bump on arm

[davieb769]

hey, i took a couple pictures of my male veiled yesterday and just thought i would post them here to get some feedback. if you notice in the pictures he has a bump on his right arm, any advice about this would be greatly appreciated
-the first pic is one of his enclosure its a 2x2x4 screen cage

 

[davieb769]

heres another one where you can see his arm a little better

 

[dondeb562]

That cham appears to either be suffering with mbd or had it at some point in his life. How long have you had this cham??

 

[dondeb562]

you will want to fill out the following info for more help...
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[DylanN]

for sure MBD or some sort of bone deformity, as a result of bad supplementation of calcium or D3.

 

[dodolah]

Seems like he broke his arms.
If I am not mistaken, I noticed in the previous pictures some bowing on his legs too.
So, it is very likely your cham is suffering from Metabolic Bone Disorder.
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/health-section-b-metabolic-bone.html

 

[Syn]

Looks like you've got an MBD case on your hands. Bendy arms.
Looks exactly like a bearded dragon I took in a while ago (couple years), the owner didn't put any UVB on him, ever.
He ended up breaking one of his little paws!

 

[davieb769]

yea i did some research when i first noticed the bump and realized he may have MBD so i started him on the right supplement schedule. i dust his crickets with regular calcium every feeding and once a month i dust them with calcium with d3 + herptivite. this guy has never refused any cricket that ive ever put in his cage, i got him in october 2008, so he should be around 10-12 months old already.
another thing that im concerned about is he hasnt shed in a while now(im not sure exactly how long it has been)

 

[SoCaliSon]

What is the name of the Bulb you have in that fluorescent fixture? You have had him since he was a baby? I would get him to a vet to have him looked at. Looks like he is either not getting enough calcium, or not enough UV.. this would stunt his growth and weaken his bones. This is a SERIOUS case... get to the vet.

 

[davieb769]

well i sort of disagree with the going to the vet statement because personally i think that the vet i have been to with this chameleon is very unintelligent. it almost seemed as though i knew more about chameleons than the actual vet that was looking at my guy. when i went to them with this problem when he was still kind of small they told me to come back when he is bigger, and that i would most likely need to spend 70$ on a blood test, and another 80$ for a scan of his bones. not to mention how much i would need to pay them to fix his problem. i wish people would be more willing to help on this website rather than just tell people to GO TO THE VET(not everyone has a great vet to go to)

-the name of the bulb is- ZOO MED 18" REPTI SUN 5.0 UVB BULB

 

[dodolah]

Time to get another vet.
Surely there is more than 1 vet in your area.
Here is a good link to see one close to your place:
www.herpvetconnection.com

You do need a vet in this situation to intervene the bone deterioration process.

1 possibility why your cham got MBD (beside the nutritional problem that could derived from improper gutloading and supplementing) is the lighting and the access.
Your UVB lighting is correct and one of the best out there.
However, how long have you been using that light? I recommend to change it once every 6 month/ once a year -if you have uvb meter and periodically measure the uvb exposure.

Is he always been in a 2 2 by 4 cage even when he was a baby?
In that case, do you provide him a horizontal branch nearby the basking spot for him to bask comfortably?
Do you separate the uvb light and the heat lamp too far from each other?
is the basking spot is free from objects (such as leaves) that may obscure the light to shine on your chameleons?

 

[SoCaliSon]

I was trying to HELP by recommending a Vet visit... Your cham is obviously in poor shape and needs help. Help that none of us will be able to provide over the internet. If you are too stuborn to provide the attention your cham needs by taking it to the Vet, then give it up to someone who will.
The cham is obviously uncomfortable IMO, and it can't take itself to the doctor now can it? If you didn't like your vet, then look for another one. I wish some people would be more receptive to the help offered on this website.

This is the part I think you need to hear most... We cannot fix your chameleon over the internet... Especially if you refuse to take advice. Right now the ONLY person who can really help your chameleon... Is an owner that cares enough to take it to an exotic vet.


We can tell you to check your husbandry(which sounds pretty good), give a few pointers maybe, tell you what we think may be the prob, and tell you to go to the Vet... Aside from that this site is just a place for Cham lovers to mingle...and this website SHOULD NOT a substitute for veterinary care.

Come on a cham forum... Show a pic of a cham with a Leg like that, and say you want people to do something other than say go to the Vet... I am curious... What were you expecting to hear?

 

[PardalisGirl]

Time for some sun....

