Vitamin A question

[Powers]

I was formerly using ReptoCal to dust my chameleons food. My question is does thin contain vitamin A? Vitamin A is listed under "GUARANTEED ANALYSIS"

What does that mean?

Here is a link to the product:

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

 

[Chameleon Company]

Powers

That product has the best form or pro-formed (or pre-f0rmed, or real) Vitamin A in it, but it is still being delivered via gutload or dusting, which is often ineffective, and the concentration is small. Its a good product to use, but will likely not remedy a Vitamin A issue.

 

[kelso]

what is a good way to remedy a vitamin A issue?

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

What is the vitamin A issue?

-chris

 

[kelso]

well my chameleon has been having some eye issues- bulging and rubbing, and sometimes closing one eye. the vet said there is no sign of infection and the drops he gave me aren't clearing it up. Someone told me it is possibly a vitamin A issue? So i was just wondering what a good way to resolve this would be if gutloading and multivitamins are not good enough. (the multivitamin i use- fluker's repta-vitamin, has beta carotene 500,000 mcg per pound, as well as 50,000 IU of vitamin A per pound.) Is that a good content or should i order some reptavite online ?

Thanks,
Kelsie

 

[Chameleon Company]

Kelso, the best way to address a vitamin A deficiency is to dose directly and immediately with Vitamin A, then try to establish a regimen that gets more Vitamin A into the diet of the chameleon than prior to the issue coming to light. PM sent.

 

[jannb]

What is the vitamin A issue?

-chris

Powers original post: https://www.chameleonforums.com/there-something-wrong-napoleon-26847/

 

[sandrachameleon]

Kelso, the best way to address a vitamin A deficiency is to dose directly and immediately with Vitamin A, then try to establish a regimen that gets more Vitamin A into the diet of the chameleon than prior to the issue coming to light. PM sent.

BE REALLY CAREFUL when following this type of advice. While vitamin A may indeed be helpful, it can also be fatally toxic. Jim has probably told you this in his PM, but for others reading this thread its important to be clear that there are potential dangers. You may like to consult a vet to get an appropriate dosage for the weight of your chameleon. Frequent use of preformed vitamin A is not necessary or desireable. There are people (myself included) who keep chameleons successfully (long lived and healthy) without direct supplementation of Vitamin A.

You may find these threads on Vitamin A interesting:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/food-thought-12472/
http://web.archive.org/web/20060502...rnals.com/vet/index.php?show=5.Vitamin.A.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/chameleons-eye-doesnt-want-21534/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/seriously-worried-22697/index3.html#post199819
https://www.chameleonforums.com/carrots-vit-23572/

 

[Chameleon Company]

BE REALLY CAREFUL when following this type of advice

Kelsie got a full PM going into detail. Kelsie also acknowledged that the vet available did not have knowledge in this area, a situation common with many hobbyists. Here's a link to a recent interview with Dr. Gary Ferguson, and a few quotes. One can get his book on Panther Chameleons from many on-line providers. Enjoy

http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/03/chat-with-dr-gary-w-ferguson.html

6. Since we are still in the topics of nutrition, what is your standing on the necessity of supplementing a preformed vitamin A VS beta-carotene?
I went through a period where I gut-loaded crickets with carrots but deprived them of preformed vitamin A and the chameleons developed vitamin A deficiency. This was surprising because humans can use beta-carotene for our vitamin A needs. So, I recommend using preformed vitamin A either as a direct supplement or in insect feeds.
7. Are you familiar with the reason why they cannot convert beta-carotene into Vitamin A? Also, how is it in the wild, they satisfy their need of Retinol? As a chameleon keeper, this topic seems to be controversial among people. Is there a more thorough study that addresses this matter?
I don’t know why the carotene in carrots couldn’t be converted. It could be that other carotenes in the guts of wild plant-eating insects can be. It could also be why panthers sometimes occasionally eat lizards and nestling birds, which should be a good source of retinol. I think it is a good idea to feed panthers large pinkies or small lizards, such as anoles, occasionally, if they will eat them. There indeed needs to be more study on this subject.
8. What is your recommended dosage of preformed Retinol for chameleon in captivity? Is there some kind of rules or some educated guess, for a lack of better words, to help chameleon keepers to sort out this confusion of varying degrees of nutrition requirements in an individual chameleon?
Larry Talent at Oklahoma State University gave his panthers 50 IU of retinol in corn oil solution once a week and had no A-deficiency symptoms.