Ok...posted awhile back...Lizzie's tail starting turning a funny color (already a cut off tail when I rescued her from Humane Society just over a year ago). I took her to the vet for a good check up...he said to watch the tail...but there was a little red spot that he was worried about. Well that little spot opened up into a hole which I cleaned and put antibacterial gel on for awhile...now the last 3 inches of her tail is totally dead and black...and there are a few more red spots showing (going up tail). I took her in Friday. He said she has an infection down there...so he gave her a Baytrin (I think that is right) shot in her leg, and told me I have to get these twice a week for a few weeks to see if it helps. He said it may not. He also said we can amputate her tail, but unfortunately there is a funny looking spot starting too close to her body, so he doesnt think he can amputate that high up. I remember reading that some people said the antibiotic shots can hurt more than help...looks like this is going to be an expensive treatment, and I do not mind if I know there is success out there with it...can anyone respond that had any experience like this...Iguana Joe...I'd like your advice!
Her health otherwise is fine..she eats, and moves around...the only other thing she does that I dont like is when she has a bowel movement a lot of brownish liquid also comes out...not liquidy like water, but a little on the thicker side.
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Lizzie's necrotic tail
Replies (1)
Oh boy, I'm no expert in iguana-med, but I'll give my best...
When necrosis starts to happen on a tail, it is best to have the necrotic part amputated right away, and not too close to the necrosis, since there may be enough bacteria/infection to continue to spread. The more you wait, the more up-tail it will spread.
How close to the body are the red spots? If possible, I would have it amputated to prevent further spreading.
From Melissa Kaplan:
The tail should be dealt with, usually by amputation, long before it gets to the point of dying and becoming brittle.
The dead, brittle section may be knocked off when the iguana whips its tail against something. Waiting for detachment to happen on its own, however is not a good idea.. If not amputated, it may continue to spread farther up the tail. This may happen rapidly, in a matter of days or weeks, or slowly, over the course of several months.
When caught in time while it is still near the end of the tail, the amputation is very quickly done. There is very little bleeding and stitches are rarely required. Amputations done in the fleshier parts of the tail may have the skin stitched over the stump and the iguana started on systemic antibiotics. This will help reduce infection. It will not interfere with tail regeneration. Needless to say, amputations are best done by a reptile vet under sterile conditions.
The tail must be severed in the healthy tissue. If the cut is made in the dead tissue or close to the demarcation between healthy and dead tissue, too often there is enough bacteria left in the end of the stump to continue the gangrenous process. This results in more of the tail dying and further amputations.
The brownish soft feces may be due to stress, infection, etc. A stool sample of it checked by a vet can tell.
Without a picture of it, this is the best I can do.
Good luck,
-IJ
