My chameleons back is sloughing off

[Fin212]

I feel like a neglectful POS.
I've had my chameleon at the vet a few times because of an RI that I think came about due to stress when I was moving house.
Then the basking lamp fell on top of the cage when I was at work and when I fixed the lamp he looked okay but the tissue started turning black. The vets assured me it was a burn and the tissue would eventually Slough off. It's been a while but now it's happening and I am freaking out.
I'm trying to treat with silver sulphadine and tamodine but because of where the open wound is he keeps reopening it and I'm terrified he's suffering.
I can't get a vet appointment until next week and I feel so ashamed I've let this happen.
Pictures are of when it started to open, then the ones with the cream are from today, it just keeps getting worse and I feel so useless.

 

[elizaann2]

Hello and welcome!

I am so sorry about your beautiful boy. Try not to beat yourself up over this, it sounds like it was an accident and unfortunately, accidents happen. I would suggest getting him into the vet as soon as you possibly can just to make sure you are doing everything correctly in order for him to heal well and without infection as well as help assure he is not in any pain.

I'd also make sure your heat lamp is adjusted in a way that it cannot fall again and burn him a second time...although I'm sure you already did this

Hearing this happened and you had a previous RI, would you be open to completing a husbandry review? Everyone on here is super nice and just want to help chameleons, no shaming, no blaming, just love and compassion.

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi and welcome. I’m sorry this happened to you and your guy. From what I can see, the tissue beneath the black dead tissue is bright red and healthy. It is one of those things that will look worse while it is getting better. Keeping it clean and with a light layer of the silver sulfadiazine cream is the best you can do right now until you can get in to see your vet. As the cream dries and your chameleon moves, it will look like it’s cracking and that’s unavoidable.
It is very important that you are feeding your insect feeders well so that they are more nutritious for your guy. Some feeders are more nutritious than others, so giving him a variety of staple feeders is a good idea too. Roaches and silkworms are some of the more nutritious ones.

 

[kinyonga]

What’s the cream you’re using on it? A visit with a good chameleon vet would be your best option IMHO.

 

[jannb]

What’s the cream you’re using on it? A visit with a good chameleon vet would be your best option IMHO.

I agree! A vet visit is in order. That could also be infected.