Why does my iguana keep having rectal prolapse despite vet care?

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.

When I see animals with rectal prolapses I am always suspicious that they may have intestinal parasites. I would recommend a fecal exam. I also get concerned that they may not be eating an appropriate diet or have enough water. This is a great resource for diet and husbandry recommendations: www.anapsid.org. There are many types of tortoises listed on the website. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for reaching out about Gypsy. This probably required the attention of a veterinarian, the sooner the better. Prolapses from the cloaca are often intestinal or reproductive (hemipenes in males). Either prolapse needs to be kept moist until a veterinary visit can be made, in an attempt to keep the tissue viable. Straining to defecate is usually the reason for either, but intestinal infections, parasites, foreign bodies are a few of the more common causes. Good luck.

A prolapse in a bearded dragon should be considered an emergency. Max needs to be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. Severe prolapses may require surgical correction. The underlying cause (impaction, parasites, etc.) must also be diagnosed and treated to prevent recurrence. In the meantime, keep him on moist, clean paper towels. Make a paste with table sugar and water. apply it to the vent for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with sterile saline and apply a sterile lubricant until you can get Max to your vet.

Coprophagy is rare in reptiles but it has been observed. It is unknown why they do it. Reasons range from hormonal changes to aggression or simple boredom/curiosity. It is typically a self limiting behavior that may last days or weeks. If she is eating a balanced diet and is behaving normally otherwise, then a vet visit is likely not necessary. Try to clean up her stool as soon as you can to prevent the behavior. Monitor for lethargy, loose droppings or a decrease in appetite. These symptoms would warrant an exam with your herp veterinarian.

This is a partial rectal prolapse or intussuseption (less likely). These two conditions can be usually told apart by doing rectal examination. I understand that your vet did rectal examination and diagnosed partial rectal prolapse. The alternative treatment for rectal prolapse is a minor surgery, when we put the butt back in place and we place a suture around the butt to make sure the rectum doesn't prolapse again. In Mia's case that sounds like the best treatment option to make sure the rectum does not prolapse again.

Thanks for reaching out regarding Redd and including pictures. It does appear as his abdomen is distended. Are there possibilities he ingested something that could be obstructing his intestinal tract? Providing a shallow warm water soak for 5-10 minutes might stimulate defecation. Intestinal parasites or bacterial infections might also cause distention. If Redd continues to eat, you have some time to monitor things, but if he stops eating, becomes painful, or the distention increases, seek a reptile veterinarian sooner than later. Good luck.