Egg binding is a condition in which the iguana is unable to expel eggs from the reproductive tract. It only occurs in females who have reached sexual maturity. This condition is extremely serious and can prove to be fatal in mere days. So, what exactly causes it?
Causes
There are many, many different causes of egg binding in iguanas. It can occur if the female's system produced large or malformed eggs. Some are born with an anatomical defect that prevents them from passing eggs. If you don't provide them with a proper nesting site, some females will procrastinate until the eggs are too large to pass. Other common causes include obesity, lack of calcium, malnutrition, and kidney disease.
Symptoms
Pregnant iguanas can have swollen abdomens. However, this is also a common symptom of egg binding. You will also notice that your iguana is much less active and appears to be depressed. Although they will keep straining to lay eggs, they won't be able to.
Diagnosis
Although a physical exam will likely be performed, it is very difficult for veterinarians to determine if iguanas are egg-bound or just pregnant by this method alone. It's necessary to at least perform an x-ray to make a definitive diagnosis. An x-ray or ultrasound will help determine if there are any eggs present and their location.
Treatment
The veterinarian will have multiple options when treating egg binding in iguanas. If he is experienced enough, he may elect to lubricate the cloaca and gently try to coax the egg out. This is risky because it's usually fatal if the eggs breaks open inside the female. Surgery is a more common option. During surgery to remove the eggs, the entire reproductive tract may be removed to prevent the problem from happening again.
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