Shut eyes

[Calypso]

So Zeus has been closing one of his eyes a little bit over the past. It was the same eye that he had trouble shedding his skin on. So I thought a little was normal with maybe some irritation. Well it persisted to the point of both eyes alternating being shut, and I took him to the vet last week. They think it may be an vitamin A deficiency, and maybe low basking temp. A full check up showed them no signs of abnormalities at this point. Since I just changed out my set up, I figured I should play with the amount I'm misting and the temps. Does anyone have any previous experience with this problem? I know eye infections can become fatal if left untreated (not saying it is an eye infection), and I feel like there's something more I can do. I use dino fuel and bug burger. I know bug burger has pretty good vitamin A, but I'm not very sure about dino fuel's exact nutrition values. Since I raised his basking he does seem to be a bit more active. Still too early to tell if it's helping his eye. Also, is there any particular feeders that has high vitamin A content?

 

[camimom]

is anything coming out of the eye?

Have you tried putting eye drops in it?

just plain saline solution that people use for contacts.

 

[Calypso]

No, Doc said after check up that he looks fine with this exception. He recommended the saline drops, but I've been waiting sense I noticed some of the scaliness was beginning to come off on its own. I think I'm going to go get some in the morning however. Is there any type recommended? Doc said no, but wondering what people have used.

 

[Calypso]

So the scaly eye was shedding this morning when I woke up. Should I still get the drops? It looks like it may be the start of a shed, but it's only the eye he had problems with. Coincidence? I put him in my make shift free range in a bathroom. He seems a lot more active as soon as he was put in her. Both eyes open and scanning. Colors seem to improve. Awareness as well. He was asleep at 9 AM after his lights had been on for two hours. I manually misted him to evoke a response. Eyes didn't open up, probably due to a deep sleep, but checking back with him at 12 he was basking and responding the feeder cup eating one butterwort. Which also happens to be his favorite all of sudden. He even strikes at them before they've really warmed up from fridge. Could the cold in his stomach diminish his appetite? I keep the cup at the bottom of his bask. So it warms up pretty quick.
Not a fan of the camera



As soon as I ran out of hot water and turned off the shower, he went to this.

I've increased misting to every two hrs for 45 seconds. I've also raised the bask all the way to 95 F. As well as gut loading more aggressively, and separating specific numbers to certain loads.

 

[Calypso]

Do y'all think I should do the saline drops I he's starting to she'd around his eyes now?

 

[deadhd5]

As stated in a previous thread, I would revise your lighting.

 

[Calypso]

What would y'all recommend?

 

[Calypso]

So if shedding on eyes should I use saline drops? They seem to be shedding pretty easy. With just a little piece right on the eye persisting.

 

[Calypso]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/dino-fuel-raptor-edition-nutrition-value-102757/

Above is the link to the thread that I was using to update and get advice on Zeus's current condition.

He has not made much improvement. While his ability to move around, climb, hunt, open both eyes at will, and pretty much do all normal activities doesn't seem to be impeded. The only problem is that he sits dark in coloration in his bask area most of the day. Probably about 60% of the day. When I go to give him phoenix worms he goes nuts for them; opening both eyes and having no problem hitting his target. Although I do bring it in extremely close for him.

Today gave me concern when he started to make an almost buzzing noise I hadn't heard him make before. He did start to shed a little bit more today. He had shed probably a week or two ago around his eye, but it wasn't a full shed. I've been trying to keep the humidity higher than normal. I have no idea what the noise is all about, and it concerns me.

Also, should I be concerned at all about the digestion of a wild lizard (probably anole) that he ate while outside? I don't think there are many pesticides around to be too concerned about. Probably just parasite load and complications it might cause in his weakened state.

 

[ataraxia]

Hi, please fill this out. www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Calypso]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Blue bar ambilobe panther about 11 months. Had about 5 months.
Handling - Daily, for care purposes. Normally every few days let free range in bathroom. Sporatically for outdoor sessions.
Feeding - Gut load is bug burger and dino fuel raptor edition. Crickets, superworms, butterworms, phoenix worms, dubia; didn't care for hornworms. Just introduce lobster roach today, and breeding hissers for the not so near future. Daily log of feeding has been taken for the past couple of weeks if exact info is needed.
Supplements - Dusting with zoo med calcium w/o D3, and Dino Fuel Raptor Edition
Watering - Monsoon mister and random hand misting. Set for every 2 hrs 30 seconds with distilled water. Seen drinking and even out of water bowl at bottom of cage. Lately seems to be hydrated.
Fecal Description - Fecal looks normal consitency with dark brown coloration
History - Used to stand with head pointed straigh up and make an almost hiccup where he would quickly puff his throat out. Didn't seem to be a problem, as when I opened cage or got his attention he would stop. Today start making an almost buzzing sound. Didn't sound good at all. Will sporatically mouth gap quickly for less than 10 seconds. Pretty rare for the most part.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - REPTIBREEZE XL (all necessary pics https://www.chameleonforums.com/reptibreeze-xl-101516/)

