Andee
Chameleon Enthusiast
So I generally have this in this category so I don't clog up the Health Clinic in case there are actual cases that need help. If someone feels it needs to moved they can either move it or I can if asked. But I am not asking for help, just keeping track on what has helped my panther (Ryker) who is not around 4 and a half or so years old gain a little bit of his sight back. Ryker has some eye issues that I have noticed in one other chameleon (the exact symptoms) and I think 3-4 others who generally have the possible beginnings of his issues. All of these panthers that I mention are ambanja or ambilobe (which he has a lot of in his bloodline, he is a hybrid), and are either 4 years old, coming close to 4 years, or above 4 years.
Ryker has general sensitivity to strong lights. Has several burns because of the light being to "strong" (the temperature was no higher than 92 degrees) and the light was 6-8 inches away at basking level. He had a heavily planted cage in the canopy area and all through out the lower areas. Originally I though he "burned" his eyes in a way when I used a halogen which he apparently can't tolerate even in lower wattages than 40. I don't think is the actual cause of his issues, but I think it did cause it to get worse much sooner. His pupils aren't scarred and doesn't show cataracts. He has been to the vet multiple times for this issue, his eyes have been flushed, he's been given vitamin shots and he has liquid calicium, he also has had ointments though he shows no sign of infection at all. Eventually I asked about his pupils, she was surprised about the question but then she asked if he has not always had eyes like this. I said no, and then said his eyes have always been like his left eye (which doesn't have the weird problem his right eye had at the time). She started to wonder about possible genetic problems.
I started searching for things that could make his life easier. He still drinks and gets around just fine. But now his left eye is also showing deterioration (what I mean by that is both pupils have a constricted look all the time, and a white ring constantly surrounds them, the right one is much worse now). He seems to have an over sensetivity to lights because of it. I have put an extra layer of screening under my uvb light just to make it easier on his eyes.
I only feed a liquid diet with him, I make my own, blended bugs etc with vitamins added. I ended up going with Repashy LoD every feeding, though only usually doing half the 4 mls I gave him were spiked with it. I did notice a change once I started doing this "dusting" schedule with him. He was more likely to keep him eyes open more often and longer. With @kelly_girl199 's help I was able to learn more about liquid vitamin A and how to give a proper dose. I went to the vitamin shop we have available to us (considering I asked my vet when I was taking in one of the hamster's and she felt as long as I was safe with it, it should be fine to do), and got one of the lower dosage ones available but still high quality. I ended up finding out a really easy way to dose him with food and vitamin A at the same time to make sure no vomitting happened due to, too much oil.
It has officially been just under three weeks since his first dose (I have adjusted my Repashy dosing accordingly, not giving it at all some days). I have noticed a huge change. Well huge for me considering I honestly wasn't sure if this would help at all. I am not expecting any sort of cure from this, I am just hoping a little bit better sight will happen so he gets around better, or can even feed himself on good days. The last three days have been more noticeable in the change because his eyes have been staying open much longer periods, and the last two days he almost seems to see more out of his left eye (better eye). I know he can see shadows and if I am about two-four inches away I do get some tracking movements from him. Which is an amazing step. Before he would show no tracking and no reaction to shadows or movements in general. I plan to keep you updated as we get further into this. The first month or two I plan to do two doses of the liquid vitamin A at the amount I am doing, which is about half a drop. But I hope to be able to back off to once a month at most. No signs of hypervitamonosis at all. I hope this helps anyway who may be having these issues. Opinions and questions are welcome.
Ryker has general sensitivity to strong lights. Has several burns because of the light being to "strong" (the temperature was no higher than 92 degrees) and the light was 6-8 inches away at basking level. He had a heavily planted cage in the canopy area and all through out the lower areas. Originally I though he "burned" his eyes in a way when I used a halogen which he apparently can't tolerate even in lower wattages than 40. I don't think is the actual cause of his issues, but I think it did cause it to get worse much sooner. His pupils aren't scarred and doesn't show cataracts. He has been to the vet multiple times for this issue, his eyes have been flushed, he's been given vitamin shots and he has liquid calicium, he also has had ointments though he shows no sign of infection at all. Eventually I asked about his pupils, she was surprised about the question but then she asked if he has not always had eyes like this. I said no, and then said his eyes have always been like his left eye (which doesn't have the weird problem his right eye had at the time). She started to wonder about possible genetic problems.
I started searching for things that could make his life easier. He still drinks and gets around just fine. But now his left eye is also showing deterioration (what I mean by that is both pupils have a constricted look all the time, and a white ring constantly surrounds them, the right one is much worse now). He seems to have an over sensetivity to lights because of it. I have put an extra layer of screening under my uvb light just to make it easier on his eyes.
I only feed a liquid diet with him, I make my own, blended bugs etc with vitamins added. I ended up going with Repashy LoD every feeding, though only usually doing half the 4 mls I gave him were spiked with it. I did notice a change once I started doing this "dusting" schedule with him. He was more likely to keep him eyes open more often and longer. With @kelly_girl199 's help I was able to learn more about liquid vitamin A and how to give a proper dose. I went to the vitamin shop we have available to us (considering I asked my vet when I was taking in one of the hamster's and she felt as long as I was safe with it, it should be fine to do), and got one of the lower dosage ones available but still high quality. I ended up finding out a really easy way to dose him with food and vitamin A at the same time to make sure no vomitting happened due to, too much oil.
It has officially been just under three weeks since his first dose (I have adjusted my Repashy dosing accordingly, not giving it at all some days). I have noticed a huge change. Well huge for me considering I honestly wasn't sure if this would help at all. I am not expecting any sort of cure from this, I am just hoping a little bit better sight will happen so he gets around better, or can even feed himself on good days. The last three days have been more noticeable in the change because his eyes have been staying open much longer periods, and the last two days he almost seems to see more out of his left eye (better eye). I know he can see shadows and if I am about two-four inches away I do get some tracking movements from him. Which is an amazing step. Before he would show no tracking and no reaction to shadows or movements in general. I plan to keep you updated as we get further into this. The first month or two I plan to do two doses of the liquid vitamin A at the amount I am doing, which is about half a drop. But I hope to be able to back off to once a month at most. No signs of hypervitamonosis at all. I hope this helps anyway who may be having these issues. Opinions and questions are welcome.
