I also do not recommend anesthesia, it's a minor proccedure, done plenty of them myself. LOL

Your iguana will barely react to the whole thing. So, nothing to worry about.

Be sure to tell the vet to cut 1 inch up from the end of the necrotic tissue. It is important to cut into healthy tissue and make sure all the bad tissue is removed, with a 1" buffer, to prevent more tissue from dying.

Natalie- Depending on how far up the tail it is (and 6" is not that far), they opt to find a plate, slice the tail skin and then snap the tail at the plate (anyone faint yet, LOL?). This slice and break procedure is usually used for more serious tail amps in the meaty area. Because of the double-procedure, I would think your iguana was happy you opted for anesthesia. LOL

Lacey, it will be over before you know it. Don't worry too much. ;-)

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Regards,
Dominick
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"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

Hey Dominick, yuk-Os!!
Someone PLEASE get the smelling salts!

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Natalie & Iggie LaLa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
0.1.0 Green Iguana ~ Iggie
0.1.0 Chow Dog ~ Kieko
1.0.0 Chow/Malamute Dog ~ Chubbers
0.1.0 Six toed Cat ~ Barbie,(decendent of Ernest Hemmingways cat)

Pic's of Iggie

Really? And it comes right off?

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

I'm not too worried about it, i'm just not sure where to start or what to do. The vet that I worked with today said that everything she has read suggests just breaking it off, snipping off any skin that is attached after the break and possibly putting a stitch in the end if it bleeds. The book says that doing that allows for a greater chance of regrowth and it heals faster.
She did this with one of her igs after shutting its tail in the door and just snapped off 6 inches without any bleeding, so I think I trust her well enough to let her snap it off, I just don't have the guts to do it myself.

Either way I'll probably take pictures of video of the whole process for posterity. Hopefully it all goes well, the doctor has been know to cuss like a sailor if things dont go her way!

So local anesthetic or just do it by wrapping him up and popping it off without any lidocaine?

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"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

Well, she is right, by the book, with her methodology.

Lidocaine is not bad, though I don't think the ig will fuss much. Whatever makes you feel better about it. I think your ig will do just fine.

I'm not too sure about the regrowth factor in stitching. Usually that is done for more substantial tail amps to close the wound. A few inches from the end is dead cells anyway. The tail is designed to break and heal. Exposing it to air makes it clot and begin to heal. But honestly, if you are confident in your vet's ability, go with her advice. At least she has done one before.

Good luck!

__________________
Regards,
Dominick
_____________________________________________
"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

She said if it bleeds then she might put a stitch...If it doesn't start gushing it'll just be left open. Either way you probably wont even notice anything is missing because its going to be like 2 inches of tail.

Also I lied about taking pictures for posterity. Apparently no one wants to hold him for the procedure (they are afraid of anything that isnt fuzzy) so the doc and I are on our own. I'll bring the camera incase they have a change of heart once they meet him. (Alot of people do).
I'll update ya'll tomorrow!

__________________

"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

I hope all went well for you at the vets today Lacey - big hugs for dizzy too - how did it all go ???

Our thoughts are with you and Dizzy today.

good luck lacey, give dizzy much love for us!!!

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***mike***

aint dead yet

Well it went as easy as pie. The doctor walked in, patted him on the head grabbed the tail cracked it off and walked out, He did it so fast that neither I nor Dizzy saw it happen. Dizzy twitched his tail a tiny bit afterwards but then went about his buisness.




The stuff on the end of his tail is a little dried blood and some ointment.
I felt kind of bad because I didnt bring him any breakfast because I didn't think he'd eat but I gave him the part of my lunch (a slice of orange and the romaine off of my sandwich) and he scarffed it down. Missing one meal isnt going to kill him though.
If anything the ride there was more stressful than the procedure. He hissed and gaped at every underpass, semi-truck, train or bird. He doesnt go on many car rides....

__________________

"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos