broken leg?

[leerob001]

hi guys i have just noticed on my little guy his front leg seems to be broken i never noticed it before.

he is eating and drinking fine he is also climbing about and doesnt seem to be dragging it he is still gripping with it but it does look unpleasent.

as you can see in pic its just before his elbow.

see the pic any ideas please.

cheers

 

[SoCaliSon]

First thing is... He is suffereing MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease)...and a bad case at that. This calls for a vet visit ASAP.

Next... In order for him to get to this point I am thinking you most likely have some serious holes in your husbandry. If you could answer these questions it will help us get you on the right track.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and type of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

I am guessing your problems lye somewhere in the area of lighting and supplementation.

~Joe

 

[jannb]

You need to take that little guy to the vet right away and get him on liquid calcium. The vet may also give him a shot to get the calcium to the bones quicker. MBD can lead to a painful death it not treated. If you don't have a chameleon vet use this link below to locate one. Jann

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

 

[leerob001]

cheers for advice heres some info.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - screen flexarium 2ftx1ftx1ft
Lighting - exo terra repti-glo 5.0 compact (due to flexarium), 60watt basking lamp on at 0800 off at 2200, 40watt exo terra night-glo moonlight
Temperature - basking 90-95 rest cage 80-85 cage floor 65-70. overnight 70-75 various thermometers.
Humidity - 50-70
Plants - small fiscus
Location - about 4ft of ground not near anf fans of traffic.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Veiled, Male, approx 2 months. Ive had him a month
Handling - sometimes not often tho
Feeding - Crickets, Locusts and occasoinal wax worm. approx 6-10 a day. gut-loading with orange, water cress, romaine lettuce, endive, tropical fish flakes
Supplements - zoomed reptivite everyday used to use nutrobal.
Watering - spray water in 2-3times daily, yes see him drink
Fecal Description - Black and white. Not tested for tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - as above his front leg.

 

[royden]

I'm guessing that supplimentation is the problem.

Straight up calcium dusting (without phosphorous) is recommended, in conjunction with Vit D3.

Still, you need a vet. The effets of MBD are irresversable, but you can still save his life if you get to a vet.

 

[kinyonga]

Compacts have been known to cause eye problems...and I don't think they provide the best range of UVB either. There should be no glass or plastic between the light and the chameleon.

IMHO your gutload needs some improvement. For crickets you can/should use a wider variety of greens (dandelion, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrot, squash, zucchini, sweet red pepper, sweet potato, celery leaves, etc.).

Check your fish flakes to see if they have preformed vitamin A in because the reptivite does...and between the two you may be overdoing it. I dust twice a month with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene source of vitamin A. Beta carotene won't build up in the system like preformed will. There is controversy as to whether chameleons can convert the beta carotene though...so some people give a little preformed once in a while. Excess preformed vitamin A can prevent the D3 from doing its job and lead to MBD.

I use a phosphorous-free calcium powder at most feedings to help make up for the usually poor ratio of calcium to phos. in insects.

I also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder. D3 from supplements can also build up in the system, so don't overdo it.

As for the calcium levels, a vet correct them by giving the chameleon shots of calcium until the blood calcium levels are high enough. When they are high enough he/she can give the chameleon a shot of calcitonin which rapidly draws the calcium back into the bone. Calcium is not only important to the bones but to other functions in the body (such as muscle contractions) so its important to keep it in balance with the D3, vitamin A and phosphorous.

Good luck!

 

[kenya]

I agree with what everyone said so far- MBD, go to the vet, change your lighting and supplement more.

I just wanted to add that though it looks like an attractive little orb, goldfish need at least ten gallons each when they are bigger than juvis. They also need a good filter as they are messy little pigs that really foul up the water (I love them!) You should get a bigger aquarium with a filter for your goldfish- a betta or killie would do well in your orb, though, if you are doing weekly 10-20% water changes, that is.

Here is more info on proper goldfish care:

http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php

http://www.petlibrary.com/goldfish/fishcare.htm

Also, as a last note, my goldies LOVE veggies- it keeps them from having swim bladder problems as well. I usually slice a coin of zucchini for them and the nuke it in a bowl of water for a minute or two so it softens up a little. They also love peas and green beans out of the can or freezer- just make sure to split the skin first. They will also gobble up orange- just slice a thin wedge or circle off and plunk it in for the day- they will suck all the little cells out and nibble the rind.

Hope that helps!

 

[leerob001]

cheers guys i took him to vet today and vet says he has suffered a fracture and lump you see is the bone healing which the vet is happy with tho it will stay slighty deformed.

he went through my husbandry and feeding and was happy with all except a little on supplement and gutloading which was expected.

he has however given me some good advice on the supplements and gutloading the locusts and crickets.



oh and Kenya the fish you see in the orb are a pair of Angel fish not goldfish ive had them about a year now. its a 30 litre orb.

cheers again guys.

 

[jannb]

Did the vet give your cham the calcium? And still get rid of than compact light before it causes you more problems.

 

[leerob001]

hey janbb no he didnt. he didnt even hint about MBD which i was expecting he said he has had the fracture and the bone is healing and procuced a boney lump which is a sign that its healing i was in there quit some time with him he still griping with the arm and pulling himself up on it its not weak. the vet was quite happy with him.

ive just gota give crickets and locusts a wider fruit and veg but also dust their food as well as dusting them on feeding every otherday.

i'll keep an eye on him tho, but at the moment he acting normal eating, drinking, pooping black and white and has always got his tail curled tightly when sitting and sleeping.

 

[SoCaliSon]

I hate to say it... But I don't hve a great feeling about your vet.

Bone Breaks can be huge sign calcium issues and MBD ...and the vet should have known that. The way that leg bows in the pic screams MBD. Something is fishy... To think a vet would see an animal like that...with "bone breaks" and not consider treating with calcium at all is hard to believe. Unless they just have no experience whatsoever with Reptiles.

 

[leerob001]

i understand your concerns the vet is a reptile vet who has seen chams with MBD and calcium def. which he told me the most common problem he has them in for.

he had a good look at him.

i will be keeping a good eye on him tho.

 

[SoCaliSon]

i understand your concerns the vet is a reptile vet who has seen chams with MBD and calcium def. which he told me the most common problem he has them in for.

he had a good look at him.

i will be keeping a good eye on him tho.

And he didn't seem to think that your cham was calcium defincient huh? So what DID the vet do? In my own humble (non veterinary) opinion that is an extremely obvious case of a cham with calcium issues. Like I said something is fishy... Cause now you say it is a vet experienced with calcium deficient herps... But he wasn't worried about your guy? Doesnt make sense.