Chameleon has weird growth?

[PolarBear]

Hello,

Just recently noticed that my chameleon has a weird growth or possibly somthing sticking out the side. He absolutely does not want to be handled right now. He moves still to go lay in the light but he seems unsure of his footings.

Cage-
auto mist
auto fog
humid control
light / temp control
dimension 2x2x3

eating crickets and calcium supplemented meal worms

 

[Benton1576]

That chameleon has the most severe case of MBD I have ever seen!

The growth on the side looks like a broken rib to me. You need to take him/her to a vet, ASAP.

Hello,

Just recently noticed that my chameleon has a weird growth or possibly somthing sticking out the side. He absolutely does not want to be handled right now. He moves still to go lay in the light but he seems unsure of his footings.

Cage-
auto mist
auto fog
humid control
light / temp control
dimension 2x2x3

eating crickets and calcium supplemented meal worms

 

[Miss Lily]

Looks like the poor little thing is suffering with MBD (metabolic bone disease). The lump could possibly be a broken rib. I think the best advice here is to take the cham to the vets. It's arms look 'bendy' (typical in MBD cases) and it's mouth doesn't look normal either. Please fill out the 'How to ask for help form' as best you can.

 

[JonRich]

I also agree with MBD.. What are you supplementing? (you mentioned calcium , what kind and did you just start?)

 

[justjumpit621]

That is probably the worst case of metabolic bone disease I have ever seen poor little one. you definitely need a vet to help him as well as please fill out this form with your info and we can hopefully help your little one.


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.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types 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?
Placement - 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?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[Kibu]

Oh gosh, that is a severe case of MBD. The vets may advise to put him down. He looks a little to far gone. That "growth" does look like a broken rib.

 

[lisagr07]

Oh my gosh!!! That it pitiful!!!!!! Please get him to a vet, he needs help BAD!!!!!!!

 

[Solid Snake]

View attachment 55882 he obviously has MAJOR husbandry probs.

Oh, and I know when people see a chameleon in bad shape they start bashing the owner. I honestly don't want to see any of that on this thread. It doesn't help anybody.

These two statements kind of contradict each other.

Polarbear,fill out this form

Could you provide more information on how you are caring for them?
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.
Cage Info: Cage Type- Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types 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?
Placement - 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?
Location- Where are you geographically located?
Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.
Pictures are helpful

That was already posted -_-


Yes, that is a broken rib.

The chameleon does have MBD.

This can be healed, but not reversed.

The chameleon can still live, if the broken rib can be dealt with.

A vet is your only option here. They can asses the rib.

If the rib can be handled, they will give him a shot of calcium, then a shot to make his bones rapidly absorb said calcium.

MBD is when for some reason,(there are many factors) the animal cannot process calcium normally. The body uses calcium from the bones instead.

Aside from the vet, you will need to correct the husbandry issue, which filling out the form above will help us, help you with.

Im sorry your chameleon is unwell.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

PolarBear - Unfortunately your little chameleon is in a very bad way. The broken rib is actually the least of its problems at this point. Your chameleon is very stunted, has leg, jaw and casque deformities and is most certainly suffering from a severe case of Metabolic bone disease, which affects the entire body.

Metabolic Bone Disease is unfortunately a common disease of reptiles due to lack of dietary calcium, imbalanced nutrition and/or lack of UVB rays. Just one of these things can cause serious disease even if the other aspects are all present. UVB rays are needed in reptiles to produce Vitamin D3 in the skin, which is necessary to absorb calcium from the food. Without UVB rays from either unfiltered sunlight or a UVB producing bulb then your chameleon cannot absorb the calcium you are giving it. If you are not providing an adequate level of calcium in the diet then no amount of UVB will make up for it. Too high levels of phosphorus in the diet will interfere with calcium absorption so even with good calcium levels and UVB the body is still not getting enough. To compensate for inadequate calcium absorption the body will pull calcium directly out of the bones so there is enough calcium for critical functions like muscle movement and metabolism. On x-rays the bones may not even show up in the end stages because there is so little calcium left. MBD affected animals (doesn't just happen to reptiles) can have bones break just walking because they are so weak. MBD eventually kills them because the body needs calcium for many bodily processes. Signs of MBD include stunted growth, bent legs bones, fractures of those bones (double elbows or knees), grabbing at its own legs, tongue not shooting as far, a soft jaw, the mouth doesn’t close all the way, etc.

