Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Each time my TREX ( 6 years old)rips out one of his claws the finger bleeds without stoping for more than 12 hours.Of course if he stands still the bleeding would stop much sooner but if he keeps moving the blood drops will continue dropping for 12 hours. One each 10 seconds.

Last year he almost bled to death because he lost 7 or 8 (i dont remember) claws at the same time. Two days ago he did that again.He ripped out one of his claws and the finger bled for 12 hours.Yes i put ice but it didnt work.When i arrive home from work his cage looked like i had cut his neck's artery!Blood all over the floor and inside the food and water bowls!

I dont think thats normal. I am sure none of my iguanas were like that! Even TREX was not like that, a bleeding machine, when he was younger!! What is going on? I dont give him spinash or cabbage or lettuce that are reach in vitamin K but i give him mustard greens, pumpkin and turnip greens that also have some amount of vitamin k.

I found a petshop that sells Quick Stop and ill apply it the next time he rips out a claw but meanwhile id like to know why TREX's bod refuses to clot. Any idea?Thanks

Flavia

About my iguana clot problem i found out that VITAMIN K is essential for blood clotting and to prevent hemorrhage.And it seems that VITAMIN K is essential for bone growth too.

BUT VITAMIN K is found mainly in broccoli, cabbage, spinash and cauli flower, vegetables that i dont give to TREX because ive been told that they are not good for iguanas.

So perhaps im provoking his clot problems by not giving him cabbage, broccoli, spinash and cauli flower.Perhaps those vegetables SHOULD be included in an iguana daily salads.

Just my 2 cents.

Flavia

I read also that lettuce is very rich in VITAMIN K which is ESSENTIAL for bone growth and for a perfect blood clotting. But i've been told that LETTUCE also is a BIG NO-NO for iguanas.

I admit im confused and that I dont know what to do!!!lol

Flavia

I have been told that even the "bad" foods may have some good nutrition and the "good" foods have bad things also. So I always use collards, turnips greens, and mustard. I will also use either watercress, excarole, or endive (rotate). Then I will use a so called "bad" green--spinach, kale, romaine, ect (rotate). I may add 1-2 more of the good greens. Each batch is different and I get some of the other vitamins/minerals this way. As Melissa Kaplan has said it is more than just Ca: P.
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Marie
Poyner Corner

Or, is there a supplement we could use that includes K?

I perfer to give my iguanas a balanced diet instead when ever possible. I supplement when my iguanas reduce eating or go anorexic. I use human supplements instead of reptile since human supplements are regulated. Centrum is the most complete. It does have Vitamin K. It also has trace vitamins/minerals that are missing in reptile supplements.
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Marie
Poyner Corner

I think Vitamin K is very important.I read a few INTERNET sites that state that the doctors have recently found out that VITAMIN K is one of the most important vitamins for the human health.It prevents osteoporosis (MBD in human beings) and hemorrhages, early aging and even cancer . As i said before VITAMIN K is found mainly in lettuce, spinash,broccoli, cauli flower and cabbage. But apparently too much VITAMIN K can be toxic so i prefer to give it naturally through the food.

Six years ago when i knew nothing about raising iguanas i bought a baby ig and raised him until he was 3 years old giving him lots of broccoli and chinese cabbage.Thats what he liked.

That guy became a beautiful and perfect 3 years old iguana, perhaps more healthy than TREX is now with his controled diet ( i mean no spinash, no cabbage, no lettuce, no broccoli, no cauli flower). I gave him away when i left Malaysia but he was just perfect!

As you said in your message variety is very important and "bad"food have indeed lots of "good" vitamins. From now on ill give TREX all the veggies and salads i find in the grocery shops without too much consideration about what "the books"say. If necessary ill complement with calcium.

I dont want my beautiful and friendly TREX to bleed to death next time he ripped out a nail!

Thats my 2 cents.

Of the foods that have vitamin K, which would be save to give my ig? And what quantities would be allowable and effective, if this is known. thanks

Well 2-3 or even 4-5 years is not long enough to know what long term health will be. There are many foods in the past that have produced very healthy "looking" iguanas for short term. But in the long run shorten their lives. They may have problems later in life. Iguanas should be living 20 years in captivity but we are extremely lucky if they make it to 15. Many look healthy and have no health problems but then start having problems when they get older.

Yes variety is important. But staples should still be the biggest majority of the diet. As mentioned I always use 3-5 staple greens plus a good green (if combined with staples). Then I rotate a small amount of one of the "occassional" and "rarely" greens. I don't give any one of them always. Just because the iguana may need a certain vitamin doesn't mean you should flood it's diet with it. My Dragon was anemic one time. The vet gave her a iron shot (derived from spinach). He said to maybe give a small amount of spinach maybe once a month. So I will occassionally give her spinach mixed with the staples. I have blood tests done each year so if there are any nutritional deficiencies I will be able to adjust the diet. So I don't recommend going against convention. I recommend adjusting the conventional diet.
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Marie
Poyner Corner

I was always told that the reason for excluding lettuce is because it is "empty" nutritially.It won't hurt them at all,as long as a balance of the more healthier items are a mainstay.Just don't use it as the main staple.Spinach is thought to be harmful in quantity because it contains oxalic(sp?)acid which causes formation of crystals in the kidneys.Carrots may supply some of the nutrient you lack,but remember to be wary of it's sugar content...not too much of a good thing.GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

p.s.Our 5 year old male eats a collard salad with carrots, melons,bannanas,apples,a small amount of cheddar cheese(he would eat nothing but cheese if we'd let him,but it's not really good for them)and some mushrooms.He will sometimes eat squash but it isn't his favorite.
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Lettuce is a no no because it is essentially just water. It is a no because your iguana doesn't really get any nutrients from them. My eats a lot of Cale, Mustard, and collards. (No lettuce and no spinach..it is a diaretic)

My iguana ripped out his front claws till they were bloody stumps last summer. He was stressed and going house on his new and much larger enclosure. I used Quick stop and Triple E (just in case of infections) Once he settled in he stopped tearing at his cage and it did clear up.

I'll admit, it is horrifing to see that much blood coming from your iguanas claws. Trust me I know! If you are worried and its not clearing up it should see a vet. I've heard of cauterizing the quick in the claw so it doesn't bleed. Blood loss is definately a concern but, infection is even greater.
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1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1 Blizard Leopard Gecko
1.1.1 Corn Snakes (2 Blood Red, 1 Albino)
1.1 Ball Python

Im not sure if lettuce is that bad.Apparently it has enough VITAMIN K to cure my iguana's bleeding problem, so i think from now on ill give him lettuce on a regular basis.

Open and read the link below and give me your opinion.Not bad, no?Perhaps we are not giving lettuce the credit it deserves!lol!

http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/lettuce_info.htm

Flavia

It sounds like hes ripping ALOT of claws out. You should have a look at your cageing to fix whatever problem there is thats causing him to lose 7 claws at the same time. It cant be a safe situation.
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- Mike Fourquet

CLOACA HERPS