Chin rubbing, lost scales/skin on face.

[Crashbandit05]

So for about a week I've noticed this grey patch on his lower mouth/gular area. It hasn't gotten better or worse but I assume it's from rubbing on the screen door and the various branches in the enclosure. The only vet with reptile experience said he looks fine but I went ahead and got a bit of silver sulfadiazine just to avoid it turning into a possible infection. Should I just apply once per day.. the vets weren't very helpful IMO but they deal with primarily cats and dogs.

You'll probably have to zoom in but it's below the blue patch of scales on his bottom lip.
Am I just over worrying?

 

[Charlie Fox]

At this point keep a close eye on it, most likely scar tissue, hopefully at the next shed it will clean up some. I would try not to use the med until it starts to change in looks for the worse. Applying it weekly indefinitely will only make the medicine less effective over time and possibly give the lizard toxicity. If this just started and the Cham is running his face along the cage all day its time to think about rearranging the environment or going larger in cage.

 

[Charlie Fox]

Also looks like chew marks from crickets. Is there a chance you have some roaming free in the cage? Sometimes they will predate on sleeping lizards, the eyes and lips are at most risk.

 

[Crashbandit05]

At this point keep a close eye on it, most likely scar tissue, hopefully at the next shed it will clean up some. I would try not to use the med until it starts to change in looks for the worse. Applying it weekly indefinitely will only make the medicine less effective over time and possibly give the lizard toxicity. If this just started and the Cham is running his face along the cage all day its time to think about rearranging the environment or going larger in cage.

I haven't applied any yet, didn't think of that and I definitely don't want to jump the gun. There is the occasional cricket that I'll see in the morning, but they usually hang out on the front screen. Plus the chameleon is pretty good at not leaving bugs to roam. I do have a small ant problem. They are the tiny, black ants that are attracted to sugary things.. I had to buy a new scheflerra last year to get rid of them. I have not seen any ants on the chameleon though. Thanks for your help.

 

[Crashbandit05]

I'm bumping this for other's opinions. Other than the scale issue, he normal and active..

 

[kinyonga]

Could be the ants or the crickets biting him or a rub. If the vet gave you the meds to put on it then I would put it on the spots. I think it can be used once or twice a day with no problem from what I've read. I've always used flamazine.

To help keep the crickets from biting the chameleon put a small lid full of greens and veggies at the bottom of the cage...replace every couple of days...that way the crickets have something to eat besides the chameleon.

 

[jajeanpierre]

@Crashbandit05 I can't see what you are worried about. I can't see it very clearly, but I think I see some retained shed. Can you get a magnifying glass and have a look?

 

[Crashbandit05]

@jajeanpierre does this help? It does appear to be flakey, hopefully it'll come off with his next shed.

 

[Crashbandit05]

Could be the ants or the crickets biting him or a rub. If the vet gave you the meds to put on it then I would put it on the spots. I think it can be used once or twice a day with no problem from what I've read. I've always used flamazine.

To help keep the crickets from biting the chameleon put a small lid full of greens and veggies at the bottom of the cage...replace every couple of days...that way the crickets have something to eat besides the chameleon.

That's a good idea but I worry about the amount of ants that will congregate and munch on the food/crickets.

 

[jajeanpierre]

That looks like retained shed. Retained shed can build up in layers so that even when it sheds, there are actually layers of retained shed underneath. I would try to work it off. See if you can't lift it up by the edges.