Foot Problem (Tommy)

[Miss Lily]

As if it wasn't enough to lose a lobe, Tommy now seems to have trouble with his foot!

When Tommy was out having a walkabout today I noticed that he doesn't walk on tip toes on his front right foot. It seems to just roll forwards onto the top of his foot. His grip is strong and it doesn't appear to be painful. I have also noticed (now I am worried I keep checking on him!) that he also 'feels' for places in his cage like normal before placing this foot, but he doesn't seem to 'feel' things like he does with the other feet.

I have a vet appointment booked for Monday - that is the earliest I can see the reptile vet. Sadly, I don't have any history on Tommy - I am his 5th owner and have had him since November last year. Here's a video of him walking so you can see what is happening.

http://s596.photobucket.com/albums/...gust 2010/?action=view&current=PoorlyFoot.mp4

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

HMM im so sorry Tiff. I hope it is nothing serious and Tommy will be ok but to me that looks like he maybe did something to his wrist(i guess thats what you call it)? Has he fallen in his cage lately? I hope he is alright

 

[jamncristian]

I hope everything will go ok with Tommy

 

[jannb]

Tiff I hope all goes well at the vet Monday....maybe it will be gone by Monday. Fingers crossed.

 

[reptimom]

Maybe one of his feeders bit him?!

 

[Miss Lily]

HMM im so sorry Tiff. I hope it is nothing serious and Tommy will be ok but to me that looks like he maybe did something to his wrist(i guess thats what you call it)? Has he fallen in his cage lately? I hope he is alright

I haven't seen him fall, although I am now worried that he will do!

Maybe one of his feeders bit him?!

I know it isn't that - I hand feed or cup feed both him and Amy. When I cup feed I hold the cup out to them, I don't leave any feeders in with them at all.

Poor l'il man. He looks disabled. He moves around his cage pretty normally, but I am worried that he might fall when climbing downwards.

 

[FFSTRescue]

It looks like nerve or tendon damage. If it starts happening to the other feet, it usually indicates neurological dysfunction originating in the brain stem. At least he has a good owner to care for him if it is a disability

 

[Miss Lily]

It looks like nerve or tendon damage. If it starts happening to the other feet, it usually indicates neurological dysfunction originating in the brain stem. At least he has a good owner to care for him if it is a disability

Thank you. I love him to bits, he's so sweet and loveable. Have you seen this before? What does this entail for him and us? I will do whatever is best for him, regardless of cost, to maintain his quality of life.

Strangely enough, if I hadn't put him on the floor I wouldn't have known what was going on with that foot. He is acting normally and is his usual happy self.

 

[Thompson]

I'm so sorry all these things have been happening to you and tommy! I hope the vet will be able to solve everything for you

 

[FFSTRescue]

If it is systemic or affects the brain, it is usually seen with more than one foot involved, which makes me think it is just a problem with the nerves in that leg, which if that is the case, he would be fine, it will just be slightly challenging for him to walk. Did he possibly eat a toxic plant or fertilizer? Is there anything you can think of that he may have ingested?

 

[Miss Lily]

His plants have pebbles on the dirt and he only has schefflera in his cage so no access to poisonous plants/substances either.

 

[FFSTRescue]

Loss of righting reflex (when they can't place their foot in the correct position for walking) is commonly seen with hypoglycemia, so has he stopped eating for a little bit? You can always give him some dextrose and see if it improves.

Or it could be an early sign of MBD or it could due to a vitamin/mineral deficiency... I know lack of vitamin B can cause neurologic problems. It could also be caused by a pathogen if it is in fact neurologic. I am not trying to scare you, I just want to cover all areas and help you narrow it down.

 

[Miss Lily]

No, he's still eating ok. I did in the last month reduce to feeding every other day, but if anything he's been eating better since then.

 

[lisagr07]

It looks like nerve or tendon damage. If it starts happening to the other feet, it usually indicates neurological dysfunction originating in the brain stem. At least he has a good owner to care for him if it is a disability

i hate to agree, but i do.
i looks to me to be a neurological problem (i worked in Neuro Surgery, people of course, a few years ago and this is similar to some of the defects we saw in people with different types of neurological disorders.. fortunately, many of them were short lived disabilities, which is what i hope Tommy's case!!!!
the answer is.... "you won't know until you get him checked out"....

hoping all goes well!! please let us know how things go!!!!! lisa

 

[Miss Lily]

Update after vets!

Just returned from the vets with Tommy. The vet seemed to think that Tommy has some nerve damage to his foot and is hoping that he will start to recover in a couple of weeks. I am so relieved! At least he didn't have to be xrayed (vet said that it wouldn't show anything anyway with soft tissue damage).

I asked about Tommy's lobe, but didn't get any answers with that - although the vet did say that the lobe would grow back! Hmm, I have my doubts on that one. He also has some retained shed along his back too which the vet suggested bathing with warm water and a q-tip, which I have been doing anyway. Tommy was very well behaved and only gaped when the vet was prodding around behind his lobe - he didn't even hiss, bless him. He shows more aggression to the washing line, lol!

The check up cost just £13.22, which is a small price to pay for my precious boy.

 

[hallenhe]

Glad to hear the positive report on Tommy; hope he's back to full function (and fully able to protect you from the Evil Washing Line) soon!

 

[Matt1851]

Very good that tommy is ok! he looks like a tough cham anyways he will be fine

 

[jannb]

Great news Tiff. I'm glad that Tommy will be back to himself soon.

 

[Nutbeam]

My Chameleon is literally going through the same thing. how was Tommy after a few weeks?