Rescued chameleon eye issues, possible vitamin A deficiency. Please help

[lecko167]

I rescued a little girl Veiled last a few days ago from a pet store I work at. I traded some heating pads for a screened in cage and got a strip uvb light (10.0) and a 100 wt basking light. I wrapped the back and sides of the cage in an attempt to keep humidity and heat in.

Anyways, she has serious eye issues, and that's why I took her home. She moves very very slowly and has issues hanging on to things. With her eyes being closed I'm having to hand feed feed her dubia roaches and drip water into her mouth.

Sometimes one eye looks bulged, and sometimes they look a little sunken. She is however constantly moving them as if she is trying to clean them, it's like she is popping them in and out a little. I thought maybe she had something stuck in her eye, but I don't think so anymore. Either way I've been generously spraying her down for a few minutes with warm water several times a day. She stays in one place and doesn't move at all, but she can't see, so i'm hoping that's the cause for her lethargy. I just want to save her. I've been taking care of her for months watching her go down hill, and I just couldn't see her like that so I took her home.

From the amount of research I've done I'm really leaning towards a vitamin A deficiency. I did get some beta carotene (vitamin A) gel capsules and put a small drop from the capsule in her mouth.

I'm calling the vet tomorrow to get a price estimate, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to afford the vet care either way, but maybe the vet will work with me.

I will take any information/suggestions I can get!

 

[SaintJimmy]

I also hear that eye problems like that are caused by vit a deficiency, but usually that causes swelling (?) rather than "cleaning" of the eyes.

Just call a GOOD vet who deals with reptiles, see what they can diagnose. I am glad you are trying to rehabilitate her. Poor girl.

 

[lecko167]

Her eyes seem to change a lot. They look swollen and then sunken. I'll post a pic!

I tried to attach a pic, hopefully it worked

 

[lecko167]

*****bump****

 

[sharp229]

What is the cage temperature range and what is the basking temp?

You can try putting her on a plant or branch in the shower and then bouncing warm water off the wall on to her so that she gets a fine mist. This should allow her to clean her eyes and also to drink, which is generally safer than putting the water directly in her mouth.

 

[lecko167]

The cage temp range is 90 at the warmest part of the basking, and about 70 on the cool side. I'm wrapping with plastic in an attempt to keep more of the heat in.

I took her to the vet, he thinks she has an eye infection in both eyes. We got antibiotic eye drops. Hopefully she continues to improve! Her eyes were open for the first time in 4 days today!

 

[Pazuzu]

That's like my baby how much did you? pay if you don't mind me asking I wana have an idea

 

[lecko167]

It was $88 for the exam and the antibiotic eye drops. We aren't 100% sure that it's an infection but the vet said there had to be some sort of infection going on. If the eye drops don't help then idk what we will do. Just rinsing with saline has been helping her keep them open and it helps wash them out. When they keep them closed all of the time they can kinda dry shut so rinsing with saline helps.

 

[Pazuzu]

What kind of eye drops have saline I looked for them but couldn't find thm

 

[Kate]

What kind of eye drops have saline I looked for them but couldn't find thm

You should get saline eye drops in a place that sells contact lense products. Make sure there is nothing else in them.

 

[Pazuzu]

http://www.lllreptile.com/store/cat...prays-and-cleaners/-/terramycin-eye-ointment/
would this be a good idea to try? thy told me it works but I don't wanna try it if it's gona Damage his eye more...sorry for taken your thread over lol

 

[laurie]

http://www.lllreptile.com/store/cat...prays-and-cleaners/-/terramycin-eye-ointment/
would this be a good idea to try? thy told me it works but I don't wanna try it if it's gona Damage his eye more...sorry for taken your thread over lol

You can use terramycin but first go to a drug store, even Walmart. Get some eye wash. I use Bausch + Lomb Eye Relief. You have to make sure there are no preservatives. Just drip it slowly on her eyes.

 

[lecko167]

I used an eye ointment before going to the vet and it really didn't help my girl, but every chameleon is different.

If you have enough funds I would definitely take her to the vet. You could call the vet beforehand and tell them how much you are able to spend and they may be able to work with you.

My girl's eye issues have been going on for two months. I tried excessive spraying, eye ointment, etc before going to the vet. I went to the vet just a few days ago and for the first time in 2 months she's continually keeping her eyes open and moving throughout her enclosure.

 

[Kate]

I used an eye ointment before going to the vet and it really didn't help my girl, but every chameleon is different.

If you have enough funds I would definitely take her to the vet. You could call the vet beforehand and tell them how much you are able to spend and they may be able to work with you.

My girl's eye issues have been going on for two months. I tried excessive spraying, eye ointment, etc before going to the vet. I went to the vet just a few days ago and for the first time in 2 months she's continually keeping her eyes open and moving throughout her enclosure.

Great news.