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Christina Miller
Last update: Monday, January 28, 2008. |
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Trimming the nails of lizards in captivity may be necessary to prevent nail overgrowth and to facilitate handling. In the wild, a variety of terrain usually keeps their claws "groomed," but in captivity we cannot realistically provide the same conditions as in the wild, so nail trimming is a necessity with some species.
Overgrown nails are not only a hazard to the handler, but to the lizard as well. You will find it much easier, and safer, to handle your reptile when it cannot inflict deep scratches on you. Lizards with very long nails that are not trimmed risk getting snagged on cage furniture, which can result in a painful, torn-out claw. Nails that are left to grow will often curve to the side, causing the fingers or toes to curve with them. This is almost certainly uncomfortable for the lizard.
It is a myth that arboreal lizards like Green Iguanas should not have their nails trimmed "because they need their nails to climb." Many iguanas do just fine with well-groomed nails, and the risks of having a nail snagged are a far worse alternative!
Two varieties of small animal nail clippers. |
Small lizards do not really need to have their claws trimmed. But, if your small lizard will eventually grow into a big lizard (like Green Iguanas, Blue-tongued Skinks and most monitors) it is a good idea to habituate your lizard to having its fingers and toes manipulated when it is still young. Be careful not to stress the animal out too much, though! You do not want nail trimming to become a frightening, dreaded experience for your pet.
You can use a nail file for little nails since there is not much nail to actually trim, then when the lizard grows larger, a pair of small animal claw trimmers can be used (see image). These range in price between 2-10$, typically. For a very big lizard (with very big claws!) larger dog clippers (either the scissor or guillotine style) may be necessary. |
Some people fret over trimming their reptile's nails because they are afraid of hitting the wad of blood vessels and nerves (the "quick"), which can cause a lot of bleeding and is quite painful.
Before attempting to clip, have some styptic powder ("Kwik Stop" or "Blood Clot") handy to quickly stop the bleeding if you accidentally trim the quick. Cornstarch also works just as well in a pinch. Silver nitrate sticks will do the same thing, but they cause a burning, painful sensation when used. You may want to have someone else hold or restrain the lizard, since it can be hard to "juggle" the lizard and nail clippers yourself if the animal will not stay still. Or, you could try firmly (but not too tightly!) wrapping the lizard in a towel, to keep the lizard calm and still.
Gently, take one of the lizard's toes, and trim off the thin, pointy nail tip (see diagram). If you hold the nail up to light you can usually see through it, but older animals may have darker nails, and you'll have to rely on the shape of the to tell where the blood vessel starts (where the nail gets thicker). If the lizard jerks when you apply pressure with the nail trimmers, you may be hitting the nerves!
As you become more comfortable with nail trimming, you can take more off the top, but try not to trim more than the illustrated maximum.
If you are nervous about your first time nail trim, your experienced reptile veterinarian or veterinary nurse or technician will be glad to show you a demonstration. |
This iguana has overgrown nails. This is probably very uncomfortable.
Diagram of an iguana's nail and toe.
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