Iguana kidney failure

Question
Hi, thank you for helping us all, and our pets!

I have a green IG about 14 years old (I have had him that long, he was a baby as I recall when he came to live with us) ... The current diagnosis from our local exotic practice is kidney failure, cause unknown, prognosis bad.

He has been hospitalized receiving shunt fluids for several days, along with oral agents ... he had begun to take solid food when it was placed in his mouth.  His weight returned to normal (2.4 kg) and his blood values were stabilizing.  Within 12 hours of the shunt being removed, the blood values were trending out of whack again.

I understand it is a grave situation with a probable bad outcome .... but should I euthanize? The vet advises for it, but I have read of owners working to keep their pets alive with as optimal a situation as possible.  Yes, I know it is always a difficult and personal decision ... but if I am willing to try and he seems at all improved, should he be put down?  

My guess is that he will always need care and will need periodic hydration treatments.  

Is there any chance for a quality of life for him, or should I take what I was viewing as the easy way out (for me at least) and follow the doctor's suggestion?

I gather you have handled long odds with some of your Igs, so I thought I would ask for your opinion.

Thanks,

John

Answer
Hi John,
I'm very sorry that you are having to go through this with your iguana.
Yes, he most likely will always need to have hydration treatments.
My BEST answers to your question is this...
What does your heart tell you to do?
What does your iguana tell you?
If you feel that you can and want  to do for your iguana with hand feeding, hydration, etc and your iguana is willing to deal with this, then the time to give him peace probably hasn't come yet. Many times an iguana will tell you when they give up or don't want you to try any longer...they may have been willing to be hand fed and all of a sudden refuse..they may have been passive for the hydration treatments and all of a sudden fight you... then, it is time to think about what your iguana wants.
Personally, I would try and give him some time to see if there is a leveling off of the disease..and how your iguana handles it.  You may want to check into some holistic treatments for kidney failure.  I know that the phosphorus binders (Maalox, etc) don't taste all that wonderful, especially to critters..
There is also a yahoo group called ADVANCEDIGUANACARE that you may want to check into joining as there are members there that have gone through the very same thing you are dealing with right now.
In the 12+ years of rescuing iguanas,I've not had to deal with severe health problems in the adult iguanas "yet" but have  been there many times with dogs...including kidney failure and cancer. In the end, you will make all the right decisions and... it won't be a day too early nor a day too late.