Trident (Jacksons), possible temporal gland infection

[Seiryu]

Well, after a posting pic of Trident my male Jackson's chameleon, someone said he may have a temporal gland infection

Here's the pic

He doesn't have any bulge or abscess looking inflammation on his left side. He ate fine yesterday. He eats 1/2"-5/8" dubia with hornworms and silkworms. He's 16 months old.

Taking him to my reptile vet today if there is an opening. I hear it is fairly common to eventually happen, but how hard is treatment? Luckily he is very handle-able, so whatever needs to be done shouldn't be too bad. Hopefully this isn't a reoccurring infection like apparently it can be!

 

[Seiryu]

Well I just got back from the vet. She said she was unsure if it was a gland infection. Whatever it is (abscess or infection) is not open in his mouth. She said his mouth looked healthy and pink as it should.

She prescribed 3 weeks of 0.05ml baytril, once a day. I don't think I'll have trouble getting it in him. If in 10 days it isn't going down, she may have to open the wound and get whatever it is out.

 

[dlegare]

Good luck with your cham. An easy way to get the antibiotics into him without stressing the heck out of him is to inject them into a roach.

I would also ensure you are hydrating him very very well during the antibiotic treatment as chams sometimes have renal (kidney) problems during and after antibiotic therapy. Keeping him well hydrated will help prevent any complications.

 

[Seiryu]

Thanks! I mentioned that to her. Her fear was after a few days, he may not want to eat anything. She said sometimes the Baytril makes them not want to eat.

Do I just inject it into a roach anywhere on the body? Probably the biggest, squishiest spot?

He's a really good drinker too, so hopefully that doesn't change. He's very handle-able, so I have that going at least! Has never puffed or opened his mouth at anyone, ever. My vet was surprised how bright his colors were with her holding him and opening his mouth.

 

[Carlton]

Well I just got back from the vet. She said she was unsure if it was a gland infection. Whatever it is (abscess or infection) is not open in his mouth. She said his mouth looked healthy and pink as it should.

She prescribed 3 weeks of 0.05ml baytril, once a day. I don't think I'll have trouble getting it in him. If in 10 days it isn't going down, she may have to open the wound and get whatever it is out.

The Baytril won't reach the actual abscess itself if there's no lesion in his mouth. In addition to the systemic med they may have to open it up and clean out the material. These things can be hard to eradicate so better safe than end up with a resistant infection that recurrs.

 

[Carlton]

Thanks! I mentioned that to her. Her fear was after a few days, he may not want to eat anything. She said sometimes the Baytril makes them not want to eat.

Do I just inject it into a roach anywhere on the body? Probably the biggest, squishiest spot?

He's a really good drinker too, so hopefully that doesn't change. He's very handle-able, so I have that going at least! Has never puffed or opened his mouth at anyone, ever. My vet was surprised how bright his colors were with her holding him and opening his mouth.

He may try to eat one drugged bug, but once he tastes it he may refuse them afterwards. I don't think Baytril tastes very good!

Sure, his color was bright because he was stressed by handling, not because he was calm.

 

[Seiryu]

Are you saying that the Baytril won't work if the wound is not open? My vet did not want to open the wound up without getting the Baytril into him first.

 

[Carlton]

Are you saying that the Baytril won't work if the wound is not open? My vet did not want to open the wound up without getting the Baytril into him first.

What I meant to suggest is that Baytril treatment on its own may not affect the abscess much directly (but I'm not a vet so not quite sure how much). It would help prevent the infection from spreading to other areas if the bacteria that caused it exist outside the abscess. The vet will probably have to do both.

 

[Seiryu]

Well 3 days of meds in him so far. I didn't inject the bugs with it. Since he is so tame I put him on my left hand, dubia on my right hand. He eats the dubia, and as he chews, I squirt in the 0.05ml of baytril. Quick and easy.

Still eating and drinking great, hopefully I see his infection going down in the next few days!

 

[Seiryu]

He has now had 8 days worth of the Baytril. It doesn't seem like the swelling is going down, although it's not getting bigger either. He's still eating as normal and drinking.

So I have a vet appointment tomorrow to remove the abscess. Hoping this goes smoothly.

At least he has antibiotics in him already. Anyone who has had a Jacksons with the temporal gland infection have any pointers for me when I get him home? I imagine he may not want to eat for a few days, or drink.

 

[crocky]

I just wanted to say good luck with the procedure and hope all goes well! He is a mighty fine looking Cham.

 

[dlegare]

He has now had 8 days worth of the Baytril. It doesn't seem like the swelling is going down, although it's not getting bigger either. He's still eating as normal and drinking.

So I have a vet appointment tomorrow to remove the abscess. Hoping this goes smoothly.

At least he has antibiotics in him already. Anyone who has had a Jacksons with the temporal gland infection have any pointers for me when I get him home? I imagine he may not want to eat for a few days, or drink.

He's got a good caregiver so I bet he'll have a speedy recovery.

 

[deadhd5]

Good luck with surgery for your Jackson and kudos for getting him the treatment he needs.

I will be looking forward to an update with good news

 

[Seiryu]

Thanks guys! I am quite nervous, but I think he will be fine. I'd be more worried if he was acting different.

 

[Lovereps]

Here is some good info about a case which required temporal gland removal and a novel approach afterward, written by well known cham vet Ivan Alfonso, DVM:
http://www.kirkmanareavet.com/Temporal Gland Jackson.html

As long as you make sure he drinks, he should be ok afterward.

 

[Seiryu]

Here is some good info about a case which required temporal gland removal and a novel approach afterward, written by well known cham vet Ivan Alfonso, DVM:
http://www.kirkmanareavet.com/Temporal Gland Jackson.html

As long as you make sure he drinks, he should be ok afterward.

Thanks for this! I think I might print this out and bring it to the vet!

 

[Lovereps]

You're very welcome.
She will probably find the Zymox treatment to be very interesting.

Looking forward to an update on Trident after his procedure.
From your PMs, I'm very sure he is in good hands both at the vet and at home.

 

[Seiryu]

I just got back from the vets. It was NOT a temporal gland infection. It was just some kind of abscess. She lanced it and quite a bit of pus came out. It was completely on the outside of his lower jaw.

I am to put this nolvasan/sterile water mixture onto a cotton ball twice a day and get any pus I can out. Also continuing the baytril at least until next week for hopefully his last check-up at the vet.

He seemed to be OK. He obviously didn't like the lancing part, but he didn't gape or bite.

Here's a pic of his mouth now.

Hopefully all goes well and he continues to eat and drink!

 

[Miss Lily]

Awww, bless him! Hopefully it will heal up nicely. Must have been awful for you - I hate taking chams to the vets.

 

[Seiryu]

I was a bit nervous, but was more at ease when she said it was not a gland infection and surgery was not required.

I got him home, let him warm and he ate 3 dubia like a champ and drank some water!