Expert: Sara J Gwerder - 11/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: My iguana has some type of skin problem, it is hard and greyish and it's seems as if it is making his leg swollen. I have tried antibiotic cream and also putting him in warm water to soften it up and help losen some of it off, but i am starting to notice that it is spreading. What can it be?

ANSWER: Dear Leticia,

Also, please consider this condition, which may be very serious, so if this sounds like what your iguana has, then you need to take him to a vet.

Dry gangrene in iguanas is a condition that results from an infection.  If the infection is left untreated, it causes death of tissue.  Most lizards develop dry gangrene on their toes or tail.  So, what exactly causes this condition?

Cause

Most iguanas suffer from dry gangrene due to an injury in the affected area.  A common situation is having its tail stepped on which may damage blood and nerves.  Skin that has shed improperly can also cut off circulation in the toes or tail and result in gangrene.

Symptoms

This disease is easily noticeable.  The dead tissue will turn either black or brown.  It will also dry up and turn hard and brittle.  As the condition progresses, these symptoms will extend up the toe or tail.  The affected area will also probably feel mushy to the touch.

Treatment

Dry gangrene in iguanas is a very serious disease.  The affected area will need to be amputated to prevent the infection from spreading further.  If caught in time, the tail or toes can be amputated without many complications.  If the disease has already progressed, it will be necessary to amputate further up which will cause more bleeding and require more stiches.

Amputation of the affected area is only the first method of treatment.  Antibiotics are usually necessary to help combat the infection or secondary complications.  You, as the owner, will also need to care for your iguana's wound until it has completely healed up.

Prevention

Since traumatic injury is one of the common causes of dry gangrene in iguanas, you should do everything in your power to prevent it.  You should also make sure there are no shedding problems which may allow dead skin to cut off circulation.  It's best to check your iggie on a regular basis

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This is spreaded to his back and both legs, I've noticed that his leg is swollen, It's not black nor brown but it is brittle and is tough to the touch. If this is what he has and has spread to his back does this mean that it's too late?

Answer
Leticia,

I cannot say what this condition is with certainty, but I can only try to advise you as to what to do. I would say that the brittle and hard coating on the skin is typical of a fungal infection, but the fact that his leg is actually swollen is alarming. I think it would be very wise to get him medical attention and it is never too late. The only time that it may be too late to save an iguana is once it stops eating due to illness. If it is indeed a fungal infection, try using an athlete's foot cream with the ingredient tolftnate.

When you are dealing with something like this, it is IMPERATIVE to let a veterinarian diagnose the animal and treat the condition because they may require antibiotics or a prescription cream. Consider applying antifungal ointment containing the ingredient tolnaftate until you can get to the vet and also thoroughly cleaning your iguana's tank. If you are using wood chips or any other type of particles for a substrate, these can become very unsanitary and can cause skin infections, so remove the particles and lay a towel down in there so you can pull it out and wash it frequently.

As far as the swollen leg, this is something that I can't know for sure the cause but the first thing that comes to mind is MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A UVB light on your iguana. Most reptile basking lamps at pet stores DO NOT have UVB, they only have UVA. If your iguana doesn't get UVB, they cannot digest calcium and this makes their bones very weak over time and they can break their bones very easily and can eventually paralyze and then kill your iguana. If he has not had a UVB lamp, it is possible this calcium deficiency has set in and making his bones easy to break.

I hope this helps you and your baby, but please I urge you to have him seen by a reptile vet.

Sincerely,
Sara