Help. Swollen foot.

I'm not gonna say either of you are right or wrong. I don't know the best course of action for this guy. No one can see the future.
My question now becomes, could his neutrality toward me be a symptom? He now tries to let that leg dangle and not use it whenever possible while perching. When he's on the move he uses it, but tries not to when he stops. The female also seems to have a stronger grip, but she is also much heavier so maybe that's the cause (she's gravid and 17g compared to his 11g)
 
I'm not gonna say either of you are right or wrong. I don't know the best course of action for this guy. No one can see the future.
My question now becomes, could his neutrality toward me be a symptom? He now tries to let that leg dangle and not use it whenever possible while perching. When he's on the move he uses it, but tries not to when he stops. The female also seems to have a stronger grip, but she is also much heavier so maybe that's the cause (she's gravid and 17g compared to his 11g)

Definitely. In general, a chameleon should be afriad of you, especially when they first arrive and doubly so when you are dealing with a wild caught. A deviation from that natural fear suggests illness and weakness. Everything you have written in this post today suggests he is doing poorly and should see a vet.

Either the leg is getting worse or you are now only noticing that he feels pain with it. An animal has a very strong survival instinct, so will use very painful limbs.

I think you said that you had an exotic vet lined up? It is probably a good idea to take him/them in. If he were mine, based on your description today, I would have him in to the vet today.

If he is a wild caught, recent or otherwise, I am quite sure he has parasites, and lots of them. It is not wise to try to deparasitize a chameleon in poor health. They tend to die. I could give you my vet's explanation of why it is extremely risky to try to worm wild caughts and how it needs to be done very carefully when the animal is in good health. It has nothing to do with the safety/toxicity of the worming meds and all to do with what happens when you have a mass die off of parasites not to mention the very serious negative effect the stress of handling to worm will have on the animal.

By the way, I have one wild caught that my vet and I refer to as He Who Will Not Die. He has been on death's doorstep countless times. I've had him in to the vet when he was so sick, he was limp in her hands--that's one very sick chameleon. I've made appointments to euthanize and do the necropsy only to cancel and try one last treatment for something my vet was sure he didn't have because he definitely was not presenting that way, but why not, we could always euthanize later. We have no idea what is troubling him, but he continues to live and eat and grow and actually is doing very well right now. We suspect he has either lung worms or an abscess somewhere in his body or both. Possibly a tumor. My vet and I are both looking forward to doing the necropsy when he finally does die, which we both hope if from old age. He's been an interesting riddle and we are both amazed he is alive at all and actually doing well. He is one tough lizard and we both are in awe with his immune system because he really should be dead. He's a special chameleon, I just wish I could get him to breed. I sure would like his resilience in the gene pool.
 
Definitely. In general, a chameleon should be afriad of you, especially when they first arrive and doubly so when you are dealing with a wild caught. A deviation from that natural fear suggests illness and weakness. Everything you have written in this post today suggests he is doing poorly and should see a vet.

Either the leg is getting worse or you are now only noticing that he feels pain with it. An animal has a very strong survival instinct, so will use very painful limbs.

I think you said that you had an exotic vet lined up? It is probably a good idea to take him/them in. If he were mine, based on your description today, I would have him in to the vet today.

If he is a wild caught, recent or otherwise, I am quite sure he has parasites, and lots of them. It is not wise to try to deparasitize a chameleon in poor health. They tend to die. I could give you my vet's explanation of why it is extremely risky to try to worm wild caughts and how it needs to be done very carefully when the animal is in good health. It has nothing to do with the safety/toxicity of the worming meds and all to do with what happens when you have a mass die off of parasites not to mention the very serious negative effect the stress of handling to worm will have on the animal.

