I need to know a little more about claw clipping. I just got an adult female iguana from a friend and her claws are so long that they curve! Everytime I try to hold her she scratches me!!! I've read about it but I can't find any pictures about it and I'm scared to cut that vein!
Please help asap.

On each claw, there are two basic parts: the main claw (where the live tissue and blood vessels are) and the sharp extension of the claw. You want to cut off most of this sharp extension. There aren't any blood vessels there. If an iguana hasn't had it's claws clipped in a while, the blood vessel grows until it extends much farther down than it should. In this case, even if you do clip just the extension, you may still cut the vessel. That's ok because it makes the blood vessel retract a little every time you do it. In the end it makes it go back to where it should be.

Here's a pic of what you should cut. Please excuse my bad drawing.:P

I thought I would add that you can also use some sort of blood clotting agent to stop the bleeding if you cut into the vein. You can either use the kind sold in pet stores or you can use corn starch.

Thanks for the replies everyone! My ig's doing very good! I wrapped her up in a towel and managed to get those claws clipped. I have the scars to prove it! :roll: