7 month old iguana

Question
My iguana isn't using her back legs. There is a bump on her lower back. I think maybe she injured herself. She is eating and is still very active. Since she cant move her legs she falls on her back. Will she heal on her own? What could be wrong with her? broken back? broken legs? please help..

Answer

Metabolic Bone Disease Darlene,

Unfortunately, this sounds to me like a classic case of advanced metabolic bone disease. From what you are describing, that is what comes to mind first. Essentially, what MBD is, is a severe calcium deficiency in which the body has had to extract calcium from the bones to keep proper calcium levels in the blood and leaves the bones brittle and disfigured.

Now, the main contributors to this are improper diet, lighting and/or heating. This is 100% a disease caused by captive environment.

Here is an excerpt describing the symptoms from a respectable iguana care source:

Signs of metabolic bone disease include hard knobs in the long bones of the legs, bumps along the vertebral column of the back and tail, bilateral softening or hard swelling of the lower jaw, and softening of the plastron or carapace. All of these signs may be felt before they can be seen, making a careful physical exam important. Visible signs of moderate to severe MBD include jerky gait when walking, repeated tremors and twitches in the limbs and muscles of the legs and toes when at rest, and shakiness when being held.

Advanced cases of MBD include all the above signs plus constipation, anorexia and fractured bones. Severely deficient reptiles tend to be lethargic and may only be able to drag themselves along the ground. Arboreal lizards spend all of their time on the ground as they lack the strength to grip and climb.

You can read more at : http://www.anapsid.org/mbd.html

METABOLIC BONE DISEASE REQUIRES YOU TO ADDRESS YOUR LIGHTING AND DIET IMMEDIATELY. GETTING A NEW UVB BULB IS THE FIRST START . THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS UVA, NOT ALL UV BULBS ARE ALIKE.

METABOLIC BONE DISEASE CAN BE REVERSED SO THAT THE BODY HAS PROPER CALCIUM LEVELS, BUT THE DAMAGE DONE DURING THE STAGES OF ILLNESS WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. IF THE BUMP AND PARALYZATION ARE CAUSED BY MBD, LIKELY THIS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN.

IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS, YOU ARE URGED TO TAKE THE IGUANA TO A VET AND HAVE THEM MEDICALLY HELP YOUR IGUANA RECOVER, MAINLY THRU THE USE OF CALCIUM INJECTIONS.

Now, just so you are aware, 9 out of 10 iguanas do not live to see their 1 year old mark. The reasons for this are oftentimes enhanced by improper diet and lighting. Correcting improper diet/lighting/heating will play a huge role in the rehabilitation of your iguana.

GOOD FOODS: Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, orange squashes, green beans, parsnips, dandelion greens, escarole, sweet peas, tropical fruits, avacado, alfalfa, cucumbers, tomatoes

BAD FOODS: Lettuce (even romaine), excessive amounts of spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and cabbage. NEVER give the iguana animal protein (meats, cheeses, insects) and also, minimize commercial iguana pellets/cubes because they can be over-fortified and hard on the kidneys and contribute to dehydration.

LIGHTING: You NEED a UVA AND a UVB bulb or a combo bulb. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A UVB BULB! It is MANDATORY or the iguana becomes affected by the inability to absorb calcium. Keep the UVB on for 10-12 hours a day.

HEATING: at least 85 on the cool side of the tank and 90-95 for a basking spot during the day.

Any further questions, please ask. I hope I could help.

Sincerely,

Sara J Gwerder
President
Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary
Shreveport, LA