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My 3yr old iguana has developed some odd blisters. The first two appeared late last night (they were not there when I fed him in the morning) and as of now (I've arrived home from work) there are more of them. See the picture.

Last night, as soon as I noticed the blisters, I carefully bathed him and put triple antibiotic ointment on them. He did not act as though he was in pain at all (this is an iguana that would take your hand off if he didn't want you touching him).

Yes, I've called the vet, but I'm wondering: He just moved into a new cage last Thursday. Could something in the new enclosure be causing this? He has PVC and burlap in his enclosure for the first time. Also, his old cage was a Reptarium, the new one is custom built, and metal. The basking area he spends most of his time in was awfully hot when I just measured it (96 degrees). He also escaped from his old cage the day we moved him into the new enclosure and possible could have been injured by a falling item.

He has not changed his eating habits at all. EXCEPT that over the course of about 1 week prior to the move to the new enclosure, he broke out of his Reptarium about 3 times and ate cat food.

The picture shows the blisters on his side toward the top and an old, black burn scar at the bottom. He escaped from the Reptarium and leaned on one of his lights

Any suggestions until he goes to the vet (Friday)?

From what i have read, that could be early signs of shedding or the aftermark of a recent thermal burn. I noticed before my iguana started his shedding he got a couple of those but they disappeared when he shedded the rest of the dead skin away. now for thermal burns, they will blister and get crusty after a period of time. but that doesnt even look like a thermal burn.
i doubt its even those 2 things.

Beyond that, Im stumped.

I'm stumped, too. I moved up the vet appointment to tomorrow morning...I just don't like the way it looks, and how suddenly it came on...

Previous to shedding, lizards exude "parting fluid" under the old skin so it can shough off. In a dry environment the fluid dries out and the old shed sticks down. That's one theory.

Another is thermal burns, but as the other person says, after a period of time the skin gets stiff in the burn area.

A third possibility is generalized infection, or sepsis. My very good herp vet told me that when sepsis occurs, it can appear as multiple skin blister or pustules. If your ig is not depressed looking, then this is unlikely.

Fourthly, it's something I don't know about.

Roger

http://www.iguana-news.com/preart.html

This website will help a great deal. Print it out and show to ur vet in case he is not specialized in reptiles.

Good luck!

-IJ

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>>Last night, as soon as I noticed the blisters, I carefully bathed him and put triple antibiotic ointment on them. >>

If it's a bacterial infection the antibiotic will help.
If it's a fungal infection, which is what it looks like to me, an over the counter antifungal cream will work.

Good luck with your vet visit.
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Sheryl

Touch passion when it comes your way, it's hard enough to find as it is. Don't walk away when it calls you by name.
B 5

Happily enslaved to Green Iguana Master G'Kar
~~24 7~~

Thanks.
The vet (who was wonderful) said it's Vascular Dermatitis. She's sent a sample of the fluid in one of the blisters out to be cultured, but said the skin underneath (she broke one open and examined it) looks fine, so it's just a skin thing. Iggy will be treated with betadine soaks and silvadene ointment.

Still don't know what caused it, though, as all the husbandry and temps checked out fine. My husband and I are washing down the inside of the cage and checking all of the new furnishings for strange smells, etc. However, she said the stress of moving to the new cage may have brought it on.

He had the first of the silvadene on one of the burst blisters this morning, and it already looks better.

Ahhhh.......glad your baby is on his way to recovery
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Sheryl

Touch passion when it comes your way, it's hard enough to find as it is. Don't walk away when it calls you by name.
B 5

Happily enslaved to Green Iguana Master G'Kar
~~24 7~~