Damage from MBD cannot be reversed completely but the process can be stopped and the bones can heal if proper UVB is supplied and the imbalance of dietary calcium is addressed (see nutrition section). A vet may have to give injectable calcium to replace the deficit in more than mild cases (yours is much more than mildly affected). It is very important to address MBD as soon as symptoms are noticed to stop the damage being done.

You need to see a qualified reptile vet asap if your chameleon is to have any chance of recovery. At this point it is going to be a long hard road to normal health, and the sooner you get on the better the chances. If you are unable to get it the care it needs or feel in over your head about this you should consider humanely euthanizing it before it suffers any more. Broken bones are painful, and more of them are going to break simply from the weight of its own body because the bones are so frail. Please don't put it through that.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Here's some information I hope will help you:

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

A wide variety of insects that have been well fed and gutloaded should be fed to it.

Since many of the feeder insects we use in captivity have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Please note that various supplements have various amounts of D3 and vitamin A and so some can be given more often than others. The idea still is not to overdo the fat soluble vitamins like D3 and prEformed vitamin A.

A bit more explanation...
PrOformed vitamin A (beta carotene) can not build up in the system comes from veggies and greens.
PrEformed vitamin A (retinol, retinal, etc.) comes from animal sources (meat, liver, whole milk, cheese, egg, dog food, cat food, etc.) as well as "man-made" sources found in vitamin pills (acetate, palmitate, etc.) and all of these ones can build up in the system and cause problems (MBD, reproductive issues, etc.).

Here are some good sites for you to read too...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

Thank you Dr. D for chiming in here
anne

 

[Trace]

Thread cleaned up. Play nice folks; bickering is not going to help this animal.

I disagree that it is a broken rib but a foreign body that was accidentally ingested. Ribs in chameleons are thin and that object is thick and rounded. I've had a few rescues that have passed foreign bodies but that one may require surgery to extract. Like others have stated, he needs veterinary attention.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

It does look odd for a rib now that I look again. It would be an odd angle for a broken rib anyway come to think of it. Do you have mulch in the cage? Looks like it could be a chunk of mulch that sticking out in an unnatural way since the ribs are probably extremely weak and potentially broken from MBD. Good call Trace!

 

[maxttu]

Can this be in ANY way photoshopped? What's with his tail? Looks like a stub coming off of the actual tail? Or maybe just a bad angle/reflection? (I'm looking at this on my phone...) :/

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

There is definitely some photoshopping or photo overexposure going on. If you notice there are two lines of spikes on the chin, and double toes. I didn't see the tail but you're right there. Not sure what's going on with that, but the protruding object looks pretty real. Even if not, this is still a severe case of MBD.

 

[justjumpit621]

There is definitely some photoshopping or photo overexposure going on. If you notice there are two lines of spikes on the chin, and double toes. I didn't see the tail but you're right there. Not sure what's going on with that, but the protruding object looks pretty real. Even if not, this is still a severe case of MBD.

Yeah not sure what's up with the double toes in the back

 

[Zajlol]

Some parts of the picture does look to be photoshopped, the tail like ends in one spot and so does some parts on the face.

 

[Brad]

I believe it's an HDR photo, which is a composite of multiple images.

 

[justjumpit621]

I believe it's an HDR photo, which is a composite of multiple images.

Why would someone do that?

 

[maxttu]

This photo is an example of HDR.