How to Tell if a Pet Iguana is Ill

Iguanas are becoming a popular pet, possibly because they are generally easy to keep and care for. However, like any pet, an iguana can get sick. In most cases, iguanas do not display signs of illness until it may be too late, so it's best to keep a close eye on your pet iguana so you can tell if it is ill.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Know what a healthy iguana should look like and how it should act so you can tell when it is sick. A healthy iguana should be active, eat and defecate regularly, have a well-rounded body (without being obese), green skin and a clear nose and eyes.

2. Note any listlessness or inactivity, particularly in conjunction with other abnormal signs. For instance, lethargy along with weight loss, swollen abdomen and/or neck and frequent drinking may be signs of kidney failure.

3. Check the iguana's skin. If it is not a bright green color, or is marked by any strange bumps or sores, it may be sick. Pinch the skin to make sure it is tight. If it's not, the iguana is likely dehydrated.

4. Observe the iguana's bowel habits. Any change in the appearance or consistency of stools can be indicative of illness. Constipation can be a sign of an intestinal blockage.

5. Look for any telltale signs of metabolic bone disease, a serious illness that affects iguanas. A soft jaw (or misaligned jaws), lethargy, tremors, deformities of the limbs and bone fractures are indicative of this disease, which is due to a malabsorption of calcium, possibly due to an inadequate diet.

6. Make sure the iguana's tail is plump. Fat is stored in the tail just past the vent, and if bones can be seen in the tail, this may indicate that the iguana is ill.

Tips & Warnings

• Feed your pet iguana a well-balanced diet with proper amounts of calcium, vitamins and phosphorous to avoid metabolic bone disease.
• Keep your pet iguana's environment humid. An iguana gets much of its needed water from moisture in its surroundings.
• Do not feed a pet iguana animal protein, and always give it plenty of water. Too much animal protein and dehydration contribute to kidney failure.