i think my cham broke his leg? hes able to move it so im not sure, heres some pics

[sergio reyes]

i saw my cham walking in a wierd way in his cage and noticed his leg seems to be broken! as i watched him just walk around in his cage it look like he is able to move it and use it to walk and climb but he walks different. i didnt notice till today so im asuming it happend recently or wen i was sleeping last night, can anybody tell me for sure if its broken and or would it just be best to take it to get an exray to make sure its broken, his cage isnt really that tall, i think he just sliped and fell on it and broke. heres some pics of his cage and leg

 

[Elizadolots]

It looks broken. I think a vet visit is definitely in order. If you'd broken your leg, would you just treat it at home? Also, the reason for the break should be examined. Of course it's possible he just took a fall, but breaks are sort of a symptom of Metabolic Bone Disease and that is extremely serious. A good vet with chameleon experience can help you with that.

I hope things go well.

 

[sergio reyes]

It looks broken. I think a vet visit is definitely in order. If you'd broken your leg, would you just treat it at home? Also, the reason for the break should be examined. Of course it's possible he just took a fall, but breaks are sort of a symptom of Metabolic Bone Disease and that is extremely serious. A good vet with chameleon experience can help you with that.

I hope things go well.

if i knew how to treat a broken leg i work treat it at home with all the proper tools i would need ofcorse wich is why i asked. so basicly if he has sort symtomof metabloic bone disease his bones are very weak ? and thnks.

 

[Trin]

if i knew how to treat a broken leg i work treat it at home with all the proper tools i would need ofcorse wich is why i asked. so basicly if he has sort symtomof metabloic bone disease his bones are very weak ? and thnks.

Chameleons who aren't getting enough calcium and uvb are prone to a condition called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) which weakens their bones resulting in breaks. Normally it's pretty hard for a cham to break a bone unless they fall a large distance or get stepped on. If your cham does have metabolic bone disease, your vet will be able to tell you, treat the leg, and do everything they can to stop the progression of MBD... but MBD cannot really be reversed, although it can be managed. Best of luck with your little one, hope he gets better fast!

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Here is a description of metabolic bone disease: https://www.chameleonforums.com/frequently-asked-questions-71620/#post668825

 

[sergio reyes]

thanks and we give him calciun and multivitamins so idk what could have gone but thanks for the info ill be taking to a vet asap

 

[Elizadolots]

The thing about breaks is that it's not always simple and obvious on how to treat them. This is a weight bearing limb. It's the equivalent of you breaking a leg. The break itself can do other damage and not having a professional see it risks further problems.

That said, I've dealt with a broken a toe without going to the doctor, so I understand what you are saying.

But yes, there is a distinct possibility (probability?) that he has MBD.

This should really be in the health forum and hopefully a mod will move it.

You should complete the "How to Ask For Help" form.

Just click that link, copy the "questions" paste them into a reply and add your information. That will help the people here in assessing your set up and what might be causing problems.

You need to understand that MBD can be halted, but the damage that's been done is done. It won't go away. If the worst thing is one broken limb, your chameleon will do well.

 

[sergio reyes]

ok ill make sure i fill out the form sorry bout that, so its a must i go to a vet for treatment

 

[Elizadolots]

I think it's advisable. Obviously, only you can make the decision. It's not an immediate life threatening emergency and we've seen animals with lots of breaks do well when their situation was improved.

It's really your call. We'll try to help you with what you need to do.

 

[sergio reyes]

alright thanks alot. is there somthing else that coulda happend that would make its leg like that ?

 

[ataraxia]

honestly, if you are supplementing correctly and your uvb lights are in good order. a vet is not going to do anything but take your money. im just being honest, they wont be able to do anything for the break. it will heal on its own with ongoing proper care.

now if you are not supplementing correctly and your uvb lights are insufficient. a vet will be able to get your chameleons chemistry back to normal.

please fill out a how to ask form.

 

[Tiger Rye]

Sorry to here the bad news. Hope he gets better.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.365583,-83.356710

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."we give him calciun and multivitamins so idk what could have gone but thanks for the info ill be taking to a vet asap"...things need to be in balance. Just providing calcium and vitamins isn't necessarily going to stop him from developing MBD if the ratio of calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are not balanced since they all affect each other.

Here's some information I hope will help you ....
Appropriate cage temperatures aid in digestion and thus play a part indirectly in nutrient absorption.

Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to produce D3 so that it can use the calcium in its system to make/keep the bones strong and be used in other systems in the chameleon as well. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic no matter whether its from the sun or the UVB light. The most often recommended UVB light is the long linear fluorescent Repti-sun 5.0 tube light. Some of the compacts, spirals and tube lights have caused health issues, but so far there have been no bad reports against this one.

A wide variety of insects that have been well fed and gutloaded should be fed to it.

Since many of the feeder insects we use in captivity have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorus in them, its important to dust the insects just before you feed them to the chameleon at most feedings with a phos.-free calcium powder to help make up for it. (I use Rep-cal phosphorus-free calcium).

