I have recently taken on sort of a rescue that I am currently rehabilitaing. Mostly, poor diet has been the issue. Things I know that were fed regularly were tofu, iceburg salad blends (with carrot and cabbage), yellow squash, zuccini, cheese, and yogurt.
I was really hesitant to take this one because the owner talked about his severe aggression, that he loved to bite and whip. While trying to handle him at the owner's house, he was a bit nasty and wanted nothing but to get away. Temperatures were also low because of being kept by an open window almost constantly with a heat rock as its primary heat source. However, once I got him home and cranked up the heat he seemed to settle down quite nicely. I fed him a good lunch of good greens and acorn squash, then tried to take him out later. Poof, instant baby. He readily solicits my attention, loves to be stroked, and is highly exploratory.
Today was wierd though. I've never seen an iggy do this. He got all excited wanting attention, so I opened up the cage and started to stroke his back. He rapidly started bobbing his head, started wiggling his back in a snake-like motion, then made this growling kind of a burp noise and passed gas. I didn't realize they could do that. So, I thought I'd make a note of it here.
Could this be part of him adjusting to the new diet? Today's lunch was mustard greens, parsnip, acorn squash and maybe a tablespoon of kiwi. He primarily ate the greens, picking around the fruit. I have yet to get him to eat any fruit really. His breakfast was mustard greens with a little kale, papaya with about a tablespoon of baby applesauce, more of the squash. He loves to eat so a make him a couple meals a day. He'll eat about 4 cups of greens in a day. I don't think anything I'm feeding him would cause gas unless his system is just not used to it.
Temps are ranging from the 70-90s. So, I don't think that's a problem.
~Laura~
