Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A 06
This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A. |
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What is your interpretation of the radiographs of this mature iguana? | Multifocal metabolic bone disease involving the long bones of all four limbs, and the presence of radiopaque foreign bodies throughout the alimentary tract. |
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How would you treat this iguana? | This iguana may have been ingesting calcareous material in an effort to obtain the necessary calcium that its diet lacked. Give vitamin D3 (4iu/kg orally twice weekly), or expose the iguana to unfiltered sunlight or full-spectrum ultraviolet light so that it can synthesise its own vitamin D3. The diet should be changed to one containing a high level of calcium, a relatively low level of phosphorus and high-quality nutritive fibre. Milk of magnesia, petroleum jelly, or a similar laxative agent, should be given orally to help excretion of the gastrointestinal foreign bodies. |
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