem if the tail doesn't heal properly. From the look of it, things will go well. We have triple antibiotic ointment for her nose and tail, and oral antbiotics. (Haven't had to give one yet (won't until this evening), anyone got any suggestions? )

We took her home last night, and she seems pretty happy at the moment; likes being rubbed almost as much as the cats do.

We've borrowed a large portable dog kennel, which makes a surprisingly good temporary environment for her at night. We're expecting a larger, and more importantly, taller, cage next Wed. It will have wire sides, but my plan at the moment is to cover it with plexiglass sheets to hold moisture. I'd also like to fit it with platforms and possibly dowels bolted onto the sides for climbing.

We have a "broad spectrum" lamp, but no UVB, so I'll probably end up getting a UVB light after work today. Luckilly, most of the supplies we need for her can be shared with the gecko. (calcium suppliment, heat lamps, hand cleaner for the humans) She can share some of her food with us; I like a good salad once in a while, anyway.

So, does anyone know whether iguanas like rope? I'm thinking of knotted rope for climbing, or possibly even a rope-net in the enclosure. How about a hammock, or cushion of some kind?

Lastly, I'm not absolutely sure how an iguana is supposed to take to a hiding place, but I've tried to provide one (about as high and long as the lizard, and about a foot deep) in the kennel where she's sleeping. She seems to like it; I'm also thinking about giving her a cave setup of some kind.

Chris

 

[protheus]

Oh... on a burned snake:

I imagine that a burn in a reptile is somewhat different than a burn on an animal which is endothermic. Treating the burn with ice, for instance, might be a very bad idea. Also, an exothermic animal may be moor likely to "cook" something, since they can't regulate their temperature internally. Well, that's the impression I get, anyway.

On the other hand, antibiotic cream would have been a good first step; regardless of the internal condition of the animal, keeping it clean would have been a close second priority, and why didn't the have somebody on call who could handle it?

Chris