“Ooch!” “Ouch!” “Stop, Murph… aaagh… I know you want down! Hang on! You can’t walky around right here!
Fine. I guess you’re just going to slice me to ribbons until I set you down!
Dang it. Is that blood? Yep, it’s blood!”
Red is surfacing from numerous scratched lines upon my forearms. This is usually a good indicator it’s time to trim the darling’s cute little blades!
I have trimmed my Dragons’ claws for about an accumulated 9 years so far. I believe the following tips to be the ideal way for anyone who needs to do this. This is how it’s done:
What you need:
1: CLIPPERS You can purchase reptile claw clippers at pet stores and online. However, I cannot attest to the performance of these. The exotic animal vet will trim claws (the one time a veterinarian trimmed my lizard’s claws, she trimmed too far and my sweety was bleeding from it, so I do the trimming now). I’ve only trimmed claws with a clipper made for a human baby’s finger nails (sorry, the clipper I’ve used all these years have no label. I don’t know the brand). You can probably obtain tiny clippers in the baby care section of stores in most locations.
2: A SAFE PLACE WHERE YOUR LIZARD CAN SLEEP BEFORE AND WHILE YOU CLIP This means where animals or people won’t sit on him/her, you won’t forget he or she is there, and so on.
3: A BRIGHT LIGHT IS A MUST HAVE FOR THIS OPERATION. IDEALLY THIS SHALL BE A SKINNY FLASHLIGHT WITH A HIGHLY CONCENTRATED LIGHT BEAM. BETTER YET, IS IF YOU CAN HOLD IT BETWEEN YOUR TEETH AND LIPS TO FREE BOTH YOUR HANDS IF YOU HAVE NO ONE TO HOLD A LIGHT FOR YOU.
4: A BLANKIE to help them to stay asleep during the clipping with a bright light
Step 1)
After giving your lizard a best day ever, he or she has had food, freedom & lovins’, and is now sleepy, let them lay somewhere you can easily access all limbs to trim claws.
Step 2)
Cover lizard with the afore mentioned blankie so he or she feels secure while you’re messing around with fingers and toes. Don’t ‘tuck them in’. Give it 10 minutes or so and VOILA! He/she is deep enough in rest mode to perform the trimming.
Step 3)
Aim the light beam of your flashlight precisely onto each claw to be trimmed. Hold the little finger or toe at a slight angle so your vision is aimed at the side of the claw. YOU MUST CLEARLY SEE WHERE THE BLOODLINE ENDS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CLAW TO CLIP JUST BEFORE THAT, OTHERWISE YOU WILL HURT THE SLEEPING BEAUTY!
Step 4)
Proceed with trimming.
Step 5)
When trimming is completed, scoop your lizard into your hands and lay them (lovingly) onto where they normally sleep through the night (and possibly with that blankie).
Step 6)
Return to the location of the trimming and brush onto the floor the tiny claw fragments for sweeping.
See where the thick, light color of mass ends under the black claw? Don’t clip that! Only trim the razor tip of the black portion.
Now we trim…
*If you cannot see clearly or have any doubts, you should not clip.
This procedure may take around 10 minutes due to the necessity to work slowly and carefully. Personally, I only trim because I’m confident in my ability… and I don’t want any more scars : ).
That being said, if you’re too concerned you may hurt your lizard if you trim his or her claws, and you don’t mind the little slices they can cause, it’s not worth the risk of making your lizard hurt & bleed if the claws aren’t really causing problems.
It is wise to have a collection of your reptile(s) belongings in one place, except of course, what may need refrigerated. Family and your lizard(s) care-takers need to be aware of the location. Keep a number to the vet or preferred hospital handy as well. Along with bedding, blankies, teddy bears, 🙂 or whatever, you can have a reptile first-aid kit!!! Ideas for what it may contain can be found here:
https://www.batcopetsitting.com/emergency-first-aid-kits-for-reptiles/
note* Styptic powder can stop bleeding, if say, you trimmed too much of a claw.
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE TRIMMING!!!!
“Give me Lizardry or give me Death!” – Dawn Renee♥
