Avocado is counted as one of the healthy food items which contains many nutrients and for the weight loss regime, avocado is one of the superfoods. But you should not try the food items that are present in your diet as most of the items may be counted as harmful for your pets. An iguana cannot eat any and every vegetable and fruit. Among them, avocado is a prohibited item.
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What are the nutrients present in an avocado?
Avocado has been introduced to the list of necessary food items for humans as it is rich in many important nutrients.
Folate, magnesium, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic, and vitamin C are some of the vital nutrients that we can get by consuming avocado. For humans, one avocado a day keeps us healthy. It has been invented in the last two decades that avocado contains so many nutrients, and thus it has been put on the diet chart of each and every fitness freak.
What happens when an avocado is taken every day?
As we have already found that avocado is a great source of vitamin B complex and vitamin C, it will reduce the chance of falling sick from the cold and also will boost immunity altogether. Omega-3 fatty acid, one of the helpful fatty acids, keeps the blood circulation as well as the condition of the heart well.
Is avocado counted as a superfood?
Watercress is called the best superfood that is listed under the vegetables and fruits. Avocado also takes its position in the list of superfoods, as it contains all the goodness that anyone can eat and it will protect them from various health issues.
Why avocado cannot be fed to iguana?
Avocado contains so much better but it contains oxalic acid which is poisonous to the iguana. Oxalic acid works in a way that binds the calcium in the body of iguana. Calcium is another important mineral that, if bound, will not be used by the creature, and thus will suffer from the lack of calcium. This is not a simple problem as it can lead to bone density issues and thus will have a fragile bone structure in the iguana.
What is oxalic acid?
This is a natural ingredient available in much food, especially fruits. When this acid gets combined with other minerals like calcium, sodium, iron, and potassium, then it turns to a soluble salt and comes to know as oxalate.
This oxalate works to bind the useful nutrients of the body of the consumer and thus these nutrients to become inaccessible for physiological work. As these crystals of oxalate are insoluble, they do not get flushed out easily.
How harmful is oxalic acid for an iguana?
Oxalic acid is really harmful to the iguana and it even can be lethal to this. Metabolic bone disease is a common ailment that is caused by the consumption of oxalic acid in iguanas.
If you are unsure that your iguana is suffering from metabolic bone disease or not then check for the movement of the iguana. if you see that it is moving with difficulty or moving much less than it used to, then you can be sure that it is suffering some pain while moving around. You should take your iguana to the vet and check if it is suffering from a bone density problem.
What foods are toxic to iguanas?
There are quite a few vegetables that are toxic to iguanas. The pet owner should know which ones are good for the pet iguana and which ones are not. There are a few vegetables that are not suited for the consumption of iguana like broccoli, turnip, lettuce, carrot, banana, swiss chard, cauliflower, etc. This list also contains avocado.
Which are the safe fruits for an iguana?
Apple, pear, banana, mango, peaches, tomato, guava, kiwi, dates, blueberries, and strawberries can be called safe fruits for your pet iguana. Though these fruits should not be offered to the iguana in a large portion, and only a small percentage of daily food should consist of fruits for iguana.
Does iguana hate aromatic plants?
Yes, iguanas do not prefer to stay close to aromatic plants or fruits. Especially any kind of lemons is on their hate list. Pentas and Cortons are some other plants that contain a strong smell and these plants should not be kept in the terrarium of iguana.
Conclusion:
The oxalic acid present in avocado is not at all a helpful item for the iguanas. So if you want to keep your iguana healthy and happy, feed it with the fruits, vegetables, and insects that are listed by the herp vet.
Only he or she knows the best foods to be fed to the iguana and how it can be kept in the best health. Do not try to experiment with the food items which you think are healthy and nutritious for you. Your body and the pet’s body do not work in the same process.
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