Therapeutic Management of Sacro-coccygeal compression in a Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Senthilkumar. K, Ruchika Lakshmanan, Mohamed Shafiuazama, Arun Prasad.A
TTherapeutic Management of Sacro-coccygeal compression in a Green Iguana (
Iguana iguana ) Senthilkumar. K *, Ruchika Lakshmanan , Mohamed Shafiuazama and Arun Prasad.A ABSTRACT
Back ground:
In reptiles, especially during their early stage of life when reared under captive conditions, nutritional deficiencies are the most common problems reported in them affecting the spinal cord and the musculoskeletal system. More often green iguanas and snakes are very much vulnerable to it.
Case description:
A three and a half months old green iguana (
Iguana iguana) was brought to the Avian and Exotic Pet Unit, Madras Veterinary College with the history of dragging hind limbs and not passed faeces for the past four days.
Findings, treatment and outcome:
On examination of hind limbs, it was found that perching reflex was absent and the abdomen was distended. It was tentatively diagnosed for hind limb paralysis but the radiological examination revealed that the iguana was suffering from Sacro-coccygeal compression. The condition could have been aggravated due to poor nutritional management also . In order to reduce the pain, the iguana was treated with Meloxicam orally @ 0.1 mg/kg for a week. In addition, it was successfully treated orally with multivitamin syrup and calcium syrup simultaneously for a month. The iguana was subjected to infrared therapy of 3 minutes for a period of one week. The reptile showed complete recovery without dragging its hind limb after 2 months. Conclusion: It could be concluded that prompt intervention and dietary management may be necessary for musculo-skeletal disorders in Iguana. .
Key Words: - Green iguana, proliferative osteo arthropathy, Metabolic Bone Disease
Introduction
In reptiles, especially during their early stage of life when reared under captive conditions, nutritional deficiencies are the most common problems reported in them affecting the spinal cord and the musculoskeletal system. More often green iguanas and snakes are very much vulnerable to it. Improper husbandry and diet, traumatic injury, poor nutrition (calcium and vitamin D deficiency) are the main etiological factors associated with metabolic bone disease (Klaphake, 2010) and this, in turn, results in Proliferative Spinal Osteo Arthropathy ( Mayer and
Donnelly, 2013 ). This is a condition in which there is anomalous displacement or distortion of spinal column characterized by segment fusion of affected vertebrae by foci of irregular proliferative bone. ase Description
A three and half months old Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) was brought to Avian and Exotic Pet Unit of Madras Veterinary College with the history that the iguana jumped from a height and since then it is dragging its limbs, constipating for past four days and the abdomen is distended. On clinical examination, it was recorded that the perching reflex was absent in the hind limbs, there was pain on palpation of the spinal region and there was dragging of hind limbs. Tentatively, it was diagnosed for hind limb paralysis. The iguana was subjected to radiological examination (Zotti et al.,
Fig.1 Radiological examination of Iguana
Fig. 2: Sacro-coccygeal compression of vertebral bone (arrow) in the pelvic area (Ventral View).
Fig. 3 Sacro-coccygeal compression of vertebral bone (arrow) in the pelvic area (lateral View).
When the distended abdomen was massaged, the iguana passed faeces. In order to alleviate pain Tab. Meloxicam was given orally @0.1 mg/kg b.wt., ( James Carpenter, 2013) . Multivitamin syrup and calcium syrup was prescribed for a month , orally. It was subjected to infrared therapy of 3minutes for a period of a week (Fig.4). Proper nutrition, feeding, housing and management advice was given ( Divers & Mader, 2005 ) . There were no complications during the follow up period of 8 months and the iguana was healthy Fig.4 Infra-red therapy to the Iguana Discussion
The sacro-coccygeal compression in this iguana is mainly due to weak vertebral bones and also a juvenile, which will have friable bones (Zotti et al., et al.,
Mans and Braun, 2014).
The cages for the baby iguana should be of size of 40-gallon terrarium with a screen lid will accommodate a young iguana to prevent self-inflicted injuries.
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