My iguana ate its poop. Is this normal or does she need a vet?

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine if she is "okay". Normal iguana feces is composed of a fecal pellet, which is brown to black, and the urates which are usually liquid but sometimes white as well. You can submit a sample of stool to diagnose intestinal parasites.If she is abnormally thin, this could be a cause. Have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Review her diet and environmental parameters with the vet to confirm proper care and feeding.

Thanks for reaching out about Green and including a photo. Causes of anorexia in young reptiles can range from improper husbandry/diet, intestinal parasites or infections, metabolic disorders and others. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and assist. Measure and correct temperature, humidity and UV exposure. A warm water soak can possibly stimulate defecation and water intake. A small syringe without a needle can be used to offer a vegetable baby food. Good luck.

Hello, Iguanas commonly eat things they should not, and this can lead to both surgical or medical emergencies. If the glove has ruptured her colon, she may be going into sepsis and need surgery. If her intestines are intact, this may require time, fluids, laxatives, or other treatments to assist with its passing. I'd recommend keeping her on the warm end of her temperature spectrum and soaking her twice a day, as warmth and hydration will be helpful for constipation. An x-ray would be needed to determine if an intestinal rupture has occurred. If she becomes lethargic and painful, please seek a consult with a vet. I hope this helps.

Without an image or physical exam, it can be difficult to determine exactly what is going on. It could be a bacterial or fungal infection, skin from shedding or trauma (burn, abrasion, etc). Ideally, Iggy should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can find one using the link below if necessary. http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661 In the meantime, confirm proper environmental parameters. To much humidity can promote bacterial or fungal overgrowth, too little humidity can lead to difficult sheds. Make sure Iggy cannot come into contact with either the heat lamp or UVB light source. Minor infection can be treated with daily cleanings using diluted Betadine or Chlorhexidine. Clean and sanitize the cage and use plain paper towels as substrate to make cleaning easier until the issue is resolved.

The bumps could be infection (bacterial or fungal). An iguana that won't eat should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian. Make sure the temp in the enclosure is warm enough. Low temps can affect appetite. Symptoms may indicate MBD (metabolic bone disease), but this should be diagnosed by the vet. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will treat or prevent mild dehydration and may help with shedding. If bloodwork shows low calcium, your vet can dispense or administer calcium supplementation.

Green stools could indicate an internal parasite infection. She may have had parasites all along or she may have contracted something from her prey. I personally don't think that stool looks all that abnormal/green. If I were you I would monitor her closely and if this type of stool continues then I would recommend you speak to a reptile veterinarian and have a fecal test done. For now, since she is eating and acting normally I would just monitor her closely. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Occasionally is normal. If it is frequent, it may indicate infection, irritation, parasites or constipation. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to definitively diagnose intestinal parasites. Look her over for any unusual redness, swelling or discharge. If you see anything suspicious, have her examined by your vet or an experienced herp vet.