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#181618
Puddinbabe
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 Choking Igs (not heat related)
My iguana has been choking recently. This usually happens after he eats broccoli or just a large amount of food. He gets his head up as high as he can and looks like he is trying to swallow, even though the broccoli has already gone down far enough where I can’t see it. He start coughing/choking (awful noise) and opens his mouth really wide and sometimes moves his tongue around. I haven’t been too concerned until tonight (I watch him and it usually passes quickly). Tonight, his face went very white. Eventually he stopped and his color came back, but it scared me and I didn’t know what to do. Has anyone run into this problem? I’m going to cut the broccoli smaller, but it seems like he should be able to gauge what he can and can’t eat.FYI - this is a rescue iguana who didn’t get the nutrition or care he needed when he was younger. However, he is around 10 years old and seems healthy other than the choking. He has a large cage he sleeps in. During the day he sits on a box in the window. He loves to eat greens of any sort, zucchini, and broccoli. If he hasn’t had enough to eat, he’ll either sit in the kitchen or come into the living room to let me know. He DOES NOT drink water, which bothers me - he never has. I try to moisten any food that isn’t already juicy, but he just won’t drink out of anything - even the bath. His name is Iggy. Any advice would be welcome!
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11/15/04 2:31am
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#181629
Puddinbabe
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Message To: Puddinbabe In reference to Message Id: 181618
Choking Igs (not heat related)
Here are 2 pics of the Igs in question...
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11/15/04 2:54am
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#181632
D0llm0uth
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Message To: Puddinbabe In reference to Message Id: 181629
Choking Igs (not heat related)
Sounds like they may have been too big of pieces. There are other possibilities, I’m sure but maybe the other members would know more than I do.Broccoli isn’t that nutritious and shouldn’t be fed much anyway. Go to beautifuldragons.com for the nutritional value and a list of foods you should be feeding.
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11/15/04 3:44am
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#181633
Pe
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Message To: D0llm0uth In reference to Message Id: 181632
Choking Igs (not heat related)
I agree with DollMouth, take the broccoli out of your iguanas diet. What are you feeding your iguana? You should be feeding a staple of Collard Greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, acorn or butternut squash, mustard greens, chicory,and escarole.PE
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11/15/04 3:49am
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#181638
Puddinbabe
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Message To: Pe In reference to Message Id: 181633
Choking Igs (not heat related)
Iggy is getting a balanced diet from the information posted on the Green Iguana Society webpage. He LOVES broccoli though and I’ve had some in the house this week so he has gotten a few treats. Its not a staple in his diet. I hope its just the size of the pieces and not something else...
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11/15/04 4:09am
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#181670
Jif
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Message To: Puddinbabe In reference to Message Id: 181638
Choking Igs (not heat related)
If this iguana is 10 years old and has had poor care in the past I’m afraid that kidney disease could be a factor. One of the symptoms of renal disease is swollen tissues in the throat and dewlap area. I’d make a vet appointment and get a blood panel done to see how the kidney and liver function is. I hope for Iggy’s sake it is just a matter of the food being too big but I’d have him checked to know for sure.
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11/15/04 9:12am
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#181679
Repticfan1389
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Message To: Jif In reference to Message Id: 181670
Choking Igs (not heat related)
it sounds like respiratory infection i know u said its not heat related but it sounds like it
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11/15/04 9:56am
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#181754
Leokeeper
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Message To: Repticfan1389 In reference to Message Id: 181679
Choking Igs (not heat related)
Not sure if anyone said this yet but maybe the pieces are too large? cut the vegtables very fine.
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11/15/04 2:41pm
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#181804
Iluviggy
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Message To: Leokeeper In reference to Message Id: 181754
Choking Igs (not heat related)
poor iggy...i’d follow jif’s advice; she knows her stuff. definitely bring him to the vet. good luck and keep us posted.
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11/15/04 4:29pm
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#181834
Puddinbabe
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Message To: Iluviggy In reference to Message Id: 181804
Choking Igs (not heat related)
To be a little more specific, he only chokes when he eats broccoli or a very large ammt of food. But I think I’ll take him to the vet just in case!Annie
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11/15/04 5:17pm
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#182228
Xta
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Message To: Puddinbabe In reference to Message Id: 181834
Choking Igs (not heat related)
Yes, I’d go to the vet. He doesn’t look so great for being 10 years old but obviously he had a rough life before. He is rather small. Let us know how his blood work comes out. I would avoid the broccoli altogether seeing as he may not be doing so well. Stick with the better veggies. You should probably cut your veggies even smaller now if he has trouble eating.
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11/15/04 10:55pm
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