Swollen joints

S

Sahir

New Member
Hello.
I received a Veiled Chameleon that has swollen joints and his tongue doesn't seem to work normally(it only gets 2-3 cm out of it's mouth).The chameleon has about 20 cm in lenght and i think it's a female.If anyone has any idea of what should i do,please help me.
Thank you.
 
yes...there is a problem...i'm from romania...the vets don't have any experience with chameleons and they don't know what to do...
 
You can fill this out. The reptiglo is not the best UVB ligtht. Most of us use the reptisun 5.0.

How to ask for help

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Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information, you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

Pictures are helpful
 
i got this chameleon 2 days ago and i don't know it's previous setup...so it's pretty hard to give info...i will post some pictures,maybe they'll help
 
Can you post a picture please?

It could be gout or it could be MBD or it could be a number of other things. Without tests being done to determine what it is or apparent signs of MBD we can't be sure. The tongue issue can be from MBD but it could also be from an injury or dehydration or a number of other things. There is swelling of the joints with gout, but it could be something else.
 
The more pics you can post the better. Try getting some really good ones of her legs. Fill out the ask for help as for how you have things now.
 
Although it would be better to see a few more pictures, I think she likely has MBD. Here front legs look like they are showing signs of it.

Does she lift her body off the ground when she stands/walks?

It would be best if she could be taken to a vet to confirm this and for treatment.

In the meantime, you could give her some liquid calcium sandoz or calcium gluconate. Make sure she has access to UVB light either from direct sunlight or from a proper UVB light such as the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0. (Some of the compacts spirals and even some of the tube lights have been causing problems...but none have been reported from the repti-sun 5.0 yet.) The UVB from either source (sun or bulb) should not pass through glass or plastic.

The deformities in the legs will likely remain, but if you can get her calcium back in balance, she could live a good life yet.
 
I don't know if you're near Bucharest, but this vet treats reptiles--though they may not have experience with chameleons--I don't really know:

Cabinet Veterinar Mash 2000
Str. Cutitul de Argint 32, Sector 4
Bucuresti 75121
Tel: +4021 3356693
Fax: +4021 3378237


It would be good if you could speak with her previous owner and find-out if he used (and how often he used )calcium, vitamins; what insects he fed her and if he used a special light for UVB (and if he replaced it every 6 months.)

If not, you can guess that she might have MBD--since her body isn't lifting off the ground and her limbs, not joints, seem deformed.
Feeding her a varied diet, gutloading her feeders and lightly dusting her feeders regularly with calcium without D3, 2 times a month Calcium with D3 and 2 times a month with a multivitamin certainly won't harm her and may help her to recover.

I hope this helps and that you let us know what you learn about her.
 
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