Is your weather good enough to take him outside for some real sun? 1/2 hour a day several times a week would be VERY beneficial. As often as possible. Make sure he is in a secure cage or container though and not too hot. When was it you did your research and changed his supplementation program? Does he spend enough time within range of his UVB bulb? Is he drinking enough? Do you see him drink? Another picture I would like to see. Set him on a light colored flat surface and take a picture of him from above so we can see the shape of his legs. When he walks is he able to completely lift his body off the ground on a flat surface?

The x-ray would be good because it would show bone density throughout his body and the degree of MBD he has. An x-ray says a 1,000 words regarding MBD. But having a vet that is not qualified to diagnose the situation from looking at the x-ray would make it pointless. Answering my questions will help us help you a little more though.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Is your weather good enough to take him outside for some real sun? 1/2 hour a day several times a week would be VERY beneficial. As often as possible. Make sure he is in a secure cage or container though and not too hot. When was it you did your research and changed his supplementation program? Does he spend enough time within range of his UVB bulb? Is he drinking enough? Do you see him drink? Another picture I would like to see. Set him on a light colored flat surface and take a picture of him from above so we can see she shape of his legs. When he walks is he able to completely lift his body off the ground on a flat surface?

The x-ray would be good because it would show bone density throughout his body and the degree of MBD he has. An x-ray says a 1,000 words regarding MBD. But having a vet that is not qualified to diagnose the situation from looking at the x-ray would make it pointless. Answering my questions will help us help you a little more though.

Calm Voice of Sanity... Maybe I'm just having a bad day...

I do think it really looks like some kind of break... Don't know if I missed it but how long has it been noticeably like this?

 

[PardalisGirl]

Typing at the same time...

We were sending our messages at the same time SoCaliSon....I never saw yours. I understand your frustration though. Going to a good vet is the first choice. I think reptiles should get the same attention a dog or cat does. And some days or weeks it seems like it is nothing but bad news or sad stories on this forum. Or the same issues again and again. The longer we are members the more it seems that this is true. Last week, it seemed to me that everyone was posting about the loss of a chameleon or major health issues. I had to stop looking for a while. It was just too much for me. Some weeks I have to just cruise and let other people pipe in with the advise or support. I've taken my Melleri outside for a beer and insects (beer for me and insects for her) instead of looking at the forum for my own mental health. This is such a big and popular forum that we attract a lot of people. More people means more problems to be shared. I hope this cham gets to go to a good vet too. Today I'm up for offering some guidance until that can happen. Tomorrow may be another story!

 

[pamspray]

i think i have the same problem but looks different, on my cham's left elbow or arm is a tiny bumb but it seems to be his bone, is this also do to mbd? please let me know if it is, i didnt know how to post the thing like you, im new.

 

[chambabysitter1]

i think i have the same problem but looks different, on my cham's left elbow or arm is a tiny bumb but it seems to be his bone, is this also do to mbd? please let me know if it is, i didnt know how to post the thing like you, im new.

Click Forums, then select the correct forum (Health Clinic), Then click "New Thread".

Copy and paste the information from this link, while filling it out.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[ToniandGizmo]

Is your weather good enough to take him outside for some real sun? 1/2 hour a day several times a week would be VERY beneficial. As often as possible. Make sure he is in a secure cage or container though and not too hot.=QUOTE]

Good advice!

Oops sorry screwed up trying to quote this portion.

 

[Minihuey]

put a cast on him. When my chameleon broke his leg I made a cast out of some paper and it healed his leg in two weeks. Probably not the best approached but it apparently worked. Now my baby i doing great. Although his leg is sort of bowled.

 

[Julirs]

well i sort of disagree with the going to the vet statement because personally i think that the vet i have been to with this chameleon is very unintelligent. it almost seemed as though i knew more about chameleons than the actual vet that was looking at my guy. when i went to them with this problem when he was still kind of small they told me to come back when he is bigger, and that i would most likely need to spend 70$ on a blood test, and another 80$ for a scan of his bones. not to mention how much i would need to pay them to fix his problem. i wish people would be more willing to help on this website rather than just tell people to GO TO THE VET(not everyone has a great vet to go to)

-the name of the bulb is- ZOO MED 18" REPTI SUN 5.0 UVB BULB

Make sure there is no glass or plastic between your Reptisun and your Chameleon. Sometimes fixtures come with a plastic cover that must be REMOVED. UVB will not pass through glass or plastic.
We are always willing to help-but in this situation our help is that you need to see a Vet for a calcium boost. Most Vets would not need to do expensive blood work or bone scans-it seems obvious enough that he has MBD and needs a calcium boost. Good luck-change Vets-and let us know what happens.