If you also dust twice a month with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder it will ensure that your chameleon gets some D3 without overdoing it. It leaves the chameleon to produce the rest of what it needs through its exposure to the UVB light. D3 from supplements can build up in the system but D3 produced from exposure to UVB shouldn't as long as the chameleon can move in and out of it. (I use Rep-cal phos.-free calcium/D3).

Dusting twice a month as well with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene (prOformed) source of vitamin A will ensure that the chameleon gets some vitamins without the danger of overdosing the vitamin A. PrEformed sources of vitamin A can build up in the system and may prevent the D3 from doing its job and push the chameleon towards MBD. However, there is controversy as to whether all/any chameleons can convert the beta carotene and so some people give some prEformed vitamin A once in a while. (I use herptivite which has beta carotene.)

Gutloading/feeding the insects well helps to provide what the chameleon needs. I gutload crickets, roaches, locusts, superworms, etc. with an assortment of greens (dandelions, kale, collards, endive, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, squash, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, zucchini, etc.)

Calcium, phos., D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and other systems in the chameleon (muscles, etc.) and they need to be in balance. When trying to balance them, you need to look at the supplements, what you feed the insects and what you feed the chameleon.
Please note that various supplements have various amounts of D3 and vitamin A and so some can be given more often than others. The idea still is not to overdo the fat soluble vitamins like D3 and prEformed vitamin A.

Here are some good sites for you to read too...
http://chameleonnews.com/07FebWheelock.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200605020...Vitamin.A.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200406080...d.Calcium.html
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/
http://web.archive.org/web/200601140...ww.adcham.com/
If you can't access the sites above that have the word "archive" in you can do it through the WayBackMachine.

 

[AsiaKauffman]

Came across your thread and wanted to tell you about my experience with a chameleon leg break.


Last August I couldn't figure out why my Melleri was sick and not eating. Her leg broke and was dangling and was on deaths door.

I was scared of calcium supplements and stopped using them. D3 vs. w/out D3. Now the past year I have learned a lot and hope to help others understand the difference and save chameleons from getting sick.

Gregory had MBD and when I took her into the vet I was shocked it was that simple to fix. Granted I caught it in enough time, but i swear she was going to die.

The vet put a splint on her leg for 2 months to help the break heal, thats about all you can do. You could probably do it yourself, but I always enjoy working with vets because when you find one that is honest and is knowledgable about chameleons, it makes a big difference. ( Dr. Greek in Yorba Linda Ca is the best i have used so far out of 5 vets).


The vet showed me how to give a calcium shot in the shoulder and had to do it daily for months, and put Gregory on Carnivore Care food ( like a smoothie and syringed it into her mouth, so the rest of her teeth and jaw wouldn't break)

I moved and worked with another vet 8 months later, thought Gregory was pretty good, but asked more questions about calcium and started using Neocalglycon (oral/daily) instead of shots and she went from 80% better, to 95%! Eats on her own and can walk and climb well considering what happened.


So, now I suppliment without D3 and use the neocalgycon too to help and try to get real sun but if not, I use repti sun 5.0 bulbs and change them every 6 months so their output is at its best.


But IMO, Becoming knowledgable on what chameleons needs are to stay healthy, a knowledgable understanding vet and a willing chameleon can help you go far in this industry.

Hope this helps.


Here is a xray of her a few months ago and the vet explained all the breaks from MBD that had happened in the past, so this may help.

It was her left rear leg that broke.

 

[JackP308]

funny someone would mention that. I broke plenty of bones and saved money and time by not going to the DRs. Also I have healed completely normal too. I am not a chameleon though and you should probably have it checked out by a vet. I just thought it was funny the comparison to humans which is always irrelevant in the health of chameleons.

 

[Elizadolots]

funny someone would mention that. I broke plenty of bones and saved money and time by not going to the DRs. Also I have healed completely normal too. I am not a chameleon though and you should probably have it checked out by a vet. I just thought it was funny the comparison to humans which is always irrelevant in the health of chameleons.

You're lucky. Also, I doubt many were serious breaks. As someone who had a complete break of the bone above my elbow, I can tell you, that's not a "self treatment" sort of thing, and a break that can be seen as a bend in the limb is not a mere fracture, it's a complete break.

While biochemical comparisons might be irrelevant* the issue of a weight bearing limb is the same regardless of species: Failure to properly treat is going to risk further damage to the surrounding tissue. Again, because we can see the break in the picture, the ends of the bone do not meet, that means they are doing damage to the surrounding tissue with every movement.

*It's silly to say comparisons to human care are always irrelevant as they are often highly illustrative. Comparisons can be in the negative ("It's not like when you don't eat for five days") or to clarify a situation. It's common for people to suggest their chameleons would naturally not get a thermal burn because "wouldn't they move away?" The obvious comparison is "Have you ever gotten a sunburn?"

 

[AsiaKauffman]

It's common for people to suggest their chameleons would naturally not get a thermal burn because "wouldn't they move away?" The obvious comparison is "Have you ever gotten a sunburn?"[/QUOTE]


Very good point!

 

[lindawaz]

What did the Vet say?