Anemia

microracer24

microracer24

Member
My 15 month old male Ambilobe has been diagnosed with anemia. The vet described it as non-regenerative as his body is not producing white blood cells. He had a prolapse of his left hemepene on January 1st and it was amputated the same day because the vet said it was too damaged to repair. I caught it right away! He had looked stressed the day before but there was not outward sign of why. I brought him back a few days later because he wasn't looking well. The bloodwork showed the anemia. He then had a series of iron infusions and Baytril because the vet suspected an infection. His health wasn't improving so they took more blood yesterday and the vet said the anemia was worsening because the blood was very watery. His diagnosis was confirmed today with the results of the latest blood test. The iron level has continued to plummet and no young white blood cells. He pooped yesterday and it had blood in it which is why we rushed him to the vet again. We are waiting to get the results of the stool sample but as the vet said even if it's parasites, which I don't think it is, that wouldn't account for his body not producing the white blood cells necessary. He said he is going to talk to a specialist tomorrow but at this point it looks terminal. I guess I'm looking for some of the more experienced keepers to chime in. I know there is at least on vet on the forum that is a cham specialist. I've gone over my husbandry and feel it is good. The vet said that it probably has nothing to do with that though. I have had to feed him repta boost for the last week because he hasn't eaten on his own since December 22nd. Even still he has maintained the same weight he was when I got him at the end of August. And I think the hardest question of all is what to do if it is terminal? My wife and I are pretty torn up right now.
 
microracer24 said:
My 15 month old male Ambilobe has been diagnosed with anemia. The vet described it as non-regenerative as his body is not producing white blood cells. He had a prolapse of his left hemepene on January 1st and it was amputated the same day because the vet said it was too damaged to repair. I caught it right away! He had looked stressed the day before but there was not outward sign of why. I brought him back a few days later because he wasn't looking well. The bloodwork showed the anemia. He then had a series of iron infusions and Baytril because the vet suspected an infection. His health wasn't improving so they took more blood yesterday and the vet said the anemia was worsening because the blood was very watery. His diagnosis was confirmed today with the results of the latest blood test. The iron level has continued to plummet and no young white blood cells. He pooped yesterday and it had blood in it which is why we rushed him to the vet again. We are waiting to get the results of the stool sample but as the vet said even if it's parasites, which I don't think it is, that wouldn't account for his body not producing the white blood cells necessary. He said he is going to talk to a specialist tomorrow but at this point it looks terminal. I guess I'm looking for some of the more experienced keepers to chime in. I know there is at least on vet on the forum that is a cham specialist. I've gone over my husbandry and feel it is good. The vet said that it probably has nothing to do with that though. I have had to feed him repta boost for the last week because he hasn't eaten on his own since December 22nd. Even still he has maintained the same weight he was when I got him at the end of August. And I think the hardest question of all is what to do if it is terminal? My wife and I are pretty torn up right now.
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I had a chameleon that was amemic once and I seem to remember the vet telling me he didn't want to draw any more blood to see if his treatment was working for quite a while because chameleons don't have much blood and taking more could make him more anemic...just a word of caution.
As for the anemia....there could be a few reasons for it and I'm not a vet so I'd rather not comment on it. However...I would like to know what specific supplements you use and dust the insects with. What specifically do you feed the chameleon and what do you feed the insects?
I hope the vet can figure it out.
 
He is a very picky eater. When I first got him he would eat crickets which I was gut loading with cricket crack and a mix of fruits and veggies that I verified to be good for them on the forum. I was also feeding super worms which I gutloaded with WOW Chow from Nick Barta. He likes silk worms but only fed them a few times to him. Dubia roaches with roach bedding chow also from nick and same variety of fruits and veggies as crickets. Horn worms but they only eat the hornworm food. He won't eat crickets or roaches anymore. When He stopped eating he was basically living on supers and hornworms for the last month. Everything is dusted with Repashy Calcium Plus. He had an eye issue so I switched to that. Before the eye issue it was the forum standard calcium w/o D3 every feeding, w/D3 very other week and Vitamins every other week. But I have only had him for 5 months.
 
Timeline: Surgery January 1st. Blood taken January 10th shows Anemia. Bloody stool January 23rd and blood taken reveals iron levels have dropped to lower level than previously despite iron infusions. No young white blood cells.
 
What forms Ana amounts of prefprmed Vitamin A and D3 are in the supplements? What fruits and veggies and greens specifically do you use?
 
Kale carrots squash sweet potatoes apples blueberries zucchini. I read that the vitamin A was the preformed stuff that the chams can absorb. Not sure on the amount of D3 or A per serving but I have read it's a safe amount for everyday use.
 
I'm waiting for the results. I guess it takes a few days? Not sure. But he said even if there are parasites it wouldn't explain the lack of new white blood cells. I'm just trying to find someone with more experience here because I know he has never dealt with this. He said if it was a cat or dog he could do a blood transfusion but that's obviously not an option with a cham so not much else he can do.
 
Your veggies, etc are fine.
PrEformed vitamin A (retinol, etc) is the one you have to be careful with. They can build up and cause problems.
PrOFormed types like beta carotene will not build up in the system.
I wish I could tell you what might be causing the anemia but I don't feel qualified.
Your chameleon wasn't given itraconazole recently was it?
 
I was under the impression that the beta carotene was useless because they don't absorb it. I read it has to be the retinol or whatever it is. Honestly he hasn't eaten anything dusted with the Repashy since December 22nd. No on the Itraconazole. He was administered Baytril and iron.
 
While it's controversial as to whether any chameleons can convert the beta carotene...it is not controversial as to them being able to be overdosed on the prEformed form....so caution is important when using it...and this is why I mentioned it.. It's also important not to overdo the D3 from supplements as it can build up in the chameleon too. D3 produced from exposure to UVB won't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of the UVB at will.
 
Man I would be so upset if that's what caused it. I really did research it... The level of D3 is supposed to be low enough that it's safe for everyday use. The other thing is I only used it for about 2 months if that. I was just hoping that it would help his eye... which does seem to have improved quite a bit. He came with some issues when I got him and I've tried my best to help him. I just wish I had a chameleon specialist in my area. I feel so helpless having to rely on a vet that may not be experienced enough with them. I read that Anemia in reptiles is usually a result of something else going on whether it be disease or infection or something else. I wish someone could put all of the pieces together and have an ahah moment.
 
More clarification....I didn't say that vitamin A is what caused it...I just wanted you to be aware of it.
I can't tell you what's causing the anemia.
 
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