Lighting - 12/12 reptisun 24" 10.0 on zilla light strip, and 100W Powersun

Temperature - Basking 90-95, ambient day 70-85. Lowest overnight temp 69F. Measure temp with zoo med hygrotherm and reptitemp .

Humidity - 60-91% RH. Maintaining by steam room with connecting room bathroom shower for 45 min 3-5 times a day. Peaks about 95%RH, effects tend to last several hours as it is a controlled temperature and humidity room just for the cage. Measure with zoo med hygrotherm.

Plants - Only live plant is ficus climbed on outisde during 30 min- 3 hr periods now and then.

Placement - Consult above Reptibreeze XL pictures. Private room thermostat and unit above in front of cage with acrylic piece deflecting direct air fans over or onto cage. Bottom of cage about 2 1/2 ft off ground.

Location - Baton Rouge, LA

Current Problem - Shut eyes. Inactivity. Responsive, hunting and eating; spurts of activity followed by dark coloration while basking with eyes shut.

 

[ataraxia]

Chameleon Info:
History - Used to stand with head pointed straigh up and make an almost hiccup where he would quickly puff his throat out. Didn't seem to be a problem, as when I opened cage or got his attention he would stop. Today start making an almost buzzing sound. Didn't sound good at all. Will sporatically mouth gap quickly for less than 10 seconds. Pretty rare for the most part.

Current Problem - Shut eyes. Inactivity. Responsive, hunting and eating; spurts of activity followed by dark coloration while basking with eyes shut.

The history: Did you ever take him in to resolve the RI?

Current problem: If the symptoms are not directly related to an illness..Vit A deficiency may be your cause. Sounds like you need to implement a product with preformed vit A a couple times a month. I personally use reptivite as my main multivitamin.

What color are his urates?

1. Have a vet check for RI
2. Take next stool in for analysis.
3. May need to do fish oil treatment to get him back on track.
4. Start using a product with preformed vit A in your supplement regimen (couple times a month)

 

[Calypso]

I never had the RI confirmed as the hiccups and mouth gaps were seldom at best. With no discharge from nose or mouth, I had no cause for concern as it seemed to be more of an exception than a norm. I took him to the vet a couple weeks ago. I believe I posted most of the pertinent info and updates on the Dino Fuel thread I linked above. Vet said he seemed fine, and there was no cause for concern as his eyes seemed to be open the whole time at the vet. (probably b/c freaked out) With a complete check up, doc said if it persisted bring him back. Honetly though, I don't know how much stock I put in the LSU vet school clinic. Sure he may be a professor, but he didn't seem to have exact knowledge on chams. At least not the guy I got last time. I took a stool sample the next day (two weeks ago) and haven't heard anything from them. How does the fish oil treatment work? I gut load every feeder with bug burger and dino fuel. Is that too much?

 

[Calypso]

I forgot to mention I have started using a product called Unisol. It's all preservative and additive free. It was the best saline wash I could find.

 

[Calypso]

So last night Zeus found a secluded spot at the bottom of the cage. Today when the light turned on he stayed in the darker area, and I'm guessing is why he never woke up/ moved. At about 11:30 I went to move him, and for the first time that I can remember he hissed at me. I was able to get him to respond by opening his eyes and climbing toward his bask. He is still very lethargic.

I'm hopefully taking him tomorrow for an emergency vet visit at the LSU clinic. If there are any other vets in the Baton Rouge area that come recommended I would love to know. The only other is All Pets that I know of.

I think he may be constipated. I've noticed a watery white spray all over the cage. I was sure what it was about until I some him have a BM and saw the spray come out before an unusually small fecal. He ate a lizard while basking outside a couple weeks ago that was big enough for me to assume possible complications of constipation. Any ideas?