Iguana nail trimming question

[catzeye21138]

I have recently discovered the meaning behind 'iguana arms'. Absolutely covered in scratches. Looks like I got into a fight with a cat. Does anyone have a diagram showing how far up the nail is safe to trim? I can't see the blood vessels in this animal's nails, so I'm concerned about hitting one.


Now for the iguana's story:

This iguana came to us in terrible shape. A bit on the thin side, but not skinny. Looked like it's head had been in a predator's mouth. Scabs were all over it's head, eye sunken and swollen shut. We weren't sure if it even had an eye for the first week, but as it turns out it does! It seems to still work, but I'm thinking a possible broken orbital? The eyeball is a little lower than where it should be. Just have been using vit. A eyedrops to keep it moist, and it appears to have helped a ton.

I was concerned about mouth rot at first, but whatever it was cleared up after that first week. It also has a small wound on it's face that I've been treating with vetericyn and it seems to have stopped getting worse, a few days yet to tell if it's getting better. That appeared since it came to us, and we don't know where it came from.

Other than that it's eating like a pig, and has made significant gains. A little cage aggressive, but will tolerate most anything for food. It's downright cuddly once out of the terrarium. Loves it's daily mistings. "Little" thing is a trooper.

[MootWorm]

I'm assuming it's an older iguana? It's really hard to see the quick the older they are. Unless anyone has some other ideas, you'll have to do it just as you would any other animal with dark nails: a little bit at a time. I'm not sure how his temperament is, but in any case, I'd restrain him in a towel and get him in as bright a light as you can manage. If they're really gnarly, you can usually tell where the live part of the nail is. There should be a little ridge if you look from below the nail. Trim to just in front of that point. Also, keep a styptic pen or powder on hand in case you go too deep. If he's still a young iggy, you may need to trim every 3 weeks or so, or whenever you notice they're growing.

[catzeye21138]

He's what I would consider a teenager. Takes two hands to get all the way around his middle, and while sitting on my shoulder his tail is past my belt. I'm unsure about how fast they grow, though. We only have one other iguana and it's been a full adult since she came here.

The ridge is something I'm familiar with in other animals, so thanks for letting me know iggies have them too. I'll look out for them and take a crack at it today.

[dgring]

[IMG]<a href="http://s812.photobucket.com/user/dgring123/media/igclaw_zpsff3b9312.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz46/dgring123/igclaw_zpsff3b9312.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo igclaw_zpsff3b9312.jpg"/></a>[/IMG]
Hope this helps

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Wrong link,
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Hope THIS helps.

[catzeye21138]

Thanks for the diagram. I got 6 nails cut before s/he had enough, so progress! Also the scabby bit on her lip fell off today. It looks a little tender still, but immensely better than it has looked for the past few days! I have hope for her yet. Still concerned about the eye, though. If I can ever figure out how to get pictures off of my dumb phone I will post some.