Swollen Mouth

[Vinyonga]

I found this (wild - I'm in Kenya currently) Jackson's chameleon in a garden about a week ago. He's now living on the creepers climbing on the outside of our veranda. Anyway, the left corner of his mouth is slightly swollen. Does anyone know what it is? Is it infectious to other chameleons?

 

[happy]

sounds like mouth rot. if you can get him to open up, you could snap a picture, and post it... more, experienced members be able to tell... i do see a bit of something hanging out of his mouth.... piece of skin? grass hopper leg? cant really tell for sure.

 

[Carlton]

Looks like a temporal gland infection to me. They are fairly common in jax. As to what caused the initial infection who knows. Impossible to tell without culturing and sensitivity testing. The gland does secrete a bit of waxy material so possibly what we are seeing on his lip is dry residue from that.

 

[happy]

I just learned something... Sweet... Im so glad there are members who are extremely knowledgeable... and gave me something to read about... Outstanding.

 

[Vinyonga]

Ok, thank you. Is it possible for me to treat it, at all? Or would a vet have to do something? - If it's that bad? Could it go away by itself?

Thing is, I'm not sure if there are any reptile vets around here. Most Kenyans are scared of chameleons because they think (among other things) that they're poisonous and bite pretty much if you look at them; then you're dead and anyway, I doubt I could afford it.

 

[kinyonga]

With most cases of temporal gland infection the chameleon will die if its not treated unfortunately. It would need a course of antibiotics after a culture and sensitivity test is done to determine the bacteria involved.