Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Guys,

I have just rescued a 4.5 foot male iguana. I got him on Friday night, upon closer inspection of him he has quite a few absesses on him.

I am taking him to the vets in 3 weeks time (i'm between jobs!)

He has one large one on his nose (see Pic below!) , one small one on his dewlap, and a couple of small ones on his toes(see Pic below!) , Obviously the vet is the best thing for him, my question is, where did these come from? and is there anything i can do for him before i get to the vets? i.e to prevent anymore?

I appreciate any input in advance!

Phil

Abscesses are just infected injuries that have filled with white blood cells (to create puss.) Unfortunately, reptile puss is much more solid than mammal puss due to different blood make up. When i was working at a petstore, i had to drain a few abscesses on a bts that had been fighting with another. The proceedure was fairly easy and required no anastetic, but it did require alot of patience and it healed (luckily) without antibiotics. I am not recommending you do this yourself unless you have proper training, but i am sure that the vet will show you how to do it. Most* abscesses already have a hole in them (the injury) where which one can drain the fluid. A hot compress can be used to soften the scab, and the pus can be squeezed out.then the opening and the pocket itself needs to be cleaned (there was a special solution i used, i think peroxide would work too). BE CAREFUL THOUGH! the bumps you see may not be abscess, but tumors or other growths. These should not be messed with at all unless under vet supervision.
-----
"i wasn't born with enough middle fingers"

1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 JCP-Milton
1.0 red blood python-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1.1 leos- Boji and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
1.4 ratties Rizzo, Bree, Blitzkreig, Raisin, and the Runt (R.I.P. Willard. )

You are lucky to heal an infection that way. Herps heal slowly. I had the vet get a puss ball out of Felix's nose. It healed nicely after that. See a vet for those abcesses.

Cindy