Chameleon can’t open mouth all the way-not able to eat

[The Wild One]

I don’t knowww but the way he acts that’s what it seems, or like it hyper extended. Because besides the not being able to open the mouth to eat he’s functioning completely normal in all other aspects. His bones feel strong, they aren’t bent funny, he’s wanting to eat and drink so it’s not like he has a lack of any appetite, he’s still moving around his cage like normal.

Chameleons are really good at hiding illness and I believe injuries as well, I think it could be the muscle was torn or something like that but I’m not experienced enough to to know what this is.

 

[nightanole]

I had a veiled with this in the 1990's. The veil side of mouth, and at the end even the eye sockets, swelled, just like OP. The cham was 6 years old and this had slowly been building over 90 days. I decided to put him down vs trying to squeeze out another set of "months" with no real quality of life. After he was gone, the vet said the jaw was impossible to open. I did not pay for an autopsy or blood work.

This was in the dark ages, so it had nothing to do with too much lighting or to high of D3 (i use stick tongue farms). Im guessing it was a vit A deficiency that causes an infection in the sinus, which caused a blockage, which seized up everything.

 

[aubslemond]

I had a veiled with this in the 1990's. The veil side of mouth, and at the end even the eye sockets, swelled, just like OP. The cham was 6 years old and this had slowly been building over 90 days. I decided to put him down vs trying to squeeze out another set of "months" with no real quality of life. After he was gone, the vet said the jaw was impossible to open. I did not pay for an autopsy or blood work.

This was in the dark ages, so it had nothing to do with too much lighting or to high of D3 (i use stick tongue farms). Im guessing it was a vit A deficiency that causes an infection in the sinus, which caused a blockage, which seized up everything.

Interesting, how would you reverse that, antibiotics ?

 

[aubslemond]

Interesting, how would you reverse that, antibiotics ?

Also does anyone know if this would be a reliable product to help give him some nutrients?

 

[nightanole]

Interesting, how would you reverse that, antibiotics ?

Antibiotics and vit A shot. Odds are if the vet just drains it, it will fill back in an hour or 2.

Also anything from flukers is pretty poor...

check out the repashy stuff.

 

[kinyonga]

What ever happened with this jaw issue?

 

[aubslemond]

What ever happened with this jaw issue?

Did some more research on UVB and we have compacted ones so even tho it was recommended by the store I recognized they weren’t the best so we have ordered the correct T5 HO linear uvbs so hopefully that helps even more, he is still eating and drinking good and opening his mouth wider each time and sticking his tongue out farther but still hasn’t worked up to the full shooting his tongue out.

 

[kinyonga]

Glad that you decided to change the UVB light!
Hope he recovers fully soon. Keep us posted.