By the way, I have one wild caught that my vet and I refer to as He Who Will Not Die. He has been on death's doorstep countless times. I've had him in to the vet when he was so sick, he was limp in her hands--that's one very sick chameleon. I've made appointments to euthanize and do the necropsy only to cancel and try one last treatment for something my vet was sure he didn't have because he definitely was not presenting that way, but why not, we could always euthanize later. We have no idea what is troubling him, but he continues to live and eat and grow and actually is doing very well right now. We suspect he has either lung worms or an abscess somewhere in his body or both. Possibly a tumor. My vet and I are both looking forward to doing the necropsy when he finally does die, which we both hope if from old age. He's been an interesting riddle and we are both amazed he is alive at all and actually doing well. He is one tough lizard and we both are in awe with his immune system because he really should be dead. He's a special chameleon, I just wish I could get him to breed. I sure would like his resilience in the gene pool.
Actually I posted about his indeference yesterday, but it seems like it was skipped over.
I made an appointment this morning for tomorrow afternoon. I posted for recommendations on a local facebook page she she was reccommended by 16 people, and she was the only one recommended.
I'd like to get a fecal test done just to know what I'm dealing with, but he hasn't deficated since I've had him. I wouldn't treat for parasites until he is healthy, but thank you for giving that info as others might be gung ho to treat for everying under the sun all at once.
 
Saw the vet yesterday afternoon. She prescribes Baytril and also gave me some "Carnivore Care" to force feed him if needed. Got home and gave him some medicine, some of the food, and water to wash it down. He seemed very upset about it all (understandably)
This morning he was much more active. Still wouldn't eat or drink so looks like tonight he'll get the same as he did last night.
 
Be very careful about hydration while on Baytril. Find the best way to get him drinking (dripping water on his face from above, misting foliage to encourage drinking longer) and give him as much as he'll take.
 
Be very careful about hydration while on Baytril. Find the best way to get him drinking (dripping water on his face from above, misting foliage to encourage drinking longer) and give him as much as he'll take.

I agree with Carlton. When I medicate, I add water to the medicine plus stuff a silkworm into their mouth after giving them meds. The silkworms keep the meds in their mouth, plus they are food and a hydrating food at that.
 
Be very careful about hydration while on Baytril. Find the best way to get him drinking (dripping water on his face from above, misting foliage to encourage drinking longer) and give him as much as he'll take.

I agree with Carlton. When I medicate, I add water to the medicine plus stuff a silkworm into their mouth after giving them meds. The silkworms keep the meds in their mouth, plus they are food and a hydrating food at that.
Thank you both. I can barely get his mouth open for the meds/liquid food. I'll have to try to give more water tonight as I barely got any in earlier when he got his meds. When I drip water on his face he freaks out.
 
He drank from the syringe this morning. That's the first time that he's drank on his own since tuesday (that I know of)
 
If it is an infection in the toe and/or leg and it's not cleaned out undoubtedly that the antibiotics will penetrate it or cure it. Just what I've learned from my experience.
Good luck!
 
The vet did not recommend or do this, although that doesn't mean that's the right or wrong choice. I'll give it a couple more days, if the swelling does not go down I'll call her and see what she recommends.
 
He drank from the syringe this morning. That's the first time that he's drank on his own since tuesday (that I know of)
That's great! I love teaching my chams to drink from a syringe. I can get a very good idea how much they are drinking, it gives a chance to spend time with them, shows new chams I'm a source of good stuff, and if necessary I can sneak in a bit of nutrition or meds at the same time.
 
That's great! I love teaching my chams to drink from a syringe. I can get a very good idea how much they are drinking, it gives a chance to spend time with them, shows new chams I'm a source of good stuff, and if necessary I can sneak in a bit of nutrition or meds at the same time.
Unfortunately since posting this he's come to hate the syringe. I use a stringe to force feed him his antobiotic, then liqiud food, then water to wash it down. Needless to say he's no longer a fan...
 
I wouldn't be either ;). Anytime i had to handle my animals more than usual i blacked the enclosures out, i just taped black plastic on all side panels to reduce stress. Always worked well for me.
 
Unfortunately since posting this he's come to hate the syringe. I use a stringe to force feed him his antobiotic, then liqiud food, then water to wash it down. Needless to say he's no longer a fan...
Actually, what I meant was to leave him in the cage and start dripping plain water from over his head and get him drinking as the droplets fall down his face. So, you are not handling him or trying to get anything in his mouth, you are stimulating him to drink on his own...its just that the source of the water is the syringe. What I did to get them going was mist the cage as usual (sort of plants the idea that rain is coming), watch for reflex swallowing and lip licking. Then, as the cham starts this I hold the syringe overhead and start dripping it that way.
 
Oh I see.
I wish he was that easy...
Can't waste the medicine and now he trusts no sryinge since he assumes it's going to get shoved in his mouth.
 
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