My Jackson Cham's eyes wont open! (Help!)

[fizzyizze]

This is my first time I have had a problem with him. He is a male Jackson (three horned) and has been healthy lately. He is in his cage now and when I came in both eyes were closed and I blew on him a little to wake him up. He didn't respond, and that scared me, so I sprayed him with the mister. He just kind of scrunched up his eyes in annoyance. I noticed that one of the eyes was slightly indented, and that didn't worry me at first because of the way that happens sometimes, but then I noticed that the other one was out all the way... Like normal... So the summary is:

One eye more 'in' than other
Both eyes closed
Not responding very well
Won't drink or eat when he rarely opens his eyes.

Thanks for any help, once again this is my first time finding a sickness or problem so I'm having a heart attack here.

 

[fizzyizze]

Please email me if you have any suggestions. I will check in every once in a while. Title the subject on the mail "Your Jackson" Or "Help for Cham Eye Problem"

 

[fizzyizze]

I'm new, also I think I am allowed to post my Email... But I will check rules first.

 

[ballz]

I'm no expert but if you're chameleon is THAT unresponsive and that intent on keeping his eyes closed, I suggest you see the vet immediately. The internet is a great tool but you probably wouldn't google "how to stop someone from having a heart attack" and it should be no different with your chameleon.

 

[fizzyizze]

He will move, and he got onto my hand, and at first I thought that maybe he is just tired... But still.... I thought maybe it is like Pink Eye, where he can't open it well. My sister had a small cold, but it's basically gone now... I will check on him again now and see if it was just a small thing. One sec...

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

I'm no expert but if you're chameleon is THAT unresponsive and that intent on keeping his eyes closed, I suggest you see the vet immediately. The internet is a great tool but you probably wouldn't google "how to stop someone from having a heart attack" and it should be no different with your chameleon.

ballz is right on. Get than Cham to the vet. Make sure the Vet is familiar with Chameleon

Here are some vet resources.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/veterinarian-resources-67/


This will help everyone on here help you. Please answer the questions below

Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.



Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage construction (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and type of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
• Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

Pictures are helpful

 

[Lancecham]

It is possible that there is some infection in the eye. More than likely, an eye infection is a secondary response to something else that is wrong.
IN EITHER CASE, YOUR JACKSON NEEDS TO SEE A VET ASAP.
If you wait too long, it may reach a point of no return and after that any interventions by a vet will be futile.

 

[fizzyizze]

I'm sorry... I just check and when I came in he had botheyes normal, open and moving. He watched me and then he followed a cricket with his eyes, got up a bit tochase it, and then stopped when it made its way into the shadowy corner. Its dark here, sohe doesn't normally chase anything too far. I think he might not like the fact that I am wearing white tank with a few sequins at the top that might be assumed dots of coloring or skin... And blue jeans. He has never been exposed to any other chameleon except for when he was a baby and born with a sister. I think that he might just be refusing to look at me of something, because if I spy on him he will open his eyes. The one that was not bulged is bulged again now, I don't know why he did that. he might just be weird, but I'll check with a cham vet by phon to see if he'll come over to the house. Thanks to both of you! I will still check regularly on him to make sure, but now he is asleep with normal reactions. I actually think at first he may have passed out? He responds now, even when he shuts his eyes. When he was unresponsive, he was in his kind of stressed color, green arrows with black on the rest. Now he is green, his happy color. He was a little freaked out when he looked around, making me think even more that he had either fallen asleep or passed out because I moved him to the calcium-giving light.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

I'm sorry... I just check and when I came in he had botheyes normal, open and moving. He watched me and then he followed a cricket with his eyes, got up a bit tochase it, and then stopped when it made its way into the shadowy corner. Its dark here, sohe doesn't normally chase anything too far. I think he might not like the fact that I am wearing white tank with a few sequins at the top that might be assumed dots of coloring or skin... And blue jeans. He has never been exposed to any other chameleon except for when he was a baby and born with a sister. I think that he might just be refusing to look at me of something, because if I spy on him he will open his eyes. The one that was not bulged is bulged again now, I don't know why he did that. he might just be weird, but I'll check with a cham vet by phon to see if he'll come over to the house. Thanks to both of you! I will still check regularly on him to make sure, but now he is asleep with normal reactions. I actually think at first he may have passed out? He responds now, even when he shuts his eyes. When he was unresponsive, he was in his kind of stressed color, green arrows with black on the rest. Now he is green, his happy color. He was a little freaked out when he looked around, making me think even more that he had either fallen asleep or passed out because I moved him to the calcium-giving light.

Its good to hear he has shown some improvement. I strongly believe there still is a problem that may get worse so please see a VET asap.

It would really be beneficial to you and your Cham if you filled out the form to see if there is something that we see that may help with the problem.

 

[kinyonga]

What type (linear tube or compact) and brand of UVB light are you using?