Iggy lost her tail !!!

[Pythonian]

My iggy just lost her tail!!! what should i do????? :( :( :( :( i'm keeping the cage clean and putting neosporin on it tomorrow morning whent he stores reopen :( :( :( anything else ic an do????


Mike

[The_Omen]

You're doing great as it is!
I am assuming it is a complete tail off break.
If not, then amputation is needed.

Other than that, keeping the cage clean, paper or no substrate and keep neosporin on it.

No need for a vet unless it starts to become infected.

And the tail will grow back, but a lil uglier than it was.

[Samba]

Sounds like you're doing a good job taking care of her, but I think she should go to the vet JUST IN CASE. Remember, she relies on YOU to take the utmost care of her! Besides, reptiles develope infections slowly; if one did occur it could be more damaging if you waited, rather than having her seen right away. Just my two cents... =)

[marisa]

Wow I am so glad I haven't had this problem yet. Roxys tail would really be digusting if it came off. *L* a big 3 foot hunk of iguana tail. haha blech.

Everyones advice is good. Keep it CLEAN. Even if that means cleaning the cage out 3+ times per day. A vet trip couldn't hurt especially if it looks to be getting infected.

Marisa

[Pythonian]

why should i do that for her??? she is harmless now ;) ... no tail to lash me with *evil cackle* lol just kidding, after my blood python escapades i am in the hole a few hundred dollars with the only vet in a 3 hour driving radius that is good with reptiles... i read up on it a little and i've found out this isn't serious at all ... just keep it extra clean. so i'm gonna do that. I didn't put the neosporin on yet cause i heard u can't use the Neosporin + pain relife one, and thats all i have.. please respong as quickly as u can so i can use it. i'm checking this post like every 5 minutes LOL thanks guys, you all rock hard. btw... the iguana jumped when her tail came off and ran away i wanted so bad to go after her but i couldn't stop staring at the tail it was the most disgusting thing i've ever seen .. i ended up getting her back no problem but oh my god it like hypnotized me :(

Mike

[eyespy]

If you have some Betadine, cut it with water to a 50% solution and that will keep the stump clean and prevent infection. I've only ever seen one ig who got an infection due to tail loss in 15 years as a vet tech so the odds are terrific that your girl will do just fine.

Welcome to the stump club! My beloved iglet Amazon dropped her tail 8/9/02. I was devastated at the time but he is doing great and the regrown tail gives him a certain character.

<img src="http://www.thebeardedlady.org/images/zonxplode.jpg">

Keep your girl extra warm and well hydrated to make up for the lost blood and she'll do fine.

[Linds]

What are you keeping her on right now? Until it is healed up it would be a good idea to keep her on newspaper/papertowel to help prevent any particles of substrate getting stuck in wound, this will greatly reduce the chances of any infection. And to answer the above question, you heard correctly, its best to stick to the regular triple antibiotic ointment, not the pain relief type.

[The_Omen]

Most of the infections I have seen on tail droppers is with an incomplete break, where the tail is still attached.
If not removed, they will become necrotic and will quickly cause problems.

So if the tail was a complete fall off, no problem, keep it clean and all the other stuff up there!

[snakemann87]

I hope she will be ok, do these apply for all lizards? I am not gonna get off this subject, but if it does I will post a new topic because after reading this I am VERY concerned.

[lynsey_togofire]

do the 50% betadine 50% water thing for about 15 minutes...a soak of it up to her waist line. then flush the end of the tail with pure betadine right after the soak and apply the neosporin. after that apply the neosporin once a day for a week. i work at Petsmart and we had a yellow-throated plated lizard drop it's tail. i did that procedure and in a matter of 2 weeks he's already got a tail growing back. a vet isn't really necessary unless the tail gets inflamed and looks as though it's infected. the betadine should prevent infection though. hope that helps!

lynsey:D

[eyespy]

In my opinion that's a bit of an overdose on the Betadine. The vets I know never recommend pure Betadine applied to reptile skin and a much weaker soaking solution. A 50% solution is safer for topical application, and more like a 10-20% solution for soaking. Otherwise too much iodine enters the bloodstream. Herps soak up much more fluids thorugh the skin than we mammals do.