Your Exotic Pet
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Q: My iguana has developed a "lump" on its lower jaw. He seems to be eating all right. Do you think this could be a serious problem?
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A: There are several possible explanations for the lump formation, and it is difficult to differentiate without examining your iguana. The lump you describe could be an abscess, a bone disease related to poor diet and lack of UV light, or a tumor. By far, the most common cause of disease in iguanas is malnutrition. We often see iguanas whose diet has consisted solely of romaine lettuce. Unfortunately, lettuce is a poor source of nutrition for iguanas and other reptiles. Lack of calcium, protein, and vitamins in such a diet results in poor growth and weakening of the bones. The limbs and/or jaw will appear swollen and fractures can result. This may explain the lump you have just discovered. You should have your iguana examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
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| Q: My ferret is losing hair on its back, what does this mean? |
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A: While there are several possible reasons for your ferret to be losing hair, one of the more common causes is an adrenal tumor. Along with hair loss, you may also see swelling around the vulva of the female or increased aggression and sexual behavior in the neutered male. If you have noticed any of these signs, you should bring your ferret to your veterinarian for a physical examination.
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Q: My conure laid an egg. Should I leave it in the enclosure and provide nesting material, or should I remove the egg?
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A: This questions provides an excellent segue way into another common problem in pet birds. Chronic egg laying is particularly prevalent in hand raised hens. The hens may continuously lay eggs throughout their lives without problems, but only if they are on a proper diet which is complete and balanced. This is often not the case in pet birds. Furthermore, the physiologic demands placed upon a laying hen may ultimately compromise her health. These demands often lead to egg-binding or egg peritonitis, each of which are potentially life threatening.
There are some behavioral modification techniques that MAY help in minimizing egg production. Removing eggs may or may not exacerbate the problem. However, I recommend removing eggs as laid and stopping all external stimulation. Remove any nest boxes or materials, prevent other bird sights and sounds, avoid person sexual stimulation via allogrooming, and reduce light.
It is important to remember that each bird is an individual, and may respond differently to different environmental conditions. If these methods prove unsuccessful, contact your veterinarian to discuss other options, as well as to have your bird examined to assess overall health.
| Q: When does my bird need to see a veterinarian? |
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Any time your bird is showing ANY sign of illness, you should contact an avian veterinarian immediately. Some of the signs to watch for include open-mouthed breathing, fluffed feathers, dull mentation, sitting at the bottom of the cage, or seizures (this list is not all inclusive, if you have any questions about the state of your bird, call a veterinarian immediately). As stated above, birds do very well hiding illness. An obvious sign of illness is an obvious sign of a very sick bird.
Ideally, your bird should be seen by a veterinarian at least once per year. At that time, it may be recommended that fecal testing and complete blood work be performed. The reason for this is that birds do a very good job at hiding illness. So good, in fact, that by the time any obvious signs of illness are noted it is often very late in the disease process. With yearly diagnostic screening, we are often able to identify underlying problems and address them before they become serious. |
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