Please help me figure out whats wrong!!

A

avery

New Member
So I have read tons of threads and can't figure out what might be wrong...

Background: Female 7 month old veiled
I feed a mix of crickets and mealworms that I dust with calcium everyday
I have correct cage and lighting situation and mist everyday as well as hand water her

So I had a natural gas leak and walked in on her hanging sideways and ever since she has not been okay. (not sure if this is related)
She still ate and pooped just not as much she continues to drink but the past three days hasn't eaten

Very strange physical behaviors: weakening grip, contorts her body and spine, sitting on the bottom of cage, and tries to bury herself whenever shes not moving, she doesn't climb anymore and takes huge breathes on occasions when I have her out

I took her to the vet a week ago and he had nothing for me. He said she looks fine but her grip was strong because he was touching her all over and grabbing her so she was nervous and defensive and had just eaten, so a little bloated

Attached is possibly the worst she has looked
Today I had to open her mouth and managed only one meal worm
 

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She looks quite skinny, and has quite a serious case of MBD in 3 of her legs that I can see.

Are you feeding with d3 calcium twice a month, using a UVB strip bulb, and using non d3 calcium every day?

I think the gas also is a big factor maybe. Which gas was it? Do you know? maybe it could affect her.
 
I dust the crickets and mealworms with calcium D3 I didn't know there was one without.
She doesn't always look that skinny she stretches her body out very strange I have the uvb bulb too.
I don't know what you mean by which gas it was natural gas that heats my house
 
Your chameleon has Metabolic bone disease. She looked like this when your vet saw her last week, and he said she looked fine? I would find another vet. How long have you had her???
 
You should buy some NONd3 calcium, feed that every day with her food. Also, probably buy a large 24x24x48 enclosure because she looks pretty mature by now (enough for an adult enclosure). I would recommend also buying a strip 18" long uvb and fixture, because that will cover more area than a bulb.

I am glad you are concerned with helping your pet.

Your vet definitely is NOT qualified to look over your chameleon, he/she obviously missed a huge detail, the Metabolic bone disease.

I would find a reptile vet, see if you can find one in your area. Usually they prescribe calcium glubonate to help the bones.
 
SaintJimmy said:
You should buy some NONd3 calcium, feed that every day with her food. Also, probably buy a large 24x24x48 enclosure because she looks pretty mature by now (enough for an adult enclosure). I would recommend also buying a strip 18" long uvb and fixture, because that will cover more area than a bulb.

I am glad you are concerned with helping your pet.

Your vet definitely is NOT qualified to look over your chameleon, he/she obviously missed a huge detail, the Metabolic bone disease.

I would find a reptile vet, see if you can find one in your area. Usually they prescribe calcium glubonate to help the bones.
Click to expand...

With her condition I don't think a large tall cage, would be a good idea right now. I can't imagine she is able to crawl around that well without falling.
 
I agree with Carol, no large cage. She needs to be in something smaller, more like a hospital cage. With some towels on the bottom and a few low branches.

She has had this MBD for more than a week or so, this takes time to develop.

How old is your UVB light?
 
yeah she is in a smaller cage at the moment I plan on upgrading if she gets past this my bulb is as old as she is should they get replaced often? I was not aware of that!!!!
I plan on getting the UVB Strip tomorrow.
Is this something that can be cured ?
 
It cannot be "reversed" or "cured" but it can be "fixed".

You can take her to a reptile vet, start giving her the correct supplements, and every 5 months or so, replace your UVB strip bulb :) In a few months + you will see her bones begin to straighten out slightly.

Her bones are currently broken or just really bent, that is really painful for them I imagine. I would get her to a vet currently, that should be your highest priority for her.

If she shakes/falls down a lot, seems to not be able to support herself, that is also a sign of MBD. You can buy her an adult cage and temporarily set it on it's side until she is better.

If you set a large cage sideways, place a towel on the bottom (with paper towels on top to catch poop), and give plenty of branches and things (especially parrot ladders, those are great), she will do pretty well. if she falls, then she is safe due to

a) small height

b) towel cushion on the bottom.
 
SaintJimmy said:
You can still use a 24x24x48.

Just set it on its side, and it makes a good hospital cage.

:)
Click to expand...

yes, but the average person is not going to think to set the cage on its side and you have to have quite a bit of room if you are going to that, versus setting it up vertically. Depending on how mobile the chameleon is, is how I would delegate on how big of a cage you would want to get.
 
carol5208 said:
yes, but the average person is not going to think to set the cage on its side and you have to have quite a bit of room if you are going to that, versus setting it up vertically. Depending on how mobile the chameleon is, is how I would delegate on how big of a cage you would want to get.
Click to expand...

I just suggest a 24x24x48 since later on, when the chameleon is doing better, you can tip it up to it's normal height, build a stand for it, and move the branches around, saving tons of money on a big cage later on by having one earlier.

But I don't know, I never did this with Monty because he only had visible problems with grip in his 20" tall cage.
 
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