I'm not a vet, but some things that pop into mind are abscess and wet gangrene, both of which require a vet visit. Because there is so much documentation of tail infections spreading upward and becoming systemic, I wouldn't hesitate about getting antibiotics from the doc.

In the meantime, soak the iguana in a Betadine bath twice daily for 15-20 minutes. Betadine is sold cheaply as Povidine solution in the pharmacy section. Get a container a put lukewarm water to chest level, then add enough Povidine/Betadine until it looks like weak tea. After the bath, gently dry the tail tip and add triple antibiotic cream to it. This won't stop a full infection, but it's better than nothing! Also, offer the ig some water before the bath so that it doesn't try to drink the Povidine solution.

Keeping the lizard at proper heat (95 degree basking spot) and the best UV possible with go a long way in overall healing. Getting natural sunlight as much as possible helps the skin, MBD, appetite, and overall health.

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• Help advice on iguana tail - mootish, Mon Mar 17 11:19:01 2008
• RE: Help advice on iguana tail - laurarfl, Tue Mar 18 07:05:25 2008