Respiratory Infections  - It is important to maintain adequate temperature in your monitor's environment, especially at night, to prevent respiatory infection.  Respitory infection can result if the air is not warm enough, or if you have air from forced air heaters blowing into your lizard's cage.

Such an illness will cause a Savannah monitor to stop eating which could bring on further health problems.  Symptoms of respitory infection may include coughing and mucus in the throat, which can bubble out of the mouth and nostrils, particulary when you press on the throat.  Another sign that your lizard may be suffering from respitory infection is if the animal keeps its head elevated.

If the infection is caught early enough, a simple remedy may be to keep the temperature a constant 90-95 degrees day and night for a few days.  Short sessions 3-4 times a day with a vaporizor may help the animal breath easier.

An injection of antibiotics such a Baytril may be necessary (administered by a vet).  It is recommended that you have your lizard treated by a veterinarian that is experienced with reptiles.
 
 

Monitors have sharp claws that need trimming regularly.

It is best to have two people tend to the task, with one person holding the lizard while the other trims the claws.  The person holding the lizard should tuck the animal's tail under the arm to prevent either groomer from being lashed.  One hand should grasp the area of the neck and forelegs while the other hand grasps the area in front of the hind legs.

Use professional reptile claw clippers, available in most pet stores.  Take care to cut only the tips of the claws and not the blood vessel.  Should the claw be clipped too closely that bleeding occurs, wipe the claw with disinfectant and dip the bleeding tip in corn starch.