Abcess? Overall condition?

[hmars820]

Hi everyone,

I found this chameleon at our local shop and have gotten a bit attached to him. Does this bump on his chin look like it might be an abcess? Or is it possible it could just be a callous from rubbing or something else?

I really like him but with it being my first chameleon I wonder if it's best I get a baby or one with known history. I've learned these guys really need proper care to be healthy and I dont want to set myself up for failure by getting one with health problems.

Other than this bump how does he look overall?

Thanks for any help!

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi and welcome. Just curious - where is your local pet shop? The bump is probably an abscess and will need veterinary care to be cleaned out. Chameleon pus is thick like cottage cheese and removing it is the only way to get rid of it. He may need additional antibiotic as well. I do see that he has lost at least one claw somewhat recently and another looks irritated. I’m guessing he was maybe grabbed and pulled off whatever he was gripping. I don’t see any signs of mbd or anything else. If you’re in the US, it’s very likely he was wild caught in Florida. If this is the case, he will most definitely need to be checked for parasites sooner rather than later. Poor fella has had it a bit rough and is in need of someone to give him a better life. I think with a visit to a good vet and some TLC, he’ll be ok. Maybe see if you can haggle on his price due to needing veterinary care for the bump and broken nails.

 

[hmars820]

Hi and welcome. Just curious - where is your local pet shop? The bump is probably an abscess and will need veterinary care to be cleaned out. Chameleon pus is thick like cottage cheese and removing it is the only way to get rid of it. He may need additional antibiotic as well. I do see that he has lost at least one claw somewhat recently and another looks irritated. I’m guessing he was maybe grabbed and pulled off whatever he was gripping. I don’t see any signs of mbd or anything else. If you’re in the US, it’s very likely he was wild caught in Florida. If this is the case, he will most definitely need to be checked for parasites sooner rather than later. Poor fella has had it a bit rough and is in need of someone to give him a better life. I think with a visit to a good vet and some TLC, he’ll be ok. Maybe see if you can haggle on his price due to needing veterinary care for the bump and broken nails.

Thanks for responding! We are in Texas, US. I've done a ton of research so I'm confident I can give him everything he needs husbandrywise but I am concerned about the vet bill. I figure he probably needs exam, fecal, abcess drained, antibiotics, nails checked out and possibly bloodwork and xray. So thats a lot right from the beginning.

They have had him 6 months and don't know how old he is or anything about his previous history.

His casque is slightly bent and I was told that could be a sign of mbd.

He has such a great personality though and has been in this tiny enclosure for 6 months. It is all glass also so I worry about respiratory stuff as well.