Urgent

[OACham]

Our male panther is suffering from something but we're unsure what to do. Guidance is requested...

at first sign of dehydration we started adding electrolytes to his water making sure he drank every 2-4 hours. he seemed to get better but still wasn't eating.

we fed him JumpStart a little bit at a time about every 4 hours. again, seemed to get better, but not anymore. he hasn't had a BM and now we're extra concerned because his back legs and tail seem to be losing blood circulation. and his skin in the anal area is turning a sort of black-patchy color -----i saw this same thing happen to our graceful when she passed except it started on her head and torso.

We live in a really small town with three vet clinics, none of which have herps.
Help??

 

[roguekiller23231]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ put all that info down hear. then someone might be in a better position to give you advice.

 

[OACham]

Cage 30"L x 18"W x 36"H from chameleonsonly.com
Lighting T-Rex 100w UVa spot lamp and Zoo med 24" UVb florescent.
Extra, ficus, and plenty of vine. Little dripper and a Holemns Humidifier.
Food Crix dusted with Sticky tongue farms miner-all and gut loaded with Nature Zone food bites.

We also fear impaction or constipation is there any home remedies we can do. We handle him almost daily, he'll usally crawl out on to my hand and eat a few crix that i offer him. Then, I'll put him on the window screen for some natural sunlight if the weather is right.

I've attached photos. His front arms are strong enough to carry his body but his hind legs and tail seem paralyzed. And now he's really lathargic crawling into one corner and sleeping. The only things to come out of his BM is the yellow/ orange stuff and a little bit water.

 

[dodolah]

it looked like a prolapse to me/ or a sperm plug.
but, i can't b sure. the photo is too blurry.
If it's spermplug, than it is easy to care.
but, if it's prolapse, get a KY Jelly, keep the area moist and run real fast to the vet. It need to be tucked back inside or if it's too dry already, it need to undergo some surgery.

BTW, you need more plants in the cage.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

The photo is very blurry, is there matter/tissue protruding from his vent? Is it red like organ tissue, or yellowish/brownish/black?

I agree with Dodolah. Those were my thoughts exactly.

Do keep the area moist. I would take the cham to a vet. Most if not all vets use some online links for diagnoses and quick research. If it is a prolapse or sperm plug the vet should be able to get enough info to treat your cham. I don't remember ever reading about a sperm plug causing paralysis. The fact that the cham is not eating indicates something more serious going on. Your cham is in critical condition. The problem doesn't seem to be so mysterious that any good vet would not be able to diagnose or get some assistance with a diagnosis. Vets often keep in contact with folks they met in college, and those they meet during their continuing education. They do network.

Constipation/impaction can cause paralysis. But your cham looks like he has something protruding from his vent. That is not normally seen with impaction. It may be impaction with another aggravating condition.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

ANother possibility is to take good focused close ups of your cham, and of his vent, and email them to your vet. He can then in turn email them to some of his compatriots, to get help with diagnosis.

Our vet has requested photos in the past. He combines the data from the photos (in our case it was photos of microscope slides) with a physical exam of the cham, for his own analysis.

If your vet will do this, then that will help you get the urgent care you need, and your vet will learn something about chameleon care.

 

[Sang]

I have only done this with frogs!

i am only giving this suggestion as i have done this in the past for prolapses.. but i don't reccomend you do it...

sugar water about 1/2" in a small tub, i used this for frogs and they usually allowed the tissue to desweel and recess back into his vent area.

not sure if a similar solution will work for chameleons, this is something you should consult with a veterinarian.