Should Iguanas be added to The medical companion pet list?

What do you mean exactly by a medical companion pet? Are you referring to an Emotional Support Animal or a Service Animal?

An ESA is a pet that is allowed in no pet housing and on planes when their owner has a psychiatric disability and has proper documentation. The housing exemption has been extended to all disabled people and the elderly by the courts, but the same documentation is necessary.

A Service Animal is an animal that is trained to mitigate the disability of their disabled handler. Service animals are the only animals allowed in non pet friendly public places.

As of right now, there is not a restriction on what animals are or are not allowed in the US as ESAs or SAs. However, there is a law pending that limits service animals to dogs only. It's been pending for 18 mo, so who knows if or when it will become official.

The deal with SAs is this...The animal must DO something to mitigate the disability of the handler. Just making the person feel better by being there does not count. For example, service dogs can: alert to on coming medical episodes (blood sugar rise/drops, seizures, syncope, etc...), turn on, off lights, get medication, remind the handler to take medication, apply deep pressure therapy, guide, alert to noises, get people on command, body block, provide stability, pull a wheel chair, etc... (The list is endless.) I don't know anything about iguanas, but in reality, could they be trained to honestly mitigate a disability?

In theory, they would make great allergen-free pets for the medically impaired. However, in practice, it probably would not be a good idea. The reason is the same reason that they don't make good pets for most regular people. They have very specialized care requirements and need a lot of time and money, and most people are not aware of what they are getting into when they purchase one. For the right person, an iguana would make a great companion pet to help with depression following a medical diagnosis or similar situation. However, for the average person, I don't think they would be a wise choice.

What? I'm guessing you've never owned a full grown iguana. Then make terrible pets, they are really high maintenance and often nasty. They are the most often dumped, and hardest to place animal at the reptile rescue. They are only for people SUPER dedicated to keeping them, who can deal with the high level of care and small amount of pay off. They are not affectionate, AT ALL. They are not social animals, the most you could hope for is that tolerate you.

Not good companion animals.

to begin with, the 3 indexed don't seem to be veggie eaters, subsequent, an extra lizard is the bearded dragon, while they're toddlers they consume crickets and different feeder bugs and consume as a rule greens once they succeed in grownup measurement, they develop to approximately 15 inches or just a little bit higher, an extra is the mali uromaystix, a little bit smaller than the beardie, however each consume greens and require virtually the identical atmosphere to thrive.

IDK. Iguanas can require alot of care. They (like all reptiles) can carry diseases like Salmonella. They can be aggressive. Dont get me wrong, I LIKE iguanas. But what can they DO? They cant fetch eyeglasses or the phone. They cant snuggle someone. They cant catch a ball or play with string. They are really not cute. They just sit there, and eat bugs & things. If they go on the list, you might as well add all the other reptiles, frogs, walking sticks etc.

That was really interesting! However, many reptiles carry

salmonella bacteria, which is especially dangerous to

someone who is already sick in any way.

I just was given a turtle, and am amazed by how

they recognize you, and how attached I am to her.

Interesting idea though, may be excellent in the right situation

Heck yes!! SO should tarantula's, snakes, hybrids, bridges, cars, noses, and x rated movie stars.

yea , but they always seem like there jumpy and nervous.