Black on melleri foot

laurie

laurie

Retired Moderator
Here is a picture of my melleri's foot. Never had a problem, she will be a year old in Aug and in cbb. If anyone needs the form i will complete it. All needs are being met. sorry about the picture, she would not hold still sorry about her mouth, she had just eaten.

7187524119_caeb44538e_b.jpg
 
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Does it look like that part of her foot did not shed? And may possibly be cutting circulation off? Im not sure it could do that though....
other than tbat possibly a fungus..
 
I hope im wrong but that looks like a skin infection (bacterial or fungal). Does not look like a bruise to me.

Has he lost a nail on that hand recently?
 
gangrene

my chameleon is currently suffering with gangrene on her feet and she has lost one foot and its very rapid. just a heads up this is what her foot looked like a week ago. its unlikely that it is that, but from the picture it looks the same (when it started).
 
I just checked. She/he has not lost a toe nail. All toenails are in tact on all 4 paws. There is no shed on the paw. It is swollen as her toes are further apart.
 
I have had Meller's have discolored areas like this after a shed. Often days or weeks later the area lifts away and sheds, too. But initially there would be no raised edge or dryness- no way to determine that it is retained shed because it is still completely fused to the underlying skin.

However, if it isn't shed then it doesn't look good I'm afraid. Even a simple abscess won't normally cause that kind of discoloration (not without the foot first getting pretty large). But you did mention the toes were swollen. Be sure to compare the toes to the other feet to be sure they are swollen and that your eyes aren't just playing tricks on you.

Is this the only area on her body that looks like this? Check under her lobes if she'll let you.

Is there something in her cage that could have stained her skin? That would be a nice simple explanation and I would want to eliminate that possibility first. Also try washing it off (that probably shounds ridiculous but I have panicked more than once over what turned out to be a bit of debris on a cham's skin).

To examine her more closely you can wrap her in a towel with only that leg exposed. Be sure her head and her tail are covered in the towel. Secure the towel gently with masking tape. Normally they will calm down a bit when in a towel (this is how our 2 most experienced reptile vets do it in their office). Have a magnifying glass handy before wrapping her in the towel. Have a bright light bulb plugged in and in place to help you see details. Examine the foot for broken bones, open sores, punctures, or a pimple-like raised feature (head of an abscess- it won't normally be "white" like on a human abscess but is often just a "pointier" raised localized area). If there is an abscess you can follow the detailed instructions and pictures on Melleri Discovery website to open and clean it and treat it. If the only problem appears to be the discolored skin then I would consider beginning an antifungal treatment. If you have a vet you trust that would be great. Our experience, however, has been that Meller's don't handle the ordeal of vet visits well. Just letting you know.
 
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gesang said:
I have had Meller's have discolored areas like this after a shed. Often days or weeks later the area lifts away and sheds, too. But initially there would be no raised edge or dryness- no way to determine that it is retained shed because it is still completely fused to the underlying skin.

However, if it isn't shed then it doesn't look good I'm afraid. Even a simple abscess won't normally cause that kind of discoloration (not without the foot first getting pretty large). But you did mention the toes were swollen. Be sure to compare the toes to the other feet to be sure they are swollen and that your eyes aren't just playing tricks on you.

Is this the only area on her body that looks like this? Check under her lobes if she'll let you.

Is there something in her cage that could have stained her skin? That would be a nice simple explanation and I would want to eliminate that possibility first. Also try washing it off (that probably shounds ridiculous but I have panicked more than once over what turned out to be a bit of debris on a cham's skin).

To examine her more closely you can wrap her in a towel with only that leg exposed. Be sure her head and her tail are covered in the towel. Secure the towel gently with masking tape. Normally they will calm down a bit when in a towel (this is how our 2 most experienced reptile vets do it in their office). Have a magnifying glass handy before wrapping her in the towel. Have a bright light bulb plugged in and in place to help you see details. Examine the foot for broken bones, open sores, punctures, or a pimple-like raised feature (head of an abscess- it won't normally be "white" like on a human abscess but is often just a "pointier" raised localized area). If there is an abscess you can follow the detailed instructions and pictures on Melleri Discovery website to open and clean it and treat it. If the only problem appears to be the discolored skin then I would consider beginning an antifungal treatment. If you have a vet you trust that would be great. Our experience, however, has been that Meller's don't handle the ordeal of vet visits well. Just letting you know.
Click to expand...

Sandy I not only don't have a reptile vet I trust, the closest actual reptile vet is 5 1/2 hours each way. I think I will check her foot carefully then if I find nothing else I will start treatment with an antifungal. Which one would you use? The local vet will prescribe based on what I tell him I need, he is very helpful, just doesn't know reptiles.

All of you thanks for the ideas. I just can't have anything wrong with my kids. Even if it could just be a bruise I worry. I don't know why I don't feel that is what it is. It might also be from one branch in her cage that is thick and I am not sure it dries all the way. Do you think that could be it?

I love all the thoughts so tell me what you think.
 
ataraxia said:
Fungus can be grey, black, yellow, brown and any shade in between :)

Laurie, try dipping the hand in diluted providone iodine, rinse with bottled water, let dry and then applying some vagisil.
Click to expand...

Ok will do hubby is a Walmart he will not be excited to go get vagisil
 
ataraxia said:
Fungus can be grey, black, yellow, brown and any shade in between :)

Laurie, try dipping the hand in diluted providone iodine, rinse with bottled water, let dry and then applying some vagisil.
Click to expand...

Hubby just texted me back and wanted to know if vagisil was a joke since he is shopping with my 2 grandsons. I has to swear it is not a joke. Them he ask what kind, I said I had no idea, just get one. He got the idione in a 10% it that ok or do I dilute it more.
 
laurie said:
Hubby just texted me back and wanted to know if vagisil was a joke since he is shopping with my 2 grandsons. I has to swear it is not a joke. Them he ask what kind, I said I had no idea, just get one. He got the idione in a 10% it that ok or do I dilute it more.
Click to expand...

LOL i bet hes lovin this..
yes the 10% is fine and still dilute it :)

Get vagisil cream.
 
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Up date on the foot. My mellers foot is looking better, it is not an overnight thing, but the swelling is down and she is using it pretty much like normal. Looks like the iodine and vagisil seem to be doing the job.
Thanks lots, ataraxia.
 
Great so glad to hear. Looks like I may need to add vagisl to the cham first aid kit...can David go pick up mine too ;)
 
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