lockjaw

[sassyboots]

my veiled PeterLorre has been diagnosed with lockjaw. It has been a very hard thing to deal with and we are currently on syringe feedings. I have little hope for him but am posting because I am really confused as to what happened. He was a healthy 3.5 year old, he had a check up in January and his calcium and phos levels were excellent as well as other numbers, no MBD, eating like a champ pretty much every day I never handled him unless I had to. My cage set up is just like everyone else. Giant screened cage, Live plants (corn and Pothos), UVB (NOT COMPACT) changed out every 6 months, Sprayed regularly, crickets gut loaded and dusted etc. He was living life and doing great.
He had an eye infection in February, in March lost the use of his tongue but could still eat worms or things that didn't run away. Just last month he can't open his mouth enough to feed himself. I have been in and out of the vet since March and I'm in over $1400 now. We have done several blood tests over the months and everything is normal. tried medicines, vitamins, etc. My vet specializes in reptiles and has been head of veterinary and reptile associations so this isn't his first trip around the block. He says this is rare but not unheard of, and when they get it they get it mostly for specific reasons that when treated will help. They haven't. He's even done physical therapy and tried to work with opening and closing his jaw. He has consulted other vets. Now I have the choice to go major invasive and put in feeding tubes or do some surgery on the muscles of the jaw (which runs the chance of healing back the way it was) because the syringe feedings are not keeping his weight up. I work full time. I feed him in the morning and night with Carnivore care, which i know has mixed reviews on this site, but I trust my vet.
Since I have had to handle PeterLorre every day since March, I have noticed that he did get used to me and he is almost friendly. he doesn't even change colors anymore unless you really are doing something he doesn't like. The vet can get him to change colors. I have actually grown more attached to him then I ever was because of our interactions. So this is sort of a rant because no outside people really understand but also an inquiry to see if anyone else has dealt with this, and maybe some insight to how this could have happened. could this be hereditary? He has no major issues til this point. i'm trying to do everything I can and he's not getting better, is this a good quality of life for this poor guy?

anyway. thanks for reading. its been a hard and frustrating 6 months. and i suspect i actually am posting this in the wrong part of the forum. sorry about that.

 

[cricketkilla]

Sounds like the infection moved into other tissues through the sinus cavity and festered in the mouth without physical symptoms until it was to late. I'm so sorry... Ill pray for him to pull through.

 

[cricketkilla]

my veiled PeterLorre has been diagnosed with lockjaw. It has been a very hard thing to deal with and we are currently on syringe feedings. I have little hope for him but am posting because I am really confused as to what happened. He was a healthy 3.5 year old, he had a check up in January and his calcium and phos levels were excellent as well as other numbers, no MBD, eating like a champ pretty much every day I never handled him unless I had to. My cage set up is just like everyone else. Giant screened cage, Live plants (corn and Pothos), UVB (NOT COMPACT) changed out every 6 months, Sprayed regularly, crickets gut loaded and dusted etc. He was living life and doing great.
He had an eye infection in February, in March lost the use of his tongue but could still eat worms or things that didn't run away. Just last month he can't open his mouth enough to feed himself. I have been in and out of the vet since March and I'm in over $1400 now. We have done several blood tests over the months and everything is normal. tried medicines, vitamins, etc. My vet specializes in reptiles and has been head of veterinary and reptile associations so this isn't his first trip around the block. He says this is rare but not unheard of, and when they get it they get it mostly for specific reasons that when treated will help. They haven't. He's even done physical therapy and tried to work with opening and closing his jaw. He has consulted other vets. Now I have the choice to go major invasive and put in feeding tubes or do some surgery on the muscles of the jaw (which runs the chance of healing back the way it was) because the syringe feedings are not keeping his weight up. I work full time. I feed him in the morning and night with Carnivore care, which i know has mixed reviews on this site, but I trust my vet.
Since I have had to handle PeterLorre every day since March, I have noticed that he did get used to me and he is almost friendly. he doesn't even change colors anymore unless you really are doing something he doesn't like. The vet can get him to change colors. I have actually grown more attached to him then I ever was because of our interactions. So this is sort of a rant because no outside people really understand but also an inquiry to see if anyone else has dealt with this, and maybe some insight to how this could have happened. could this be hereditary? He has no major issues til this point. i'm trying to do everything I can and he's not getting better, is this a good quality of life for this poor guy?

anyway. thanks for reading. its been a hard and frustrating 6 months. and i suspect i actually am posting this in the wrong part of the forum. sorry about that.

