Veterinarian Emergency ServicesReptiles and specifically lizards are one of the types of animals that we often get calls on working in veterinarian emergency services. Iguanas are certainly one of the most popular lizards to be kept as pets (probably the most popular). There are a multitude of online resources available to iguana owners or potential owners.
Iguanas are one of the more recent "fad" pets, becoming readily available in many pet stores, often at very low prices. These are young iguanas that don't seem to be too difficult to care for, a myth often perpetuated by retailers hoping to sell them. Of course, they are very cute too! But, as with all reptiles, iguanas have fairly strict feeding and housing requirements.
And they grow, often very large (if they survive) and they can be difficult to tame and become aggressive. This is not to say that iguanas cannot make good pets - but they need the proper care right from the start, and owners need to have the right expectations. Also, it has been found that many reptiles carry Salmonella, meaning it is present in the digestive tract without causing disease. In veterinarian emergency services we try to tell people that following common sense hygiene practices when handling iguanas should prevent problems, but if there are young children, pregnant women, immuno compromised people or elderly persons in contact with the iguana, extra care will have to be taken to prevent Salmonella infections, or perhaps a reptile isn't the right pet for your household. |
