Bruised Leg? Or something worse?

[ChameSecret]

Hey ChamForums!

So I've noticed Ramona my 9mo female veiled's back left leg has a nobby brown-orange bulge around it. I first noticed it this morning when she walked onto my hand during feeding. Is this what chameleon bruising looks like? I was thinking she must have taken a tumble while climbing around, but what does the presumably much more experienced chamForums hivemind think?

 

[carol5208]

Bruising does not look like that. They bruise and it turns black or dark like we do. is the bump hard when you touch it, or does it seem like it is filled with fluid.? Chameleons can get gout(a build up of uric acid) in their joints. That is a possibility. Did it just appear out of nowhere??

 

[ChameSecret]

Carol to the rescue

is the bump hard when you touch it, or does it seem like it is filled with fluid.?

It is hard, akin to muscle consistency, and she doesn't mind if it is touched, so it either isn't painful or she doesn't want me to know it's painful :/

Did it just appear out of nowhere??

Yes, completely out of nowhere since Thursday, though it's possible I could have missed it developing then.

 

[carol5208]

lol I wouldn't say I am to the rescue, but just trying to give you a possibility. Not 100% convinced that it is gout by the picture you posted. I also had a chameleon that ended up with gout in one knee like that. It usually does effect more than one joint from what I know and is supposed to be caused from too much protein in the diet which was not the case with mine. My guy however, was on baytril on and off for a foot sore for many months and the vet thinks it might have led to some kidney disfunction which inturn caused his kidneys to not properly flush the uric acid out of his system. If it does not go away on its own, you could get some blookwork done, which I also did and my chameleon's uric acid levels were very high. He also did a need aspiration into the bump and under the microscope you could see these spiky looking crystals. He let me look under the microscope and I saw them myself. I hope this is not the case for you as there really is no cure. I know is severe cases, surgery can be done to remove the crystals, which are called tophi. Does your chameleon hang her leg down at all? Usually when they do this consistently it is because they are in pain. Like I said, if it does not go away, I would go see a vet. Here is a link with a few pics from one of our other members who chameleon had gout. This chameleon had multiple growths though as you can see.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/problem-gout-36830/

 

[ChameSecret]

Yes, she is hanging her leg below the branch during basking, perhaps 20% of the time. I'm reading through Ibesok's case and I see some similarities. If it remains this size or becomes bigger during this coming week I'll schedule an appointment but its sudden appearance makes me want to wait and see.

Does anyone have a second opinion?

 

[carol5208]

I hate to say but when my panther got the gout in his knee, it kinda came on sudden also. Well, let's put it this way, it was not apparent to me, but could have been brewing and then just developed to a state where it was noticeable like overnight. My panther also hung his leg down off the branch. Good luck and we'll just hope that is not what it is with yours.

 

[ParabuthusKing]

Could also be a potential burn. What are her basking temps and also the temperature at the very top of the cage? Sometimes they will hang on screen at the top of cage and can get burned this way. Hind leg elbows are a prime area for this to happen. I would monitor temps and check to see if it develops into a worse condition. Otherwise is may be another ailment or just a mild burn which can go away in time with proper care. Wishing her the best!!