Strange mark on George's knee, any advice?

[Solskin0]

Hi everyone,

My George is coming up to 3 years old and is a very active guy! He's been struggling with a difficult shed this winter but finally getting there now. This week I've noticed a strange mark appear on his knee and I can't seem to find any information about what it could be! Any ideas?

 

[Solskin0]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - blue bar ambi love Panther, almost 3 years old, with me since 8 weeks. He's in a 4ftx3ftx2ft fully screen cage with drainage so no sitting water.
• Handling - a couple of times a week
• Feeding - 3-4 decent sized locusts a day, dusted with calcium daily, calcium with d3 every 2 weeks and vitamins every 2 weeks. Gut loaded with green Veg.
• Watering - Exo terra monsoon mister, 30 seconds every hour 9am-7pm, big dripper for drinking water. George is a good drinker and not at all shy! I see him drinking daily.
• Fecal Description - Healthy white unrates and decent sized feces.

 

[jpowell86]

Based on the location of the mark, I would tend to think it is a thermal burn. That is a very common place to get one for chameleons. You should be able to tell more once he sheds completely.

 

[Andee]

I agree, it looks similar to the burns I've dealt with and seen. It's very minor though, so I would assume your light may be too close to him? How far away is his heat source?

 

[Solskin0]

Thanks for the replies!

I thought it looked like a burn too but was a bit concerned as he's never had this before and his set up hasn't changed for quite some time! I've attached a picture of his cage. I've moved his light a bit away from his basking spot now and will see if it helps. Could the fact that he's been struggling to shed impact how heat effects him?

 

[Solskin0]

George will be going to the vets tomorrow. I adjusted his lighting, using a lower wattage bulb further away from his basking spot. However, the mark on his knee has spread, appeared on his other leg, and he is now reluctant to use his back legs. He sits with them hanging over his branches. He is still using his tail as normal but his back legs seem very weak. I have also noticed this morning that a lump has appeared on his side. His front legs are completely unaffected and strong, no obvious signs of mbd and I've re-checked his supplement schedule which seems to be correct.

I'm thinking potentially parasites or bites? I've not seen anything in his cage but something is definitely not right. He is still active (in a stumbling sort of way relying a lot on his front legs and tail, he is not falling) and eating, hydrated and his eyes are not sunk in.

The vets here in my part of the uk often don't have a lot of knowledge about chameleons, is there anything specific I should be directing them to or having them test for?

I'm really worried about my big guy so anyone with any similar experience or suggestions please let me know!

 

[LindsayG]

George will be going to the vets tomorrow. I adjusted his lighting, using a lower wattage bulb further away from his basking spot. However, the mark on his knee has spread, appeared on his other leg, and he is now reluctant to use his back legs. He sits with them hanging over his branches. He is still using his tail as normal but his back legs seem very weak. I have also noticed this morning that a lump has appeared on his side. His front legs are completely unaffected and strong, no obvious signs of mbd and I've re-checked his supplement schedule which seems to be correct.

I'm thinking potentially parasites or bites? I've not seen anything in his cage but something is definitely not right. He is still active (in a stumbling sort of way relying a lot on his front legs and tail, he is not falling) and eating, hydrated and his eyes are not sunk in.

The vets here in my part of the uk often don't have a lot of knowledge about chameleons, is there anything specific I should be directing them to or having them test for?

I'm really worried about my big guy so anyone with any similar experience or suggestions please let me know!

Can you show us some updated photos of his legs and the lump that has appeared? It's hard to say without seeing what's going on.

 

[Solskin0]

Sure sorry, the lump is hard to see in the first photograph, it's only about the size of a pinhead, like a little pucker in his skin

 

[Solskin0]

And a picture of him dangling his leg, he's relying on his tail to hold him up here

 

[Solskin0]

I've managed to find a reptile vet who's willing to see George, but not until Wednesday afternoon (5pm) so any advice in the meantime would really help from here! I've showered him and I'm getting him as much natural sunlight as possible. He doesn't seem to have deteriorated in a few days (I'll update on that when I get home from work) so fingers crossed Wednesday isn't too bad.