Is there any benefit to supplementing with a Probiotic on a ROUTINE basis for otherwise healthy, salmonella negative iguanas?

I can see the use of Probiotics to crowd out salmonella, or to increase gut flora after use of antibiotics. However, what if the iguana is healthy and has good gut flora and is eating/pooping normally? Is there benefit to adding probiotics to his food?

I think that the increased gut bacteria from supplementation may increase amount of food digested and thus increase nutrient absorbtion and apetite (this is just a theory). However, I also think that in the long run, it may somehow make the iguana dependant on the probiotic supplement and perhaps reduce his ability to regulate normal levels of gut flora without the supplement (i.e., the supplement used threw the internal balances out of whack).

Please advise.

Hello,

To the best of my knowledge, probiotics are completely safe to use on healthy animals. The regular use will continuely flush the system of the reptile using them helping to keep them healthy.

As far as dependancy is concerned, I am not positive. Since the body already produces these microrganisms, I doubt that the probiotic would cease the bodies natural instinct to create them. I am basing this on the fact that you can't overdose your reptile with probiotics. The body flushes out the excess opposed to there being a toxic shock from overdosing.

If they will pass any "extra" probiotics, I believe the animal will produce their own regardless if it is also being offered. This is my theory of course. lol

__________________

Anthony judging from your question you are assuming that you have a "salmonella negative" iguana. If someone has told you that the iguana positively cannot have salmonella they were yanking your chain. There is no reliable test for this. Even if a salmonella test showed negative it only means that the bacteria wasn't being shed at the time of the test. Salmonella can still be present and you should always treat it that way.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Merlin, I understand your point here. I am NOT sure that he is salmonella positive, but my toying with the idea of adding probiotics is motivated by increasing the health and growth rate of the lizard, not my concern for salmonella. Thus I stated "abstracting from salmonella" because I didn't want all the replies to be about salmonella. LOL! I know you can't overdose on probiotics, but I was thinking if you feed him probiotics year after year, perhaps his natural ability would become dependant one them somewhat. Above Rich mentioned this is unlikely.
If so, what are the benefits of adding probiotics? Will it increase absorbtion of food eaten? Or just keep him "flushed" as you say and elimate wastes properly?

The use of probiotics on a regular maintenance schedule (a dusting once a week) will keep the bad bacteria at bay, increase the appetite and make the digestive system more efficient.

All in all, a good supplment to your iguanas diet!

__________________
Regards,
Dominick
_____________________________________________
"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

Dominick, how much would you suggest putting on the food once a week? Just a small pinch? I got the Nutribac df today.

I never understood "dusting", I always just prepare the salad, and then sprinkle a pinch of whatever supplement on top.

I'm currently giving calcium daily, and a small pinch of centrum three times a week.

Calcium plus centrum sounds like you are over doing it. Once you start with powder suppliments like these it becomes easy to over suppliment.

For the nutribac df, with my adult male ig I dust one full dinner plate salad once a week. Probably a 1/4 teaspoon though I dust/pour right from the bottle and don't bother to measure it. When I started to use this product Dominick quoted me a dose of 1/6th of a teaspoon but you will never find this measure size -- this would translate to a very heavy pinch probably closer to two.

This may help give a better idea of what I do:
When nutribac contacts water it nearly instantly dissolves into the water. With the wet greens and salad I sprinkle it light enough that it is all dissolved nearly instantly on contact. I don't like to see the white powder sit there for more than about a second.

__________________
~ Mark

Are you sure I am overdoing the calcium and centrum?

I have read on more than 2 or 3 websites that for juvenile igs calcium should be supplemented daily and vitamins/minerals 4 - 5 times a week.

Yes Anthony you are overdoing it. And too much supplementation is as bad or worse than none. In fact some vitamins, "A" for instance, will build up in the iguana's body and can reach toxic levels. If you feed a good varied diet supplementation is not necessary unless dealing with an iguana that is breeding and needs the extra boost. If you wish to supplement I would put the vitamin and calcium in two different salt shakers and just give a dash of each on different days once a week.
The problem with websites is there are websites out there with badly outdated or just plain erronious information. Some of them have been up for years and have never changed. Any one can put up a website whether they have any idea what they are talking about or not. In fact you can still find sites that tell you to feed the iguana everything from bugs to pinky mice to dog food!

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Ok so I am putting too much but seriously juvenile iguanas that are growing fast do not need more calcium than adults? That part of the websites seem to make sense. Perhaps they are wrong in that it shouldn't be daily, but if an adult needs it once a week, I would presume juveniles would need it like twice?

By the way, I know there are sites out there that are really outdated, but I always thought that, while we don't agree with everything she says, that Melissa Kaplan IS a knowledgeable and reliable source for MOST things?

In her website she is recommending the following:

less than 1 year old Vitamin - 4-5 times/week, Calcium 7 times per week.
1 - 2 years old - 3 - 4 times / week, Calcium 5 - 6 times / week
over 2 years old Vitamin 2 - 3 X a week , calcium 4 - 5 X a week.

I don't know if this is or is not too much, but I would think that a reliable source like her, would at least have the pattern right, in that the growing younglings need a little more than the adults?

Or should I never read any Melissa Kaplan again?