Eye trouble

[ridgebax1]

So for the past 7 weeks I have been concerned about CJ. He had two really difficult sheds in March-April. They took a couple weeks and the shed was patchy. That was the last two weeks of March and then he shed again towards the end of April. It was during that second shed I noticed him sitting with his eyes closed. It was only once or twice during the shed, he maintained his appetite and activity level with the first shed but then the second he stopped eating too. He was also rubbing his face frequently on his branches.So off to the vet we went. The vet put him on flagyl and enrofloxacin. He got a small scab on the left eyelid from rubbing. I increased the length of his mistings as well. So weeks and 2 more vet visits he is back on enro (after a culture that cost $250 to run). His appetite has returned, he actually put on some weight, drinks from his leaves and is fairly active but still has his eyes closed a lot. It occurred to me to day that I replace his UV lights a couple months ago. I have a Tropic Blaze fixture and 4 Arcadia 6% bulbs in it. Is it possible that this is too much UV? The light initially came with 3 UV bulbs and a plant bulb.

 

[oneillchameleons]

Four bulbs definitely sounds excessive. The problem is that closed eyes are a sign of a few different health issues. I would remove two of the UVB bulbs for a week or so and try to see if anything changes. With eye problems it's often a process of elimination until you can figure out the cause. Are you gutloading/dusting your feeders properly?

 

[brownie64]

Like oneillchameleons said it won't hurt too try removing some of the UVB, however unless there is something wrong with the lights themselves I highly doubt there is enough UVB to cause damage as long as there is enough foliage for him to take cover if necessary. After all that's way less UVB than the sun puts out, and you don't see chameleons eyes being damaged by the sun in the wild.

 

[carol5208]

Do you use a multivitamin with Vitamin A? What do you gutload your feeders with?? Could have something to do with Vitamin A deficiency.

 

[ridgebax1]

Do you use a multivitamin with Vitamin A? What do you gutload your feeders with?? Could have something to do with Vitamin A deficiency.

I use herptivite twice a month and gutload my feeders with cricket crack (I think it is one of the gutloads from Nick Barta) and left over salad greens. I am well aware that closed eyes can indicate health problems hence the multiple vet visits and hundreds of dollars for vet bills/medicine/cultures. You can see him moving his eyes around through the closed lids at times too, which I know is a normal behavior. I forgot to mention that his lower eyelids, particularly on the left looked a little puffy. I thought that maybe from him rubbing them on the branches which he was doing a lot, which leads me to believe this is a mechanical issue rather than an infectious process. The Tropic Blaze fixture, sold by light your reptiles, is made for four bulbs and as I said when I first bought it there were 3 6% UVB bulbs and a plant bulb. I have two trees in his cage and they have become a bit sparse in the lower branches and the branches themselves are a bit leggy but I have folded them down and around his branches so he does have cover. I had intended to switch them out a while ago (I have the new trees) but held off when this eye issue started because I did not want to add any additional stressors. He is at the moment drinking water from his leaves and now looking for food.

 

[brownie64]

I use herptivite twice a month and gutload my feeders with cricket crack (I think it is one of the gutloads from Nick Barta) and left over salad greens. I am well aware that closed eyes can indicate health problems hence the multiple vet visits and hundreds of dollars for vet bills/medicine/cultures. You can see him moving his eyes around through the closed lids at times too, which I know is a normal behavior. I forgot to mention that his lower eyelids, particularly on the left looked a little puffy. I thought that maybe from him rubbing them on the branches which he was doing a lot, which leads me to believe this is a mechanical issue rather than an infectious process. The Tropic Blaze fixture, sold by light your reptiles, is made for four bulbs and as I said when I first bought it there were 3 6% UVB bulbs and a plant bulb. I have two trees in his cage and they have become a bit sparse in the lower branches and the branches themselves are a bit leggy but I have folded them down and around his branches so he does have cover. I had intended to switch them out a while ago (I have the new trees) but held off when this eye issue started because I did not want to add any additional stressors. He is at the moment drinking water from his leaves and now looking for food.

What kind of plant's do you have? Sometimes the sap off of trees can cause irritation. Just a thought.

 

[ridgebax1]

Hibiscus and schefflera. They have been in his cage since I got him.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

So for the past 7 weeks I have been concerned about CJ. He had two really difficult sheds in March-April. They took a couple weeks and the shed was patchy. That was the last two weeks of March and then he shed again towards the end of April. It was during that second shed I noticed him sitting with his eyes closed. It was only once or twice during the shed, he maintained his appetite and activity level with the first shed but then the second he stopped eating too. He was also rubbing his face frequently on his branches.So off to the vet we went. The vet put him on flagyl and enrofloxacin. He got a small scab on the left eyelid from rubbing. I increased the length of his mistings as well. So weeks and 2 more vet visits he is back on enro (after a culture that cost $250 to run). His appetite has returned, he actually put on some weight, drinks from his leaves and is fairly active but still has his eyes closed a lot. It occurred to me to day that I replace his UV lights a couple months ago. I have a Tropic Blaze fixture and 4 Arcadia 6% bulbs in it. Is it possible that this is too much UV? The light initially came with 3 UV bulbs and a plant bulb.

Beta carotene/fresh carrot juice is the a swerve to prevention of a lot of eye issues!

 

[ridgebax1]

I turned off 2 of the lights in my UV fixture. I thought that may be the answer as he seemed to have his eyes open all the time but alas he has resumed the closing of the eyes. I am still going to leave them off for a bit as maybe he needs some time for what ever issue may have occurred to resolve itself. I really think it is related to the two consecutive sheds. You can see him moving his eyes behind the closed lids like they are bothering him. I do not have a shower to put him in as some recommend. Is there another way to flush/irrigate his eyes?

 

[ridgebax1]

Does anyone else have any insight about what could be going on with his eyes? I appreciate hearing from the senior members on these forums. I do recall a debate about Vit A and how it is made available for the chams but cannot remember specifics. I use Herptivite twice a month and used it for years with no prior eye issues.

I am also attaching a photo of him taken by my son while I was not home. He said he squeezed tears out of his left eye. I really think this is somehow related to the recent shedding and he has started to shed for the third time in as many months!