veiled chameleon with hanging limbs 7y5m

[Captive Creations]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - veiled chameleon, male 7 year 5 month old, in my care 5 years
Handling - only when needed to clean enclosure. maybe 2 time a week to assist in care.(only a few minutes)
Feeding -crickets, horn worms, silk worms & dubia silk being staple. 5-7 feeders every other day, gut loaded with fresh veggies and bug burger
Supplements - rapashy every feeding 1 or 2 feeders dusted. plus plain calcium 1 x week
Watering - he is misted 4 times a day by misting system for 60 second every 2-3 hours but he drinks daily from hand mister.
Fecal Description - brown with white urate yes 6 months ago (routine not reason)
History - he has sever burn that he got 5 years ago with previous owner on casque and back. it has since healed, he also had an infection in his casque that was treated and cleared up at the same time. he is also blind in 1 eye and hand fed his feeders because of it. he has no current medical issues.


Cage Info:
Cage Type - screen its 4 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet.
Lighting - 60 watt heat light and repti sun 5.0 tube light
Temperature - basking is mid to high 80's rest of enclosure is low 80's its measured by a pob that stays in the tank by exo terra and i also have a temp gun that used as back up to double check
Humidity - mid 50% down to 30s between mistings by misting with mist system and hand misting. system is set to every 2-3 hours for 60 seconds.
Plants - pothos and lots of fake branches. all his branches are doubles because he has trouble with one foot in front of the other because of his sight.
Placement - in my bedroom as close to my 10 feet ceilings as i could get his cage bottom is at chest level. no vents or windows near him both are on the other side of the room
Location -ontario canada

Current Problem - my chameleon started hanging his feet while laying on the branches, everytime he stops moving he will hang at least 1 if not 2 of this limbs. then he falls a sleep for upto 20 minutes at a time then he wakes up walks around for a bit and does it all over again. his colors are really dark. i will try to get a picture of him. we have a vet appointment for friday iwas windering if anyone has see this before. he is 7 years 5 months.

 

[jannb]

Taking him to the vet is an excellent idea. It could be many different things and all we could do here is guess. Luie dangled one leg in the past and he had bone spurs. Elly dangled a leg and it was swollen and her leg was broke. Padre dangled a leg and the xray showed nothing so we assumed he sprang it. It could also possibly be gout or and infection of some type.

 

[Captive Creations]

yes friday we are going the vet. the wait is killing me. this is my very first chameleon when he was last in the vet she had said that she was surprised he was still alive after all he has gone threw. i really have a feeling i am loosing him. and its killing me. he hasnt left my hands all day he has been sleeping most of the day its not so much as danging limbs as not being able to hold him self up now. i have been calling the vet every hour to check for no shows or cancellations. please let someone not show up. cross your fingers for us

 

[carol5208]

I know when they dangle their legs it is usually due to pain. 7.5 yr is very old in chameleons years I am sure you know. Regardless of the outcome, he has lived more than most. Another 7 yrs would be great though!! Wishing you and your guy well. Let us know what the vet has to say.

 

[Carlton]

Maybe he's got some achy joints at his age? I've had adult chams who often dangled a leg or two while relaxing on a favorite perch. They didn't have any known health problems at the time, but again an older cham might be trying to ease their weight off a sore joint or relax their grip.

 

[Captive Creations]

I know when they dangle their legs it is usually due to pain. 7.5 yr is very old in chameleons years I am sure you know. Regardless of the outcome, he has lived more than most. Another 7 yrs would be great though!! Wishing you and your guy well. Let us know what the vet has to say.

As much as it pains me to say I really think you are right carol. He has been with our family for 5 years and have had to go threw a few different illnesses so far and like children you know when they arent feeling well or something is wrong by the way they act. He has been slowly sleeping more and more and when I took him into the vet they ran a bunch of test. and she said besides old age she couldnt see anything wrong and that was a few weeks ago. There have been no big changes in behaviour except that he lays on the branch and the lower half will slowly start to fall until he is hanging then he wakes and pulls him self back up. I think that he is starting to let go. He has been sleeping more and more and now he is spending maybe 3 hours awake threw out the day. if he doesnt improve in any way I may have to do the responsible thing. this is killing me. But I wont watch him suffer. its like loosing your best friend. i will keep you posted. thanks Carol

 

[jannb]

Maybe he's got some achy joints at his age? I've had adult chams who often dangled a leg or two while relaxing on a favorite perch. They didn't have any known health problems at the time, but again an older cham might be trying to ease their weight off a sore joint or relax their grip.

Very true. All my older guys got arthritis. Has he has an X-ray? Taking anything for pain?