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Posted by BabyHerp on March 03, 2001 at 15:19:19:
In Reply to: What are the signs of Dry gangreen?? Tail problem msg posted by Christy on March 02, 2001 at 18:33:00:
No pic that I know of...but Ive kept my amputated igs tail tip in a little jar on top of his cage..lolol ...what seemed like overnight after injured at VETS OFFICE about 5 days previously tip darkens shrivels looks like a dried up piece of twig. If not amputated CORRECTLY it always comes back affecting any new and unaffected growth!
With iguana tails you MUST cut into the healthy tissue because with dry gangrene the infection can go systemic/ reoccur if all the infected/affected tail rot is not removed. ******you want to cut 3/4 to 1 inch INTO the healthy part of the tail...before the start of the dry rot. Im only advocating at home tail TIP amputation (cartilage) and not the more skeletal part of an iguana tail which begins from vent to 2/3 down the tail. If you are not sure how far up to cut, or whether this is indeed dry gangrene, tail rot...please seek veterinarian advice.
Must have the following items ready to go!
1)Betadine or povidone-iodine (generic name and cheaper sold as hospital antiseptic major drug stores)
2) A blood coagulant: cornstarch (get it from your grocers) or Kwikstop or other styptic powder (about $9.00 get it at Pet supply stores- bird related section) Place a small amount in a small plastic container or soda bottle top
3)An antibiotic ointment: polysporin, neosporin, bacitracin or any tri/antibiotic ointment
4)Sterile SHARP scissors, knife, exacto knife, dog toenail clipper (a round guard with a curved razor blade put tail inside the round guard ..squeeze the handle to cut...HIGHLY recommend them for tail tip amputations!)
****to sterilize run the blade under the stove fire for a few minutes or in boiling water for 30 minutes
Possible to do this while iguana is laying on basking log. Late evening , early am best times as igs are less active at those times.
Apply the betadine around the part of the tail you are going to cut. Using your sterilized instrument cut 3/4 to 1 inch into the healthy tissue quickly. Your Iguana will more than likely not even react YOU MUST BE QUICK...cut it and immediately place the healthy stump in the small container of cornstarch or Kwikstop.
There will be a MINIMUM amount of blood...maybe a few droplets depending on how far up you have to cut. That is why you have to have the cornstarch/kwikstop ready to go. Dip the amputated tail tip in the cornstarch. It will stop bleeding quickly . Put the antibiotic ointment on it as soon as possible and every am and every night for about a week. Your ig may bump the stump against something moving around that may cause it to start bleeding again...repeat with the cornstarch or Kwikstop and reapply the anti/b ointment. A scab will form in a few days. and will stay there until the new growth begins.
In a couple of months your iguana will start to regenerate his tail back...some take longer than others depending on their age. My male is almost 6 yrs old...I amputated 4 inches of his tail the end of May 99....has grown back all 4 inches of it thus far. Expect discolored regeneration...the scales may not quite sit uniform to the other scales and may be black or brown with no banding...but for the most part infection free and regrowing in no time. No more worrying until the next time it decides to whack its tail a good one!
