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Kismet had blood in her stool yesterday. We ran to the vet but he couldn't find anything. She had more blood in her stool this morning. I sent a picture to the vet's office. I'm really worried. I made a photobucket album in case anyone wants to look at the stool samples. I also included the xray from April and from yesterday if anyone wants to take a look. I know it's gross, but if you have an interest in medical stuff, the password is Kismet and the link is
http://photobucket.com/Kismetmedical

I'm sorry. That really sucks.

Did she eat anything out of the ordinary in the last couple of days? Did the vet test an actual stool sample or does he just have pictures?

I rushed yesterday's stool sample over right away. He did a full fecal on it. Today's looked worse so I sent him the pictures.

The vet just called back with a diagnosis: a bacterial infection, probably in her oviduct. He's putting her on two hardcore injectable antibiotics.

Awwww, that's awful. Well, glad you found out what the problem was. It could have been alot worse.

I hope she will pull through. Cyclura are tough so maybe she'll be fine.

Someone on the advanced iguana list told me I need to be concerned about the possibility that her eggs decomposed without reabsorbing.... Kismet really is an endless worry.

are those eggs in the second xray? If so they look very low in her body! Female iguanas always need a nest box this time of the year. AND, provide a good one with moist dirt with a heat pad under one end. I have seen people post pictures of them laying in a dog kennel or some other non natural place. That is not normal and the female is most likely holding the eggs until she can't anymore and then dumping them. Just because they lay in those situations doesn't mean it is good for them. Also, during breeding season, a little blood in the stools of both sex's is normal. My males always have a little blood during breeding season. That looks like a little to much from those pictures.

There are eggs in the xray from April but we didn't really see eggs in the xray from yesterday. Are you seeing eggs in both?

Kismet has always had access to a next box but has never used one.The last time she laid a clutch she laid the last egg in my lap.

I'm sorry to hear that! My condolences!

Sorry Susan: I am sure she will get better soon with the antibiotic treatment. I am not an expert in this department and I never had any experience with anything like this so I am just going to say...get well soon Kismet!!!!

Yesterday we were at vet for the third day in a row. Kismet passed egg yolk, which means we are dealing with an egg issue. Now we have to decide whether or not to
(1) continue on the antibiotics and hope for the best. Dr. White said he actually has seen some broken egg issues resolve themselves in otherwise healthy iguanas as long as everything passes through the oviduct with no leakage. He said there is a fairly good chance that she will resolve this on her own and if she wasn't such a special family pet, that would be his recommendation.
(2) have the vet do a risky exploratory/corrective surgery right away and possibly clean out any infection. I don't want the surgery unless it is absolutely necessary so this factor's in to our decision. If it is a choice between the spay or her life, I'll take the spay.
(3) have an ultrasound done to see if the surgery is absolutely necessary. We found a vet who will do the ultrasound for $300 (our vet does not have an ultrasound machine). Since it is not invasive and it's possible we could avoid surgery we are thinking in this direction. But we also could be looking at having the ultrasound show that she needs the surgery and then we are dealing with the cost of surgery on top of the cost of the ultrasound.
Right now she is alert, fairly active, and still strong. Her bone density is excellent and she has been in excellent health except for this issue. If I did not know Kismet so well, I wouldn't think she was sick. If we have to do surgery, I want to do it while she is still strong, but I am really scared of the anesthesia because I know that there is always a chance she could go under and not wake up. I know that there are various methods that make it safer and our vet has explained what he will do. He's even said he will do the surgery after the office closes for the evening, rather than during the regular surgery hours to make sure he can spend an unlimited amount of time with her.

We had an ultrasound yesterday - no signs of peritonitis but we are still waiting for the full report. It looks like she is just passing unshelled eggs, but we'll need to wait for the full report.

Did vet check her blood levels? I am curious why she would pass unshelled eggs instead of reabsorbing them? Calcium level to low to properly nest?