Is This Dehydration?

[StarsUP]

Hi all, I have an adult male Veiled Chameleon. I've had him for over 2 years, and this is the first time I've noticed any change in his condition. He eats really well, is very active, and does drink though maybe not as much as I'd like to see. He has an automatic drip system set up in his cage, and I also mist a few times a day, every day.
What I noticed is his eyes are looking well not as round and bulgey as they should look. His left eye looks worse, and has like folds of skin around it. It doesn't look hollowed like I've seen some chams look. So is this the beginning stages of dehydration, or some other condition that I'm not aware of?
Here's a couple pics of "Turq"

He acts healthy and normal. He's overall happy and very friendly to me.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Justin Carl]

yes, i would give him a nice long shower.
Right away!
Half an hour at least.

 

[Zoey]

It looks like it to me. Do as Justin Suggested and give him a shower!

How long should the shower last Justin?

 

[Justin Carl]

half hour is usually good.
My male veiled loves them!
I have some pictures, but i dont wanna post them.
they arent the "proper" way to shower a chameleon.

 

[Zoey]

half hour is usually good.
My male veiled loves them!
I have some pictures, but i dont wanna post them.
they arent the "proper" way to shower a chameleon.

But it works. Thats all that matters

I just noticed the poster was new, I'm not good at the shower thing.

Explanation for them?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

How old is He?

-Brad

 

[Julirs]

What is with the protrusion on his lower lip?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I think he's just old ...

-Brad

 

[Justin Carl]

He sure is a good looking veiled!
I was wondering the same thing Julirs.

 

[Zoey]

What is with the protrusion on his lower lip?

It kinda looks like his tongue. I was about to ask the same question!

 

[RhettusMaximus]

lower lip

Some chams just have an underbite, when i took my male veiled to the vet she thought it was strange that he had an underbite as well. His cham just seems to have a more severe protrusion

 

[Julirs]

I would agree with you except for the fresh pink coloring. Underbites will have the same scale and color of the surrounding mouth.

 

[Zoey]

I have to agree with Julirs. If its an underbite then its swollen. But it honestly still looks like the tongue.

 

[StarsUP]

Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure about his 'underbite' been like that since I got him. I've had him for over two years, and his lip has been like that since. He does just fine eating, loves being fed in fact lol. I bought him from a person who I know, we both have horses.
Turq is super friendly to me, but I haven't wanted to stress him out by picking him up and moving him. Not sure how he'll react, for the shower. Guess I'll have to try or I'll never know.

 

[Justin Carl]

do you know how to give a chameleon a shower?
Do you have an apporx. age on him?

 

[kinyonga]

I don't think there is a problem with the lip.
The eyes don't look dehydrated to me...its something else. Were his eyes ever swollen?
What supplements do you use and how often?
What do you gutload/feed to the insects?

 

[StarsUP]

Yeah, I've done a lot of research. The basic idea is to let the mist of the shower rain down on him. I should get a tall plant for him to perch on while in there.
I would guess his age to be around 5-6 maybe. Isn't that about middle age for Veild's?
I really have no idea about the underbite, I've never seen it raw or red like some sort of abrasion. Would like to know more info. from everyone's experience though.

 

[Kent67]

Just wanted to say I agree with Kinyonga. The problem with the eyes does not seem to be dehydration. A trip to the vet might be in order. It could be due to oversupplementation or a low level infection or irritation. Any of the above would require a vet's assistance to treat. Please keep us updated.

 

[StarsUP]

I only feed crickets that have been gut loaded, I vary it with different types of store bought cricket food, and also different greens. I also feed a variety of worms, and greens to him. The crickets get lightly dusted with calcium, and then I also rotate with a mineral/vitamin type supplement. I keep reading that they only need to be dusted every couple/few feedings, so that's what I've been doing since I got him.
No his eyes were never swollen, just wrinkled around them. I think the left eye obstructs his sight more. It's something that has just shown up maybe a few weeks ago. This sounds weird, but they look deflated to me LOL Everything else appears normal to me.

 

[Zoey]

He is old.. Maybe thats all it is dehydration. You should give him a shower and then see how he is tomorrow. If he looks the same, maybe a vet visit. But I would honestly shower him first.