Tongue hangs from mouth, not eating

[Michwarr]

I have owned a veiled Chameleon for just short of one year. I believe the lizard is around 1 year old. My problem is that she is no longer eating and it seems that her tongue is swelled and sticking out of her mouth. Her mouth also stay s open and seems disfigured. She no longer eats on her own and is lethargic, not really walking or climbing. When I place her in her cage, she crawls to the bottom and just lays there. Her eyes are still very alert and she still strikes a weak defensive posture when you walk up to her. We are force feeding her and she seems to have a hard time swallowing. Please help because I feel she’s dyeing.

Thank you
michwarr

 

[jannb]

Get her to the vets ASAP.......a good chameleon vet.

 

[jessica]

Sounds like its time to take her to the vet. The sooner the better

 

[draetish]

I just did some research online and they can have tongue and mouth infections or hyperextension of the tongue. Sounds like she needs a vet today to get some antibiotics. You can check under the first thread of the health forum to maybe find a herp vet in your area.

 

[Ryan123]

hey is her tongue like hanging like alot out of his mouth????? if so i read to put them in a storage bin for a day and lay her tongue on wet paper towels on the bottom so it doesnt dry up and eventuallly he will pull her tongue back in.....and i just lost a cham to something souning like yours she didnt eat but she was always sleeping she was very defesive too she died in my hands on the way to the vet

 

[panthercham]

Don't muck around on this...get her to the vet. Where abouts are you located? Someone may know of a good reptile vet around you.

 

[Lizardlover]

I have owned a veiled Chameleon for just short of one year. I believe the lizard is around 1 year old. My problem is that she is no longer eating and it seems that her tongue is swelled and sticking out of her mouth. Her mouth also stay s open and seems disfigured. She no longer eats on her own and is lethargic, not really walking or climbing. When I place her in her cage, she crawls to the bottom and just lays there. Her eyes are still very alert and she still strikes a weak defensive posture when you walk up to her. We are force feeding her and she seems to have a hard time swallowing. Please help because I feel she’s dyeing.

Thank you
michwarr

its a severe case of MBD, Ive seen it before, TAKE HER TO A GOOD VET!

 

[lotus02]

Don't take this wrong but if my cham was doing this I would do vet first then post. I hope she will be ok.

 

[kinyonga]

Although tongue problems are often a symptom of MBD the swelling makes me wonder if it isn't an infection or from an injury. The only one who can tell you for sure what is going on for sure is the vet.

Some of the other things you listed as being wrong with her could be from MBD but some of them could indicate something else as the cause of her problems.

I can really only say take her to the vets ASAP.

Also, can you post some pictures?

Filling in this list...please be specific about the brand and type (spiral, compact, long linear tube) UVB light you are using, be specific about the supplements and the gutloading too. What's the temperature in the basking area?...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[Julirs]

hey is her tongue like hanging like alot out of his mouth????? if so i read to put them in a storage bin for a day and lay her tongue on wet paper towels on the bottom so it doesnt dry up and eventuallly he will pull her tongue back in.....and i just lost a cham to something souning like yours she didnt eat but she was always sleeping she was very defesive too she died in my hands on the way to the vet

PLEASE do not post things like this. This is NOT a treatment for this condition but rather only a safe way to transport an animal to the Vet in this condition.

 

[Danicuteeyes]

I have owned a veiled Chameleon for just short of one year. I believe the lizard is around 1 year old. My problem is that she is no longer eating and it seems that her tongue is swelled and sticking out of her mouth. Her mouth also stay s open and seems disfigured. She no longer eats on her own and is lethargic, not really walking or climbing. When I place her in her cage, she crawls to the bottom and just lays there. Her eyes are still very alert and she still strikes a weak defensive posture when you walk up to her. We are force feeding her and she seems to have a hard time swallowing. Please help because I feel she’s dyeing.

Thank you
michwarr

No update on the chameleon? I'm getting super worried...

 

[Michwarr]

Reply

Thank you all for your responses. I am trying to locate a local vet. I'm in Palm Bay, Florida so if anyone can recommend a good vet, please do. I'm currently unemployed and worried about the cost but I will do all I can. I looked up MBD and she doesn't seem to fit the symptoms. Her cage is a glass enclosure that the salesman at the pet store recommended; in fact everything that was recommended seems to be wrong for chams. We keep the recommended lamp on her. We feed her crickets with a calcium dusting, we gut load, again with the recommended dietary supplements. I guess the bottom line is…get her to the vet. I’ll let you know how things go…thank you all.

 

[jannb]

Dr. Ivan Alfonso in Orlando it one of the best chameleon vets you will ever find. Here's his website: www.kirkmanareavet.com He's not that expensive either.

You need to get her a screen cage and the correct lighting and supplements. Below is an older post that should be helpful....check post # 4 &6 https://www.chameleonforums.com/jaspers-new-casa-30916/

And this link is great: http://raisingkittytheveiledchamele...-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=11 Be sure to read keeping a female veiled.