Pseudo-gout (veiled chameleon) - any hope?

[frabjousday]

Hi, all! My male veiled chameleon is 5 years and 4 months old - he was diagnosed by a reputable vet as having pseudo-gout this summer. He had some random "bumps" around a couple of his joints and on his tail months ago. Since this spring, he's undergone a biopsy of his bumps (they're fluid sacs with calcium crystals around them), blood work done, and fecal test done. We treated him for a little bit of pin worms he had a couple months ago. He also had necrosis in the tip of his tail, which vet amputated a bit of his tail. Vets at the clinic think the pseud-gout was possibly preventing blood flow to his tail tip, which is why necrosis occurred.

I was also informed by the vet that pseudo-gout is irreversible.

I have been giving him tramadol twice a day (vet prescribed) and went traveling over a week ago and I returned today. My partner has been feeding and watching him and said he's been at the bottom of his enclosure the past few days, curled up. He's able to hold our fingers well and has eaten a bit, but even after the tramadol today, he still remains curled up. He could barely eat a hornworm today. We've been hand misting him, also. He keeps falling from the lowest branch I put him on, so I just let him lay at the bottom of his enclosure now.

He was able to move yesterday after tramadol, but today after I returned from my travels and gave him tramadol, he just stayed curled up and maintained a light green color.

I am taking him to the vet tomorrow.

At this point, if the tramadol isn't even helping, what can I do about the husbandry? Do I need to create platforms for him? He can not even stay on a lower branch. I've added a couple towels to the bottom of his enclosure, he just lays on his side.

This is a photo of him from today, he looks darker in my hand, but is a generally lighter color most likely from the tramadol causing his light green relaxed state. Labs attached (from June this year).

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

You have got a great looking male Chamaeleo calypatratus, look at his casque! I hope your male receives the best treatment possible. With pseudo gout around his joints I think the best thing is to listen to your vet. Vets are the ones that have got the best education and most experience with these types of problems.

Good luck!

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[MissSkittles]

Defintely modify his environment to help him move around and be safer. When one of mine was failing (she had cancer) I moved her to a smaller enclosure and made a little platform for her, making sure to provide shaded areas and a lower platform to catch her if she fell. In some areas where I knew she fell most I set up a light cotton handkerchief to catch her. Some get netting, but I don’t recall what kind. It was just a short time for my girl, so the fabric worked well. I also made sure to check on her often for safety.
I wish you and your big handsome guy the best.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

His diagnosis sounds accurate, as does his prognosis, and it’s all about his quality of life at this point. If the tramadol keeps him comfortable and and you can modify his cage in ways that he is safe from falling and can do his normal things then it is okay to continue because there really aren’t any other options. I used a lot of hammocks for one of my older arthritic panthers so he could be at different levels without having to perch normally, and it helped reduce the distance if he fell. Reptiles hide pain and signs of illness as much as possible being a prey animal so if they are showing signs of pain you know it’s at a debilitating level. If he is not comfortable or moving around even while on pain medications it may be time to make hard decisions.

 

[frabjousday]

Thank you, all. We're getting blood work done today and seeing how to proceed. Prognosis isn't great and his necrosis continues on his tail, even after getting part of the tip amputated a few months ago.

I appreciate the support on here. I am considering overnight hospitalization and hydration depending on how his labs look.

He is currently unable to perch and has stayed in his curled up position for a couple days now.

 

[frabjousday]

Update: pseudogout has spread to his front legs, confirmed via Xrays at Vet today. He was fed and hydrated at the vet today. Super, super elevated AST (vet also mentioned elevated CPK). I'm spending some time with him right now and seeing how he does tomorrow. Still barely moving, unable to perch.

I'm pretty heart broken, but also don't want to prolong his suffering and pain.