Swayne8998
Established Member
It is best to take him just to get a check up to make sure he's healing properly. You may decide not to but it's a huge liability.
Abcess???
- Thread starter Crayola
- Start date
It is best to take him just to get a check up to make sure he's healing properly. You may decide not to but it's a huge liability.
Elizadolots
New Member
Crayola, here's the deal: you have an inexperienced person saying "it's probably a cricket bite" which gets transmitted to someone with knowledge as "my chameleon has a cricket bite" who says "okay, here's the way to treat a cricket bite"....
It's that game of telephone....it went from "probably a cricket bite" to "a cricket bite".
It looks like mouth rot. Here's a picture of another chameleon with it:
If your question to your expert had been "it looks like my chameleon has mouth rot" you probably would have gotten a very different answer than the treatment for a cricket bite.
I understand that you are seeing improvement. That's actually to be expected given you are helping. However, some infections really do require systemic treatment because they get into the blood stream.
Imagine that you had a nasty cut, the kind that are dirty, and you basically ignored it. A few days later it started to get gross so you cleaned it out and put some neosporin on it. Chances are it would initially look better because the tissue at the injury is getting treatment, but the underlying tissue, including all those blood vessels, has been infected. That infection can reappear the day after you stop giving the skin the topical antibiotics. Worse, that infection can spread through your system and cause damage to organs.
It's obviously your choice, but make it an informed choice. If money is the issue, well...things can be done. Vets are in the business to help your pets so they will usually work out payment plans.
It's that game of telephone....it went from "probably a cricket bite" to "a cricket bite".
It looks like mouth rot. Here's a picture of another chameleon with it:
If your question to your expert had been "it looks like my chameleon has mouth rot" you probably would have gotten a very different answer than the treatment for a cricket bite.
I understand that you are seeing improvement. That's actually to be expected given you are helping. However, some infections really do require systemic treatment because they get into the blood stream.
Imagine that you had a nasty cut, the kind that are dirty, and you basically ignored it. A few days later it started to get gross so you cleaned it out and put some neosporin on it. Chances are it would initially look better because the tissue at the injury is getting treatment, but the underlying tissue, including all those blood vessels, has been infected. That infection can reappear the day after you stop giving the skin the topical antibiotics. Worse, that infection can spread through your system and cause damage to organs.
It's obviously your choice, but make it an informed choice. If money is the issue, well...things can be done. Vets are in the business to help your pets so they will usually work out payment plans.
Elizadolots
New Member
Not at all. I'm saying she was told it was a cricket bite and gave you the correct treatment for a cricket bite.
It does not look like a cricket bite, it looks like mouth rot.
I've tried to show you how such a thing could appear to be getting better on the surface while the underlying infection remains.
Please do not get defensive on this. Talk to Holy Toledo about it. I'm really not an asshole (okay, sometimes, but not about health things).
If you decide not to go to a vet (a decision I can completely respect) then do that with your eyes wide open. You need to be keeping an eye on that spot and if it acts up again, you have to know that it means the infection went beyond the surface and needs a vet.
Eltortu
Established Member
I don't agree with the "wait it out" part. You have a pet under your care that needs a vet visit to properly diagnost his condition and give him the proper medication to aid his illnes, something any "experienced" members can't really do. You should have done some research before taking on any pet, so you can evaluate if you can financially take care of it. Vet visits can add up pretty high when a chameleon gets really sick. Good luck to you pet.
Crayola
New Member
I did do my research but like i said i dont get money til aug so right now i cant take him. He seems to be doing fine.
lysinlight87
New Member
Do you have anthing akin to the PDSA (people dispensary for sick animals)? They assess people financially & if they decide you really can't afford vet bills, they provide treatment at a much reduced rate. My nan uses them because she can't afford vet fees on her state pension
Elizadolots
New Member
Nope...but it sounds like a wonderful thing.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
Do you have a parent or somebody that can lend you money? It's not a matter of "oh well it looks better so it's fine". Left without the proper treatment it will only get worse. Mouth rot is very serious and very painful for a chameleon. Someone on here might even lend you cash.
