Here she is...Miss America!

Well, not exactly, but she did have a run down the catwalk. This is Blizzard, our 4yo female Argentine Tegu sporting the fun T-shirt she wore when she won 2nd place in the costume contest at the Orlando Science Center's 2008 Pet Fair. Eat your heart out, Lassie!

Here's Looking at You, Baby!

Jackie is looking better and progressing nicely! Our little iggy has finished his antibiotics, eats like a horse, enjoys the sunshine, and is behind my computer chair in his cage, looking from his empty food bowl up to me. (OK, buddy, just a minute, Geez!) You can see in the pic that his skin infection has cleared up nicely. He's been shedding almost continuously since I've had him, but I'm sure that is from increased growth as well as part of the healing process. Stats: He's up to 65-70 g from 45 g.

I genuinely hope that this info can help another ig owner one day, as it was difficult for me to find info and pics of this sort of thing when I started with him.

I'm on the Road Again...

The Road to Recovery, that is! Jackie went to the vet and we have a plan of action. It appears that there is a infection going on, either bacterial, fungal, or both. For that, we were prescribed a topical cream that covers both. He also has antibiotic injections to be given at home. The black areas are likely to be thermal burns and are probably permanently scarred black. Being so weak, he may have a calcium imbalance, so he has a potent oral calcium supplement to help him on his way, along with fluids given in the office, and baby food offered by eyedropper at home. I was certain his tail had dry gangrene at the tip, but our wonderful exotics vet, Dr. Orlando Diaz, found that it is flexible and may be viable. We'll keep an eye on that tail tip! He's not out of the woods, but seems to feel better already. Don't you think he looks better, too?

His treatment plan:
Fortaz injections every three days x 5 doses
Lukewarm diluted Betadine soaks 15-20min twice daily
SSD ointment applied twice daily after mild cleaning
Calcium glubionate twice daily
Maintain hydration through soaking and feeding baby food
Provide proper temps, natural sunlight, good husbandry

Meet Jackie...

Well, Captain Jack Sparrow...or maybe Jackie O. We're not exactly sure until he gets a bit older. Jackie is a hatchling iguana, a few months old, that was given to us by an owner who was concerned about his worsening skin condition. He was dehydrated-probably from not eating, having too low humidity, and losing moisture from his damaged skin. He is 40g instead of the usual 90-100g for his length-having a systemic infection brings the appetite down. Our plan is to rehabilitate Jack and include him in our presentations at parties and school shows, but probably not until the fall after he has recovered.

These pictures show a before and after effect. Taken the first day I had him (last Saturday), the first two are before bathing, and the last one is after soaking in a warm diluted Betadine bath. Yes, he's tired, stressed, and biting that dish towel! When I searched the Internet for info about dermatitis or other skin disorders in Green Iguanas, there was very little info and no pictures. As we are an education based organization, my hope is that this journal can assist someone else in their iguana journey.