Iguana with swollen toes!

[RhiannonJade]

hi everyone.

sorry this isn't a beardies question but an iguana question and I didn't know who else to ask...

my iguana has three swollen toes, two on one front foot and one on the other front foot. maybe she fell on them? it seems suspicious tho so I thought I would ask in case it's something else...

 

[RhiannonJade]

here's the other foot. middle finger

 

[AHBD]

What's her set up like ? Pics ? How long have you had her ? It looks like some type of infection .

 

[Rampagingraptor]

I thought that looked like a really weird Beardie foot with gigantic scales until I read the post. lol.
Something does appear to be up with that middle toe for sure. Is he sensitive about any of his toes? How long ago did this appear? Not really experienced with iguanas at all, just general health questions that might help others.
Also, there is a subforum for other lizards. The mods will move this post there.

 

[RhiannonJade]

thanks for the replies!!

she was a rescue, I have had her for about two years.

her toes weren't like this a couple of days ago for sure.

she is in a customer tank with a humidifier. basking spot is about 95f amd cool side is in the 70sf. she has a tub of water to poop in and splash in.


I feed her leafy greens.

I'm not opposed to taking her to the vet, just thought I would post first...

also the second toe in the first pic is so swollen she can't bend the joint, I just checked.

 

[AHBD]

Pics of the enclosure would be helpful. Is it screen ? Because it may be that she's snagging her toes in the screen or maybe a vent.

 

[RhiannonJade]

it isn't a wire cage but here's a pic anyways

 

[RhiannonJade]

here's another pic of one of the toes, it's so awful it looks like the scales have come off I have no idea how this could have happened, not in her cage for sure. and I doubt when she's walking around the house... but they look like they are getting infected...

probably should go to the vet

 

[AHBD]

Nice big cage . Iguanas grow so large, it's hard to find/build large enough housing for them. Anyway, I think her toes may be getting caught somewhere, maybe in the area on the bottom left of the tank ? What is the grey looking thing on the floor, and is there a place that she could get her toes caught in there ? For her toes you can get some Betadine, dilute it with water until it looks like iced tea and soak her toes in it. You might try putting Neosporin or raw honey on after her toes are dry. And by the way, iguanas love to climb, you should have a few large branches criss crossing in there, it would increase the space that she can use and reduce stress.

 

[RhiannonJade]

thanks! my friend who found her built th cage for me. the doors are on the side and slide upwards so that grey thing is just to prop the door open when I am cleaning or she wants out. it's not usually there.

I can't imagine where she could be getting her toes stuck though I guess I'll have to watch her really close for a while..

I'll definitely try the betadine and polisporin thanks for the advice.

 

[AHBD]

It may be that while she's roaming outside of her tank that some carpet fibers or hair is getting wrapped around her toes and cutting off circulation. Is her basking perch carpeted ? If so, it should be replaced with branches, carpet causes problems for reptiles. If they get any worse , do you have a qualified vet to see her ?

 

[RhiannonJade]

Oh I didn't know that about the carpet fibers!! her basking spot is a cat scratching post, I thought it would be nice and soft for her... do you think that's what's causing it???

I feel bad now

 

[AHBD]

It's a possibility. These reptiles do not need hammocks, towels + carpet, their claws are designed for climbing branches , rocks and rough surfaces. Don't blame yourself, but replace it ASAP. Branches are natural for them, not carpet.