Would you like to receive Club Reptile Newsletters?

X Close Window
Please provide us with your email address in order to access this valuable pet content.
Fields marked with an asterisk * are required.
* Are you at least 13 years old?
YesNo
* First Name:
* Last Name:
* Email:
* City:
* State/Province:
* Do you also own a dog or cat?
Own dog(s)
Own cat(s)
Own both
Don't own dogs or cats
* Enter the code shown:

* I would like to receive the monthly newsletter from ReptileChannel.com as well as occasional relevant Purina offers.
YesNo
If you select yes, ReptileChannel.com will send you their monthly newsletter. If after your first newsletter, you would like to terminate your free newsletter, you may opt-out and retain your membership to earn points towards free products. You may also get an occasional relevant email from Purina, sponsor of ReptileChannel.com.
Bookmark and Share
Have you ever dressed your herp up in clothes?
All the time
Occasionally
Never!


Printer Friendly Bookmark and Share

Chameleon Lizard With Long Nails

My lizard’s nails are getting long. Do I or a vet need to trim them?

By Margaret A. Wissman, DVM, DABVP

 

My veiled chameleon’s nails are getting long.  Do I or a vet need to trim them? 

As a chameleon grows, its nails will also grow proportionally. I have never seen a normal, healthy chameleon that required periodic nail trims. Chameleons need their sharp nails to hold onto branches when climbing about the habitat. The claws usually wear down through usage. If a toe has been broken, infected or otherwise injured, it may not make proper contact with branches, and it may therefore tend to grow too long. But that should only occur on injured digits.

In birds, overgrown claws (and beaks) can be a sign of liver disease, but I have not seen this as a problem in herps.

I suspect that your chameleon’s nails are probably of normal length, but as always, if you think that the nails are too long, my advice will be to please have your lizard evaluated by a herp vet before trying to cut them yourself. Chameleons really need those nails for holding on, so I would advise not trimming them yourself, at least for the first time, if it is deemed necessary. Claws have a blood supply and if you trimmed them too short, you would cause bleeding, which can be serious in a young chameleon, and may also lead to infection of the nail beds. Also, the stress of the procedure is also a consideration, as chameleons are stressed by handling.


 Give us your opinion on
Chameleon Lizard With Long Nails
Submit a Comment
Reader Comments
Good info.
L.A., Enid, OK
Posted: 2/25/2008 6:40:15 AM
Thanks for the article.
Amanda, WH, FL
Posted: 2/20/2008 7:11:02 PM
View Current Comments

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Email:

Reptiles USA
Buy Now
Reptiles Magazine
Buy Now
 


Hi my name's Meng and Mulan

Visit the Photo Gallery to
cast your vote!