Little Phil...:(

[FranPhilip]

So. Philip has been battling a case of MBD for almost a month now, and he was getting much better for the last few weeks, until i noticed last week he was not even trying to use his front left foot. His arm still moves and he can get around without using it as much as he was, but it just makes me so sad seeing that. Any ideas how i can help the little guy get strength back in his little arm?

 

[HolyToledo]

What part of his foot are you talking about? Down in his mitten? That is a tough one...

 

[FranPhilip]

What part of his foot are you talking about? Down in his mitten? That is a tough one...

Its like he has no wrist strength. His arm still moves but its like his whole hand wont work...but if something happens to go to his hand he does grab it

 

[FranPhilip]

er...mitten i should say haha!

 

[FranPhilip]

any ideas?

 

[HolyToledo]

They just look like little mittens to me.

Have you wrapped or splinted any of his other injuries? I just saw where someone used thick re-usable straw pieces for splints on their mbd cham and think that is an awesome idea.

When Twister didn't use one of his ankles for a bit, he had a much harder time moving around so I just let him rest and moved his dripper within reach of his perching place and hung a food dish right there too. After about 4 days he started moving around a bit more again.

Good luck! Life with MBD chams is very hard work but they are so worth it!

 

[FranPhilip]

They just look like little mittens to me.

Have you wrapped or splinted any of his other injuries? I just saw where someone used thick re-usable straw pieces for splints on their mbd cham and think that is an awesome idea.

When Twister didn't use one of his ankles for a bit, he had a much harder time moving around so I just let him rest and moved his dripper within reach of his perching place and hung a food dish right there too. After about 4 days he started moving around a bit more again.

Good luck! Life with MBD chams is very hard work but they are so worth it!

That makes sense the straws. If you find any other ideas tell me please and he moves around quite alot its just he has a tough time moving you know?

 

[HolyToledo]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/rescue-6-month-old-veiled-mbd-need-advice-84244/

Found it! It is a great idea and wish I had thought of it. On the worst of Twister's bends and breaks, I used vet wrap and pieces of zip-ties cut to size. But then always worried the wrap was too tight and had to re-do it in the morns to allow circulation at night. Not the really bad breaks tho-they stayed wrapped 3 days at a time.

 

[FranPhilip]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/rescue-6-month-old-veiled-mbd-need-advice-84244/

Found it! It is a great idea and wish I had thought of it. On the worst of Twister's bends and breaks, I used vet wrap and pieces of zip-ties cut to size. But then always worried the wrap was too tight and had to re-do it in the morns to allow circulation at night. Not the really bad breaks tho-they stayed wrapped 3 days at a time.

awesome thank you so much

 

[HolyToledo]

Hey, we "MBD mommies" gotta stick together and help each other out! Just remember I'm here when you need the help...

Keep up the hard work and hope things get better.

 

[FranPhilip]

Hey, we "MBD mommies" gotta stick together and help each other out! Just remember I'm here when you need the help...

Keep up the hard work and hope things get better.

I have a question though, with the straw pieces, how would you get it around his little hand? and also should i put splints on his ankles or just his arm?

 

[FranPhilip]

anything else? Ideas anybody?

 

[jannb]

Hi Travis, Did you ever take Phillip to the vets to make sure it was MBD? There's a shot that the vet can give to draw the calcium into the bones and if he has a fracture they may also give him Metacam and anti inflammatory pain med.

 

[HolyToledo]

Splinting process for MBD leg bones

You asked me about how I used to splint Twister's bends/breaks. After some experimenting, the splints I would put on him that helped the most is kind of a hassle but well worth the battle if he wasn't getting stressed about it.

I found out that the yellow zip ties worked the best for his size.
With zip-tie pieces (2) cut to length of the bone with issue but so they will still allow joint movement and the edges filed round with emery board,
vet-wrap (kinda like ace bandages but sticks to itself--you can buy it at most feed stores/pet supplies or get it at the vet$$ and even cheaper at human med supply place if you can find it like Rite-Aid) cut into strips just a bit wider than the zip-tie piece,
wrap the wrap around the first splint once so splint wouldn't rub against or irritate his skin
then around the section of leg once and put second splint on the opposite side of his leg on top of the wrap and give it a few more wraps around.
TA DA! Sounds simple, right? Yeah, right!!

And, if you get it loose enough (watch for any swelling above and below the wrapped section) but snug enough, you could leave it on for a few days at a time.

Twister earned his name long before he got sick tho and wrapping him was a pain and it usually ended up snugger than I was comfy leaving overnight if I was gonna sleep through the night. lol It did help tho and most of his breaks healed really well after I figured all that out.

An extra set of hands would have been really helpful too!

Good luck and here's hoping for short struggles in your future!

PS: I hope that all makes sense...

 

[PREACHAP]

#addsnothing but wishing you the best

 

[HolyToledo]

Oh, no offense intended by calling you a mommie! I didn't really think Travis was a girls name but that is why "MBD mommies" is in quotes. lol

I guess I should be PC and say nurses or something, huh? But they take such extra mommying when they are sick. I hope you weren't offended.

And, Jann is right, vet supervision is the way to go. Injections of calcium are so much better all around for critters with MBD and then there is another shot that makes the bones absorb the calcium from the bloodstream faster. He will get better so much faster and heal so much better with that treatment. And, without it, it could be a long drawn-out illness that causes soooo many other health issues. I wish Trooper would have been able to withstand the shots. It may have saved his life in the end.

 

[FranPhilip]

Hi Travis, Did you ever take Phillip to the vets to make sure it was MBD? There's a shot that the vet can give to draw the calcium into the bones and if he has a fracture they may also give him Metacam and anti inflammatory pain med.

I keep calling around to find vets but no luck. I will continue my search and let you know for sure Jann.

 

[FranPhilip]

You asked me about how I used to splint Twister's bends/breaks. After some experimenting, the splints I would put on him that helped the most is kind of a hassle but well worth the battle if he wasn't getting stressed about it.

I found out that the yellow zip ties worked the best for his size.
With zip-tie pieces (2) cut to length of the bone with issue but so they will still allow joint movement and the edges filed round with emery board,
vet-wrap (kinda like ace bandages but sticks to itself--you can buy it at most feed stores/pet supplies or get it at the vet$$ and even cheaper at human med supply place if you can find it like Rite-Aid) cut into strips just a bit wider than the zip-tie piece,
wrap the wrap around the first splint once so splint wouldn't rub against or irritate his skin
then around the section of leg once and put second splint on the opposite side of his leg on top of the wrap and give it a few more wraps around.
TA DA! Sounds simple, right? Yeah, right!!

And, if you get it loose enough (watch for any swelling above and below the wrapped section) but snug enough, you could leave it on for a few days at a time.

Twister earned his name long before he got sick tho and wrapping him was a pain and it usually ended up snugger than I was comfy leaving overnight if I was gonna sleep through the night. lol It did help tho and most of his breaks healed really well after I figured all that out.

An extra set of hands would have been really helpful too!

Good luck and here's hoping for short struggles in your future!

PS: I hope that all makes sense...

Haha! I think i got it. It will be a battle trying to wrap it though because he does not like to stay still. Bahahaha Thanks so much ill try to do what i can

 

[FranPhilip]

#addsnothing but wishing you the best

Thank you!

 

[HolyToledo]

Just wondering how things are going. It gets better with practice. And they learn to tolerate it better too.

I was really lucky that I started out with a very friendly and cuddly cham (unusually lovable for a veiled I've been told). And, even with Twister, wrapping could be one heck of an adventure.