Female Veiled Chameleon Swollen Throat

[CarlyMK]

Hello! I have a (Approx) 3 month old Female Veiled Chameleon. I've noticed that she has a swollen throat, and this morning when I woke up her right eye was a bit puffy too. I read online that it could be a vitamin deficiency; I skipped her multi vitamin by accident last week as she got very cranky when she shed and stopped eating for a day. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[carol5208]

she looks to have a condition called gular edema. It is a retention of fluid in the tissues. It is caused by an imbalance of some sort but that is the tricky part trying to figure out where the imbalance is coming from. Some say it is caused from oversupplementation but I got a cham from another member who had terrible gular edema and he was not supplementing at all. There is not a whole lot that cand be done about it. It might go away on its own. There is no magical cure for it.

 

[CarlyMK]

Thank you for the response, I'll try cutting back on the supplements and see if that works.

 

[carol5208]

yeah you can try. The chameleon I have that had it well it took many months to go away and then it came back and one day it would be there and gone the next day. He has not had it now for about a month or so. I have done nothing different then when he had it so I am stumped! Before I thought I noticed a link between him eating crickets and getting the edema and I thought maybe he was getting too much phosphorus but now he eats crickets at all his feedings and it is gone so go figure!!!! I took him to my vet and he really had no answer to the cause either.

 

[CarlyMK]

Thank you for your help.

 

[ataraxia]

As carol has suggested.
If i could add, that your chameleon may be gravid at the moment causing this. Be sure to have a lay bin set up in the cage for her. Good UVB and plain phosphorus calcium at all feedings will help her along with this. Oh dont forget to be sure those urates stay white.

 

[camimom]

water water water.
this can help get the gular edema down.

 

[justjumpit621]

If I were you I would fill out this form, so we can try to pin point what may be causing it. Skipping one day of multivitamins won't be causing it, but by the way you worded it it sounds like you are giving them to her weekly? Also now that her eye is puffy too, it could be a more serious problem than just gular edema. I would suggest going to see a vet, but a knowledgeable chameleon vet, if possible.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[CarlyMK]

Would the swelling of the eye and throat be an indication of too much Vitamin A? I just went back to the reptile store I bought her from and the man who sold her to me said that swelling means an excessive amount of something in their system, while long periods of closing their eyes could indicate a lack of minerals. On the other hand she may just be closing her eyes because it is swollen. Any insight?

 

[CarlyMK]

She is drinking well, doesn't seem to want to eat much.

 

[cricketkilla]

water water water.
this can help get the gular edema down.

^^^ Great advice! I would ease up on supplements add a laying bin, and super hydrate that girl showers, hornworms, silks, etc... keep us updated on her condition

 

[CarlyMK]

Ricky - Swollen throat and eye

This is her today - I understand they puff up their throats when they're upset so disregard that, there is definite swelling.

 

[Elizadolots]

How sure are you of her age? That sort of edema is often associated with bearing eggs. As has been recommended, you should have a laying bin in the enclosure for her. She can have eggs even if she's never been near a male (they will be infertile...like the chicken eggs you have for breakfast).

It would be very helpful if you completed the form justjumpit posted. There are things you can do to help reduce the frequency and size of infertile clutches which will help your female live longer.

 

[CarlyMK]

I will fill it out now, thank you.

 

[CarlyMK]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Female, approx 3 months (I'm not too sure on that) I've had her for a month and a half, she is a Veiled.Handling - I handle here 1-2 times per week
Feeding - I give her calcium dusted crickets (although I was told today that they should he "gray" in colour instead of all white since it may be too much. I am giving her the multi-vitamin once a week and calcium 3 times a week. I feed her mid afternoon, crickets, sometimes wax worms and meal worms. The crickets are getting food, and cricket drink with added calcium.
Supplements - Repti-calcium and reptivite Multivitamin
Watering - I do see her drinking from time to time, I do not mist the cage every day as the fogger keeps it damp.
Fecal Description - It has been consistant since I got her a month and a half ago, white (sometimes with some yellow) and clear liquid.History -N/A

