Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i recently adopted an iguana(got it saturday) and when i got him he could not climb well at all but he made it up his ramp and onto his basking shelf. while i was watching tv i heard a thunk and i looked over and he was on the floor on his back. he fell off of his shelf which is 5 feet up and landed on his back. when i saw he couldnt climb i thought he had MBD so i am going bring him to the vet. but now he goes in circles alot when i put him down and i dont know what is causing it. could it be brain damage? if so how could i have the vet check for it? and can they do anything for him or am i going to lose my recently adopted iguana if it is brain damage?

thanks for any help

Mike D
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nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism or renal secondary hyperparathyroidism are good possabilitys here. Ca is very improtent in alot of body functions including muscle and nevous control so this cause the neuropathie you are seeing or it could be a neurologic inf. or truma I would take him to a vet and have radiographs, CBC, and blood chemistries performed at least.

i have one last question if he had some sort of neurological damage would that impare his climbing ablity at all? because he can still climb good and he only goes in circles some times.
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1.0.0 water dragon
0.0.1 mali uromastyx
0.1.0 painted turtle
0.0.1 common snapping turtle

then the ussual
2 dogs
6 cats
misc fish
hermit crabs
rat
misc. fish

My Email

ITS NOT ABOUT YOU DIEING FOR YOUR COUNTRY, ITS ABOUT MAKING YOUR ENEMY DIE FOR HIS.

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

You are asking a short question that requires a long answer. This animal's problem is complicated. I have no doubt that it is in an uncomfortable state and it requires immediate veterinary care.
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
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"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
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As previously stated, this could be a neurological condition possibly caused by physical (head/spinal) trauma. Also, if the iguana is only going in one direction when it goes in circles, it may also be an inner-ear infection. In either case, you should get the iguana to a vet promptly. Goodluck.