Gular Edema and Pneumonia

[LeeAnne]

Hey there cham community!
I have a female panther about 1.5 yrs old with Pneumonia.
Recently she is showing signs of what I have learned is called Gular Edema. Very enlarged throat area.
I've attached a photo here of when it looked the worst. There are more photos and info (x-ray photo) in my previous thread https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/panther-chameleon-health-help.152702/

Just wondering a few thing:
1. Besides daily showers, hornworms, liquid calcium, humidity b/w 50-60 and natural sunlight what can or should I be doing for my cham?
2. Should I be worried about the mouth rot looking marks on her mouth?
3. I only have one antibiotic treatment left for her should I be planning to get her a now third refill? (she's been on them since 08/16/16)

Again if you have any info, or experience of chams with Pneumonia I'd love to hear what you have to say

edit: not sure why this posted to cham food my bad!

 

[Extensionofgreen]

What antibiotic is she on? The antibiotic alone could be causing kidney stress, especially if this is the third round.
URI and pneumonia are not generally stand alone ailments. That means stress and or environmental conditions are contributing to the illness. Animals that are weak, newly imported, or have been improperly cared for can develop theses health concerns, even once good care is instituted, because it takes a long time to recover a compromised immune system.
I would follow the asking for help sticky and fill out the form, so we can try to help understand if there is anything contributing to the illness, we can help you fix.
I'd strongly consider a new antibiotic and possibly another vet and or a break in the dosing with medications, pending some more details about your care.

 

[LeeAnne]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Cross b/w an Ankaramy and Ambilobe female Panther chameleon about one and a half years old. Been in my care since October 2015
• Handling - I pick her up at least once a day for the past 2 Months.
• Feeding - I feed her gut loaded crickets (Calcium only) super worms, mealworms, wax worms, hornworms D3 and multivitamin powder used once or twice a month.7-10 feeders every other day
• Supplements - Zoo Med Repti Calcium without D3 to dust Zilla gut load cricket drink and food.
• Watering -I give her manual misting at least 4 times a day as well as showers a few times a week in warm water for about 10-20 minutes. Yes I see her drinking often in the shower.
• Fecal Description -She has been de-wormed yes. Lately her droppings consist of a little white minimal pink and mostly brown, sometimes I can see the entire cricket in her droppings. ( pictures attached)
• History -I took her to the vet; AVETS in Monroville, Pennsylvania. She was seen by Dr. Goldstein She was given some fluid "Cham Gatorade" they called it, an X-ray and antibiotics which she has now been on for 2 and a half weeks.They sent the X-rays out to be looked at and the results yielded that she had Ammonia. The antibiotics are Tazicef 1gm/vial at .05mL administered in her front arm every 3 days with a syringe. (pictures attached)

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - She is housed in a screen cage. I'd say it is a 16x16x20
• Lighting - I have a Zoo med repticare ceramic infared heat emitter 60w on her at all times that she is inside in her cage. Also from 730am - about 10 pm (depending on if i take her outside or not) I have on a Exo Terra Reptile UVB 100 26w light. I just bought this light a month ago.
• Temperature - I use a temp gun. temps b/w 55-85
• Humidity - 30-60% 50-60% during the day
• Plants -No live plants
• Placement - Her cage is in the corner of the room below the air vent. She is stationed at about hip height on a desk. This would be the least traffic area in the room. I have been putting her outside every day for the past 2 weeks and keeping her i the garage at night for higher humidity.
• Location - Suburbs outside Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I'm at work, but I'll reply when I'm able. There are somethings you can improve upon.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Your cage is smaller than recomended and as a female, she should have laid eggs at some point, even if not mated.

Your UVB bulb is inadequate and needs to be changed, ASAP.

Manual misting is not usually enough, as it takes so much time and water to hydrate them and allow them to clean their eyes and your presence doesn't speed up the process.

Your gutload is inadequate and perhaps harmful. I am not familiar with Zilla brand, but if the food and water has added vitamins, you could easily be overdosing the chameleon, by feeding that to the insects.
Your vitamin supplement should include preformed vitamin A and I'm not sure, based on above, what you are using.

Your chameleon may or may not be suffering from over or undersupplentation.

The ceramic heat emitter is not needed, at night. I think you should keep the chameleon slightly warmer and better hydrated, while it is ill. Aim for 76F ambient and 85F for basking, with nights at 65F.

I think you need a new vet. The antibiotic is fine, but if the vet didn't ask about your care or when given the details above, the vet didn't make recommendations for improving the husbandry, then they aren't experience enough with chameleons to handle this situation.

That chameleon is in trouble and needs a proper diagnosis and the improvements I mentioned above, ASAP.
Good luck

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Also, minimal handling, as seldom as possible, at least until she is out of the woods.

 

[LeeAnne]

Also, minimal handling, as seldom as possible, at least until she is out of the woods.

Thank you I will definitely update some things! Why is my UVB bulb not adequate? I'm in the works of upgrading her cage and getting a misting system in place in the meantime i'll run a humidifier near her at night. I definitely need a better vet yes she said she would give me more antibiotics but i'd need to make another appointment and that is 130$ just to get seen..
Thanks for your help!
she did shed today which she hasn't done in a while so I'm taking this as signs of progress!
I have been handling her to and from the shower every day this week too but I'll give her a break

 

[Extensionofgreen]

If you do not have a linear fluorescent, not the coiled type, or a mercury vapor bulb, the distribution of UVB is poor and enough doesn't reach the animal, since they hide in foliage and the light is filtered by the cage screen.

Your chameleon is in grave trouble. I can only advise a vet, cessation of supplements and using only fresh produce as a gutload, and hydration, hydration, hydration, until you find out your options. Euthanasia needs to be on the table, if this problem can't be corrected and properly diagnosed. It is gravely ill.

 

[Chachi]

Thank you I will definitely update some things! Why is my UVB bulb not adequate? I'm in the works of upgrading her cage and getting a misting system in place in the meantime i'll run a humidifier near her at night. I definitely need a better vet yes she said she would give me more antibiotics but i'd need to make another appointment and that is 130$ just to get seen..
Thanks for your help!
she did shed today which she hasn't done in a while so I'm taking this as signs of progress!
I have been handling her to and from the shower every day this week too but I'll give her a break

I would go to the grocery store imediately and buy:
Carrots
Collard greens
Turnup greens
An orange.
Throw away the crap you are gutloading with and start the first few days with the small list above for your crickets. Here is a more comprehensive list as well
And also do every single thing extention ofgreen has suggested.