Cage Info:
Cage Type -Cage is a 1.5x1.5 screen cage
Lighting - I use Exo Terra 50W bulb & Repti Glow UVB 5.0
Temperature - Temp is usually around 70 - 78 - I noticed it went down for some reason, may need a new bulb - blub is only about a month old. Night time temp is approx. 70 I have a 50W Moonlight bulb
Humidity - I Have a Repti-fogger that I leave on low from about 9 - 4pm it creates drips
Plants - No live plants
Placement -The cage is in the kitchen beside a window that gets lots of sun during the day, I don't have it directly in the sunlight though. There is little breeze -
Where are you geographically located? Ontario, Canada

 

[Elizadolots]

Not that this has anything to do with the current issue, but this board recommends the following schedule for supplements: plain calcium without D3 daily, D3 twice a month, multivitamin twice a month. Note that you want to make sure the daily supplement is plain calcium without D3.

Where are you measuring the temperatures? It would be good to know your temperature at the basking spot and the bottom of the cage..

You do not need a night time bulb. Let the cage go down to the 60s or even the high 50s. She needs a cool dark night to sleep properly.

For the future, you can use a regular household incandescent to create the heat for the basking spot. Special bulbs are not (at the moment) required. I say "at the moment" because there is a push to eliminate incandescent bulbs in normal stores and in the future we all might be buying specialty bulbs. However, at the moment, you can use a bulb you can buy at the grocery store for under a dollar.

Is there any way we can get a picture of her on a ruler or something else that can help with the size? I know a finger is in the picture, but if that finger is the size of my husband's the chameleon could be a 5 month old, if it's the size of my 17 year old daughter's finger, the chameleon could be a 2 month old.

How many feeders, what size and are you giving them daily?

(I'm sorry...there are always questions after the form!)

 

[justjumpit621]

Not that this has anything to do with the current issue, but this board recommends the following schedule for supplements: plain calcium without D3 daily, D3 twice a month, multivitamin twice a month. Note that you want to make sure the daily supplement is plain calcium without D3.

Where are you measuring the temperatures? It would be good to know your temperature at the basking spot and the bottom of the cage..

You do not need a night time bulb. Let the cage go down to the 60s or even the high 50s. She needs a cool dark night to sleep properly.

For the future, you can use a regular household incandescent to create the heat for the basking spot. Special bulbs are not (at the moment) required. I say "at the moment" because there is a push to eliminate incandescent bulbs in normal stores and in the future we all might be buying specialty bulbs. However, at the moment, you can use a bulb you can buy at the grocery store for under a dollar.

Is there any way we can get a picture of her on a ruler or something else that can help with the size? I know a finger is in the picture, but if that finger is the size of my husband's the chameleon could be a 5 month old, if it's the size of my 17 year old daughter's finger, the chameleon could be a 2 month old.

How many feeders, what size and are you giving them daily?

(I'm sorry...there are always questions after the form!)

Actually I have heard gular edema can be caused by oversupplementation of vitamin A, as well as swollen eyes. I would not give vitamins for a while, maybe 2 months? Also, are you giving calcium with D3 at all? That could also be causing it.

 

[Elizadolots]

That's true, the wrong supplements could be behind it, but it's not necessarily the issue. I didn't say it well.

 

[CarlyMK]

How old is she?

I did not have a ruler, she is on a 8.5in/11in piece of paper, and my hand. I hope this helps.

 

[Elizadolots]

She looks much smaller on the paper. I can see that she might be as young as 3 months. However, she might be 4 months and there have been stories here of 4 month olds laying eggs, so I really think you need to be prepared for that at some point in the not too distant future.

If this were my animal I would cut back the vitamin supplement. I would also make sure that the calcium I use is plain calcium without D3 in it.