Mouth Infection

[kelgan]

So I have posted before about our Panther Chamaleon's mouth problems... Here is the link to the original post and the responses.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/black-spots-my-juvenile-panther-chameleon-105957/

Basically Jesus, our 5 month old male panther has had a mouth infection for over a month now. We took him to a vet and she gave us cream and oral medicine to give to him. She said it was a bad infection but minor because it had not spread to his jaw. Other than the infection, she said he was healthy and hydrated. We gave him 2 weeks of the medication and 2 more weeks have passed and it still hasn't shown any signs of getting better. If anything, it seems to get worse (not drastically) but still worse.

So basically this is just another attempt to see if anyone has any insight on something we could do to help him get better? Or any information really that could help?

Here is an updated picture of his mouth, you can see the infection at the tip.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/521990_10151939488989465_345982660_n.jpg

Please let us know, we really love him and want him to get better and live a long and happy life!

 

[Kate]

Because this has not got better after treatment, I would suggest you revisit your vet. There is more than one treatment they can give you. Because it was a bad infection several weeks ago the longer you leave it the worse it could get. He is a good looking boy by the way

 

[kinyonga]

Generallywith mouth infections in chameleons you will not get rid of it unless the infected areas are cleaned out well. The bacteria that is almost always involved is pseudomonas and it's not an easy one together rid of. It's opportunistic and gram negative. The chameleon will need to being antibiotics after the cleaning out is done too. Don't leave it too long to treat because it can spread.

 

[kelgan]

We already treated him with what the vet gave us. Which was surgical soap to cleanse the area, then apply antibiotic cream and give him oral drops of antibiotics. It hasn't shown to make a difference yet... taking him back to the vet would be ideal, but the money situation has us in a bind, in which it would be hard to take him for another appointment seeing that they cost close to 200$ with the checkup, meds, transportation etc.

I know it is impossible to put a price on our little guy we love so damn much. Do you think it would beneficial to continue using the soap to clean out this area daily? We finished the dosage of medicine and have the left over soap.

 

[mcanham]

Novasolon (chlorhexidine diacetate) is what I have used for stomatitis with a rainbow boa. It's more of a disinfectant rinse. Betadine rinse or hydrogen peroxide rinse can also be used. If the infections gets into the bone it will be bad. Work fast and carefully. They do not need to swallow these things either. I would remove any debris with a q tip dipped in a solution of the Novasolon and then wipe infected area with a saturated new q tip. Then rinse with water. This was with a snake btw. Is there any cheesy build up around the wound?

 

[pssh]

I would have a sensitivity culture done to be sure of what the infection is. Otherwise, your vet can treat it blindly all they want, but it might not help at all. Maybe look for a cheaper (but still experienced) vet? Also ask about payment plans. My vet uses Care Credit (any kind of payment plan is a life saver if your pet needs really expensive procedures done and you can't pay all at once.)