THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MIAMI — There’s a new danger for dogs in South Florida: iguanas killed by the recent cold snap.

The carcasses litter some neighborhoods, and have been deadly for some dogs. They seem to be contracting botulism, an infection causes paralysis.

Veterinarians at first couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The disease is typically so rare they could go decades without seeing it.

A Broward veterinary neurologist first sounded alarm in mass e-mail to colleagues late last month. Dr. Brian Roberts said several dogs came in with paralyzed hindquarters, and he couldn’t diagnose them. The only thing they had in common was contact with dead iguanas.

Though botulism seems to be the problem, vets say it’s nearly impossible to say for sure. Roberts has sent tissue samples to the state lab for analysis.