Bumps on chameleon

[nikkilynn.marie]

Hi, i recently rescued a chameleon hes WC witch is not something i support but i rescued him. His husbandry was awful. And i needed to help him out. He had these weird masses growing on him different sizes colours, i asked around i researched the heck out of it. Couldnt get any correct answers of anything that looked like what he had. So as a responsible owner i took him to a vet. They biopsied the lumps and stitched him up in multiple spots (all lumps were removed) i just got the labs back today and wanted to share the findings to help someone like me who couldnt find answers.
He has PAPILLOMA virus (HPV)
Weaked immune system. Causing masses.. warts lets say. So they have a root and need to be dug out under sedation And stitched up with pain killers and antibiotics and ointments. Do not try to do this yourself it is very painful for them. All in all it really didnt cost much.
With correct care he can suppress the virus and may not have another outbreak.
Even with the virus he can live his full life as my other chams!
Obviously keep them apart, dont share anything. Clean his house. Wash hands typical cross contamination protocol.
If anyone has any more answers for me that be amazing! The vet said there wasnt much answers they could give as its not very common shes doing her research and im doing mine to learn more.
Anyone else deal with this ? Any information at all. I have read just about everything on the internet i could find.
And i hope if anyone else has a cham with this you have a better understanding of what the lumps are or may be. And take him to the vet!
Pictures to show what his lumps looked like all very different and pluto with his stitches as well 3 weeks healed. Hes a happy friendly guy and has so much life to give now hes in proper hands and getting the care he deserves!

 

[MissSkittles]

Aww…poor guy had a lot of them. We do see a fair number of chameleons here with papilloma. One of mine had a small lesion removed last year and all has been fine but now sadly it’s growing back. As it isn’t anywhere that will interfere with her quality of life, I won’t put her through another removal.
Kudos for taking your beautiful guy to the vet promptly and bless you for rescuing him.

 

[nikkilynn.marie]

Aww…poor guy had a lot of them. We do see a fair number of chameleons here with papilloma. One of mine had a small lesion removed last year and all has been fine but now sadly it’s growing back. As it isn’t anywhere that will interfere with her quality of life, I won’t put her through another removal.
Kudos for taking your beautiful guy to the vet promptly and bless you for rescuing him.

Thats the other thing! They werent bugging him before. Bothering me mostly. So is it worth taking him in stressing him out that much if its not a huge deal, now that i know for sure what it is.
I suggest going in to find out, but if they come back is it worth it ?
Some were painful open wounds, so i am happy they are gone and have ointment.

 

[MissSkittles]

Thats the other thing! They werent bugging him before. Bothering me mostly. So is it worth taking him in stressing him out that much if its not a huge deal, now that i know for sure what it is.
I suggest going in to find out, but if they come back is it worth it ?
Some were painful open wounds, so i am happy they are gone and have ointment.

If you don’t know with absolute certainty what the bumps or lesions are, it is absolutely worth the vet visit and biopsy to find out. We can look at it and say it looks like a papilloma, but without a biopsy how can we be sure? I like to err on the side of caution. My vet just sliced off the wart…didn’t dig the root out and that’s fine. I do feel bad that it’s growing back as she is such a beauty, but warts and all, I adore her.