I Have To Give My Iguana Medicine ??

By Linda Nelson

One of the least favorite things about owning a pet is having to give him medicine. When your pet is an iguana, it becomes even more of a challenge. Hopefully these helpful tips will make this less scary than it has to be, both for you and for your iguana.

Liquid medication is the easiest to give. Draw up the proper amount in a syringe (with the tip off). Your vet will supply these. Gently ease the tip into the iguana’s mouth, between the “lips” and slowly squirt a little at a time, giving him time to swallow. Pulling very gently on the dewlap will help in getting him to open his mouth. If you have a biter, as I do, he will probably make it easy for you and bite the end of the syringe. When he does this, squirt in a little medicine. For especially stubborn iguanas, the medication can be injected into a grape, or a little into each of several grapes, and fed to the iguana. It can also be put on a piece of melon or a strawberry. Use something the iguana really likes and will easily take.

Medication in tablet form presents a little more challenge. The best way to prepare it is to crush and mix it with either baby food or fruit juice and given as a liquid. Baby food squash seems to be a favorite of several iguanas and has worked well for me. Put the tablet into a baggie and either hit it or crush it with something (on the outside of the baggie) to make a powder. Mix this with a little squash or juice and draw it up in a syringe. Use the method mentioned above to give it to your iguana.

You may have to give the medication as a SQ (sub-cutaneous) injection. This doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. Have your vet show you the proper way of doing this.  

The basic steps are as follows: The skin on the side between the front and back leg is loose and is a good location. Wipe off the area with alcohol on a cotton ball. Also wipe off the needle with alcohol. Holding the needle at about a 30 degree angle, quickly stick the needle through until the tip is just under the loose skin. Slowly inject the medicine. Doing this slowly gives it a chance to spread out and be absorbed more easily. When all has been injected, quickly pull out the needle and immediately rub the area lightly with a clean cotton ball. Reassure your iguana that he is ok and that the medicine will make him feel better.

From experience, it is a good idea to have everything set up before you start. Draw up the proper amount of medicine into the syringe, pour a little alcohol on some cotton balls, lay out everything on a clean paper towel.

As someone once taught me, you can practice this on a raw chicken leg if you are not feeling confident enough. It has the same “feel” to it. Have a treat ready to give your iguana afterwards. Being given medicine can be very traumatic for your iguana, who already doesn’t feel well and doesn’t want to be bothered. It is important to hold him for awhile after giving his medication, talk to him softly, let him know he will be alright. He won’t understand the words, but will pick up on the positive tone. His psychological wellbeing is an important part of the healing process just as it is for humans.

Although giving medicine to any pet is never “easy”, each time you do it, you will feel a little more confident and it will go a little smoother. Both you and your iguana will have a little less anxiety and, hopefully, your iguana will soon be healthier and happier!