Injured or ingrown I don't know

[Hofftian743]

HI my name is Tiana I have a panther chameleon named Charlie, he is 10 months old and Injoys climbing on the stryfoam he has at the back of his tank. Sometimes he falls from it and I think this may have injured his toe. On his back two legs by his nails it doesn't look like he has toe nails I think that theyou are either grown in or he has injured them. I didn't know if I should take him to the vet because he seems to have back grip on those back feet. He often slides when climbing. Can some one please give me some info on want to do ??

 

[jpowell86]

HI my name is Tiana I have a panther chameleon named Charlie, he is 10 months old and Injoys climbing on the stryfoam he has at the back of his tank. Sometimes he falls from it and I think this may have injured his toe. On his back two legs by his nails it doesn't look like he has toe nails I think that theyou are either grown in or he has injured them. I didn't know if I should take him to the vet because he seems to have back grip on those back feet. He often slides when climbing. Can some one please give me some info on want to do ??

Tiana, it sounds like your chameleon may have pulled the toenails out while climbing on the foam. This happens a lot with chameleons in screen cages once they get too large. When their nails get pulled out, you will usually see puffiness and swelling around the base of the toe. If there is swelling in the foot, you could have an infection setting in.

Could you please post a pic of the feet that have lost nails. It would be easier to see if vet care is required that way.

 

[Hofftian743]

I made him mad trying to take that pic but it looks the same as the one in the pic but the nail is worn down

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear that Charlie is having toe problems. I have been through those. I recommend a vet and an x-ray. It may very well be an infection and the infection can get in their bones and it often travels up the leg.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear that Charlie is having toe problems. I have been through those. I recommend a vet and an x-ray. It may very well be an infection and the infection can get in their bones and it often travels up the leg.

You can't be serious. You recommend an x-ray based on a blurry picture of damaged toe nails and feet?

 

[Decadancin]

I see inflammation and an injury from trauma to the toe area. It wouldn't be out of the question for infection to occur. I'm not so sure if I believe that styrofoam would cause nails to be ripped out. Even falling wouldn't normally cause this. Climbing on screen is likely the culprit here. Does your chameleon do this?

I don't think a vet visit is a bad idea, but I think more may be going on here. With toe nails missing, and what sounds like grip issues I would likely suggest a vet visit as well. I don't know if x-rays would show anything, but it may. If the problem has gone unnoticed for a while if may be worse than we know.

@jajeanpierre , I'm guessing the advice was based on more than just the picture. I would guess that it is based on experience with a similar issue with toe problems, but I don't know for sure.

 

[alphakenc]

If the nail is completed off the nailbed,the chance are it wont grow back in an older cham,my suggestion to u is have proper size of the branch and soft vine,so his feet can wrap around it .
Nail can be injured from but not limited to climbing on a screen cage and accidentally falling or letting the cham walk on the object when their feet can not grap and hold on to the object or letting chameleons walk on a carpet n the nail got caught into the carpet n try to break away..etc,
U can ask ur vet to take a look on the broken nail part,since the concern will be focusing on the secondary infection if there is a risk involved.