Rescued veiled needs tongue help

I have a rescued veiled that I have had for 2 weeks. Its little limbs were as twisted as any on here, even his casque was misshapen and flat! He was laying on his side with his feet clutching his body. One of his legs was wrapped around to where it looked dislocated. I gave him 2 days.

I got him a calcium shot and shoved crickets that I just killed in his mouth and dripped water in his mouth. Fortunately, at first when anyone approached him all he did was gape and hiss, making it easy to accomplish what I was doing.

After 2 weeks he is able to move upright. I fixed him up some branches on the bottom of his enclosure no more then 3" off the ground. He was able to pull himself up and stay! What an accomplishment. His grip is so much better.

Enough of that - on to my question. His tongue can't shoot. I gave him a super worm on a flat lid and when I wasn't watching he ate it. He has to grasp it with his mouth and has just enough tongue movement to get it into his mouth and down his throat.

Do you think he will recover more tongue movement or will this be it? (Sorry for the long story - I could say more, but I wanted folks to read my question.)

I am amazed what a lot of TLC accomplished. I thought I was going to have to send this little guy over the rainbow bridge to end his suffering and here he is, sitting comfortably in his "tree".

That is very heartwarming. I'm glad he's starting to come around and you got him when you did. Yes tlc can sometimes work wonderful things.

As far tongue issues, it's really not that uncommon of a problem. It's a remarkable piece of equipment but it can also still be fragile. I actually have 2 female panthers, that we hatched, that have had tongue issues since they were born. But they learn quickly and will usually easily just go up and grap it with their mouth. But considering how bad off your guy was he might still surprise you and continue to heal. Good luck.

Wow, good job!

To the tongue question- my cham had a tongue-shooting problem once and the vet told me that if the tiny little bone wasn't broken, there was a chance to quick recovery- so maybe if you took him to the vet and get him X-rayed, you'd know more..

Such a touching story Naomi. I am so glad that you saved him and I hope he will continue to improve for you. Lynda, (kinyonga) on here knows allot about the tongue problems.......maybe she'll see your post or you could search her old post. I think she said it was a chemical imbalance. It can also be from eye problems.....if they can't see well. Lizbeth has a beautiful guy with only one eye. He had an eye problem when he was young and had to have one of his eyes amputated. He can not shoot but if she holds the feeder up to him he'll grab it with his mouth.......he's been this way since he was young.

All my best to you and your new rescue.

It is amazing how fast you attach to those little guys in desperate need. Vinny and I are becoming quite close. He no longer hisses and gapes at me and I am very delicate with him, especially since his bones are so fragile. I will post in a couple days to see how that tongue is managing. He almost brings tears to my eyes when I see him navigating around his enclosure when he could hardly move when I rescued him. Thanks for your support.

WOW! I saw this thread and immediately thought that you are an amazing woman and we need more chameleon owners like you....but of course we have plenty on her but its never to many. I am happy you took him in and made his life better. If you ever need help with anything im right across the street.

BocaJan said:

It is amazing how fast you attach to those little guys in desperate need. Vinny and I are becoming quite close. He no longer hisses and gapes at me and I am very delicate with him, especially since his bones are so fragile. I will post in a couple days to see how that tongue is managing. He almost brings tears to my eyes when I see him navigating around his enclosure when he could hardly move when I rescued him. Thanks for your support.

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Yea, Lizbeth had planned to adopt out her little guy after he recouped from the eye surgery but she got so attached to him taking care of him after the surgery that she couldn't part with him.

Update! Vinny is 100% better. He moves around his enclosure (on the bottom) can pull himself up on some repti-vine I have on the floor of the cage and manages pretty well. He is starting to fill out although his ribs are still protruding, but we are making progress. I have one of those big reptile tweezers I give him crickets from. He still doesn't shoot and his back legs don't work really well, but they work. He will eat 6-7 fat calcium powdered crickets and a super work maybe 2 times a week if I find any in the box. His tongue works well enough to pull the cricket into his mouth and down his throat which makes me cheer!

Way to go Vinny. The one time I visited him at his previous owners place he gaped and hissed at people even if you didn't open the cage. When I first got him that's all he did. It made it easy to get stuff in his mouth. Now he is a little sweetie. Loves to be picked up. I let him wander on my desk sometimes with a towel over my stuff so he can motivate better.

That little guy sure does tug on my heartstrings. He will be a pet amongst my other chams.