Man that sucks.. I know how you feel.

 

[jannb]

I have had the same thing going on with my little man. We finally found out that he has a bone infection and that's what's locking the jaws. He is now on a very powerful antibiotic. You can read about his problem and medical attention he's getting here. https://www.chameleonforums.com/update-luie-s-health-issues-91238/

 

[sassyboots]

thanks I appreciate the sympathy.
The infection started in his eye and was in his mouth and sinus. Almost like a sinus infection in people. Swabs were done regularly in his mouth and eyes. the infection lingered in the mouth longer then the eye and he was on antibiotics until swabs showed it cleared. Signs of infections and that he was fighting one previously showed up in blood work and eventually cleared. Three different vets agreed that the infection was not the cause.

 

[jannb]

Dental xRays were the only thing that showed the infection in the bones. Since your guy had previously had infections maybe they moved into his bones. It's worth checking out. You might want to read my thread about it linked above.

 

[sassyboots]

Dental xRays were the only thing that showed the infection in the bones. Since your guy had previously had infections maybe they moved into his bones. It's worth checking out. You might want to read my thread about it linked above.

Thanks, I just did.
I agree that this sounds like what I am dealing with. with the exception of his movement. PL has never shown signs of loss in grip and movement. There are also no masses anywhere on his body.
I will mention the bone infection to my vet. thanks so much for the additional insight.
BTW- how is yours now?
Also, forgot to mention they thought it was neurological at first so they have been monitoring and testing grip and movement.

 

[carol5208]

sorry to hear about your chameleon not doing well. I was going to tell you to contact JannB but she beat me to it. You are another example of no matter how great the care, these animals can still get sick on us. BTW I love your avatar. I was just in Chicago in July/Aug and was downtown and drove right by the big bean!! Have not made it to the actual park yet, but it is on my list next time I go! good luck with your guy and I hope you get to the bottom of what is going on. oh and Go Bears!!

 

[nightanole]

Unfortunately i lost one to this. It is an infection, mine even puffed up his crest completely. It was decided to put him down since by that point i couldnt even get the mouth open enough to get food or liquid in(really sad since he could do everything but eat). It was so bad we couldnt even open the mouth after he was gone.

It was almost a carbon copy of yours. fine cham(No MBD), then within 2 months the tongue stops working and the mouth is sealed shut.

If yours recovers please post what meds they were given.

 

[jannb]

Thanks, I just did.
I agree that this sounds like what I am dealing with. with the exception of his movement. PL has never shown signs of loss in grip and movement. There are also no masses anywhere on his body.
I will mention the bone infection to my vet. thanks so much for the additional insight.
BTW- how is yours now?
Also, forgot to mention they thought it was neurological at first so they have been monitoring and testing grip and movement.

Luie has always had a firm grip. That never changed but the bone infection was causing his bone to get weak and break. Luie has been on the Cipro since Saturday and I do think I can see an improvement. The very best of luck to you and your guy.

 

[sassyboots]

that's really great. I'm glad to hear there is improvement
My vet and I did discuss the potential of a bone infection but only biopsy would confirm for sure and he didn't think that was the case since he was moving fine and was not showing signs of pain and he didn't feel anything abnormal in his body. I declined the biopsy because of cost and anesthesia. I'm hoping we can discuss trying the antibiotics without biopsy. it isn't ideal obviously, but cost does come into play and i'm already racking up the CC's on this one. if he will die from this when his mouth closes for good and i can't get anything in, I think its worth the risk.

 

[jannb]

They have to do a culture and a sensetivity test to see which antibiotic with work on the type of infection he has. When you can no longer feed him you can use a feeding tube. Dr. Mader just used a local to numb when he did the biopsy.