How to Trim your reptile’s nails

When you begin to notice how painful your pet reptile is when his little claws are digging into your legs (ouch), it’s probably time to figure out how to cut them. And depending on personality and size, the job may need two people to successfully complete it.

So what do you need to do to safely trim your bearded dragon or iguana’s nails?

Place a towel down on your lap (to minimize any scratches) and gently wrap your arm around your reptile’s back to hold its front feet steady. With your other hand, begin clipping. If your pet seems angry during the process bring in another person to hold down those kicking back legs, or, if no help is on hand, wrap the iguana or dragon up in the towel like a squirming taco. Turn the iguana around and maneuver yourself so the back feet can be trimmed easily.

Remember to trim just the very tip of the nail or you could cause bleeding if you accidentally cut into the quick. If you do cut too far down the nail, pinch either Styptic Powder on your reptile’s claw or a bit of flour to stop the bleeding.