Common Sickness in Iguanas

Pet iguanas can suffer several common illnesses and ailments. As exotic pets, they can be difficult to look after, so even small mistake in their care could leave them with a sickness. If you suspect your iguana is ill, it's imperative you take him to see a veterinarian right away.

  1. Metabolic Bone Disease

    • Metabolic bone disease, caused by a calcium deficiency, is one of the most common illnesses in pet iguanas. More often than not, this is due either to insufficient exposure to UVB light, low habitat temperature or a calcium deficiency in his diet. As such, it's easily preventable with proper care of your pet. Symptoms include softening of the jaw and other facial bones, swollen lower jaw and hind legs, loss of appetite, lethargy and bone fractures that occur with little force or trauma.

    Infectious Stomatitis

    • Infectious stomatitis, also known as mouth rot, is usually caused by stress and presents as an inflammation and infection of the mouth. Stress can be related to one of many factors, including poor nutrition, overcrowding, poor regulation of temperature in the habitat or parasites. Common symptoms include swelling of the jaw or mouth, thick white discharge from the mouth, excessive saliva and loss of appetite or weight loss.

    Parasites

    • Parasites are common in iguanas. Since they generally come from external sources, they can be hard to prevent. Internal parasites are often hard to detect. You may not even know your pet has them, as there are often no clinical symptoms, although weight loss and diarrhea can be caused by parasites. Ensure your iguana has annual fecal examinations by a veterinarian, as this may be the only way of detecting them. External parasites, such as mites or ticks, are easier to notice, as you may be able to see them moving between your pet's scales or in his skin folds.

    Respiratory Infection

    • If your iguana is not kept in ideal conditions, he may be more susceptible to contracting a respiratory infection, or even pneumonia. This kind of disease is common in iguanas who are kept in conditions that are too cold, dirty or cramped. They can also be caused by stress or poor diet. Look for symptoms such as discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, bubbles in the mouth, shallow or rapid respiration or trouble breathing.

    Hypervitaminosis D

    • Hypervitaminosis D is another sickness often found in iguanas. It can be hard to pick up on, as it has vague symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, lethargy or a reduction of energy. It is caused by your iguana having too many vitamins in his diet. This usually occurs if you feed him cat or dog food, or if you give him too many vitamin and mineral supplements.