Saturday 8 October 2011

Iguana Diseases - Looking Out For Your Pet Iguana




Iguana Diseases - Looking Out For Your Pet Iguana
Metabolic Bone Disease in Iguanas
Metabolic Bone Disease is the most common iguana disease, which is primarily caused dues to severe malnutrition. Iguanas, which are living in captivity requires a healthy diet made by the combination of dark green vegetables, hibiscus flowers and fruits. However, vitamins and minerals should also be supplemented in their diet in small amount. There is a lot of misinformation among the most of the iguana owners that a diet of iceberg lettuce is a good diet for them. The fact is that it has very low nutritive value. Metabolic Bone disease is developed in the iguanas as a result of consistently feeding them with this low nutritious diet.
Why Iguanas develop calcium deficiency?
Calcium deficiency is another common ailment of iguanas in captivity, which causes injury of their limbs and can even cause paralysis in extreme cases. Iguanas, which are kept in captivity, are less exposed to the sunlight or artificial UV light and this as a result of this, they develop calcium deficiency in them as Vitamin D does not gets synthesized in their body in the required quantity. As a result, their body is not able to absorb calcium from the diet and hence, it becomes calcium deficit.
What causes nose damage in some iguanas?
The enclosures and the cages, in which iguanas live, are very small in size. Therefore, whenever iguanas try to find some space in those small enclosures, they rub their noses with the sides and which leads to noses damage. This can also lead to the mouth rot and other complications, making the iguanas permanently disfigured.
What causes Burn Injuries in some iguanas?
Burn injuries in iguanas are more often caused by the heat lamps which are installed in the enclosures of the iguana for providing artificial UV light and heat. Iguanas generally like to live in the natural habitat where they can bask sufficiently in the sunlight. As they try to bask in the places in captivity so that they could absorb as much UV rays and heat as possible, they get burn injuries. They consider artificial light as the natural sunlight and in captivity try to get closer to the artificial source of light. While basking, as they try to come closer to the heat lamp while, they get themselves burned in this process. We can conclude most of the injuries and diseases in iguanas are caused due to the ignorance of their owners. Therefore, all iguana owners should learn how to take care of iguanas so that they can take care of these exotic and interesting pets in a better way.

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