Swayne8998
Established Member
This lady knows her stuff. Listen to her and everyone else that is telling you what to do.Crayola, here's the deal: you have an inexperienced person saying "it's probably a cricket bite" which gets transmitted to someone with knowledge as "my chameleon has a cricket bite" who says "okay, here's the way to treat a cricket bite"....
It's that game of telephone....it went from "probably a cricket bite" to "a cricket bite".
It looks like mouth rot. Here's a picture of another chameleon with it:
If your question to your expert had been "it looks like my chameleon has mouth rot" you probably would have gotten a very different answer than the treatment for a cricket bite.
I understand that you are seeing improvement. That's actually to be expected given you are helping. However, some infections really do require systemic treatment because they get into the blood stream.
Imagine that you had a nasty cut, the kind that are dirty, and you basically ignored it. A few days later it started to get gross so you cleaned it out and put some neosporin on it. Chances are it would initially look better because the tissue at the injury is getting treatment, but the underlying tissue, including all those blood vessels, has been infected. That infection can reappear the day after you stop giving the skin the topical antibiotics. Worse, that infection can spread through your system and cause damage to organs.
It's obviously your choice, but make it an informed choice. If money is the issue, well...things can be done. Vets are in the business to help your pets so they will usually work out payment plans.
In this case, yes.
No, he is not. Mouth rot will painfully kill a chameleon. Either go to the vet now or get someone who can properly care for him.
^^^^
lysinlight87
New Member
http://www.pdsa.org.uk/
It's nice that there's help out there for pets as well as the owners. Maybe a US version will form one day
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
We're not being rude. We're giving you the facts. If that's rude then oh well. Waiting is a BAD idea. It WILL get worse and it WILL be very painful to your chameleon.
Elizadolots
New Member
Crayola, please talk to the vet. They will usually arrange payment plans or delayed payments. If you wait until August it might cost a whole lot more to fix. You might be able to get it fixed now, pay for it in August.
Swayne8998
Established Member
Exactly, I'm sure you can work out something. Like KarmaChameleon said, it's not rudeness, but you are shunning out all the answers that you asked for. I mean no disrespect to your friend but listen to all of us and the experts. This is the vote of many people. Please, would you delay a family member from getting better even if you didn't have the money?
Elizadolots
New Member
I count Holy Toledo as a friend on this board...I think she has some respect for my thoughts...so, again, I'm saying you need to get this chameleon to a vet as soon as possible and you can probably work out a way to get your baby seen NOW and pay later.
pssh
Avid Member
As one young keeper keeper to another, I urge you to take him as soon as possible. Many vets will work out a very affordable payment plan. If all the chameleon needs is antibiotics, you may (depends on location/individual vets) not even have to pay more than $70 for the visit and meds. Plus his small size should warrant concern anyways, so you can discuss the issue with the vet when you go.
HolyToledo
New Member
No flying allowed so trying to find a vet
We were hoping that Crayola could come with Courtney in a week for a visit and I was going to take him to my vet here because the doc here is wonderful. You can take furry or feathered on the plane but not scaled? That just stinks! Like a cham would be any problem...
Crayola's sore (not an "abcess???" as originally posted) is improving but we agree that he is going to go to see a vet. Since it would cost as much to get him here as it would for a vet visit, we are trying to find a GOOOD vet in the Marysville, CA area. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. There are none listed in the Vet Thread. So I am researching other resources. Please help with suggestions if you iknow of any?
We were hoping that Crayola could come with Courtney in a week for a visit and I was going to take him to my vet here because the doc here is wonderful. You can take furry or feathered on the plane but not scaled? That just stinks! Like a cham would be any problem...
Crayola's sore (not an "abcess???" as originally posted) is improving but we agree that he is going to go to see a vet. Since it would cost as much to get him here as it would for a vet visit, we are trying to find a GOOOD vet in the Marysville, CA area. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. There are none listed in the Vet Thread. So I am researching other resources. Please help with suggestions if you iknow of any?
