MBD not doing well

jayraye2

jayraye2

Member
Okay so weeks ago I took chameleon in for a swollen eye. They gave me antibiotic and told me to try to put eye wash in it until it cleared. She also said it’s common for reptiles with MBD to have them. So I upped my game. Got a humidifier to keep the humidity up. My lights worked for my last female as did her whole set up. It’s mesh. The lights and heat are correct. The humidity is now correct. I’m off and on with his supplements because I keep mealworms in the bowl with it. I recent went back because behind his vent seems swollen. Haven’t seen poop. And is not using back legs. He’s also gotten a bump on his head and it’s moving closer to his eye. I have spent so much to make things better. It’s still curbside pickup at the vet so I took him again. The reptile vet told me milo (male, one year) is in rough shape. He has metabolic bone disease and continued on a rant saying I was doing it all wrong and didn’t let me speak. The only varying info I haven’t been doing is making crickets and greens more of a staple for him. I feed mealworms lettuce etc and feed him mealworms mostly. The vet basically did NOTHING and his only suggestion I COULD change was adding crickets, greens, and soak him in a warm bath. If I see he is dehydrated I have ALWAYS taken him in the shower with me to help. He used to love it. Today he doesn’t seem so good. He still hasn’t used the bathroom. He’s still grumpy. And seems weaker. And I do make him eat crickets and lettuce and try to make him drink but he spit out his water basically tonight. I tried a drop of mineral oil too because I heard that can help with digestion. Just did that tonight. He won’t go to the top where it’s hot even though he physically can with his from legs. Please tell me what to do. Should I put him down? I love him very much but the closest TRUE reptile specialist is in Raleigh over three hours away! So unfair to take him so far. The heat is always (at the top) between mid 70’s to night 80’s. They’re NEW bulbs. Never make it to the six month mark. Maybe I don’t give enough calcium and vitamins?? But could I be THAT bad to make my Cham this sick? I also got him from petco if that could possibly be soemthing
 
Last edited:
jayraye2 said:
Okay so weeks ago I took chameleon in for a swollen eye. They gave me antibiotic and told me to try to put eye wash in it until it cleared. She also said it’s common for reptiles with MBD to have them. So I upped my game. Got a humidifier to keep the humidity up. My lights worked for my last female as did her whole set up. It’s mesh. The lights and heat are correct. The humidity is now correct. I’m off and on with his supplements because I keep mealworms in the bowl with it. I recent went back because behind his vent seems swollen. Haven’t seen poop. And is not using back legs. He’s also gotten a bump on his head and it’s moving closer to his eye. I have spent so much to make things better. It’s still curbside pickup at the vet so I took him again. The reptile vet told me milo (male, one year) is in rough shape. He has metabolic bone disease and continued on a rant saying I was doing it all wrong and didn’t let me speak. The only varying info I haven’t been doing is making crickets and greens more of a staple for him. I feed mealworms lettuce etc and feed him mealworms mostly. The vet basically did NOTHING and his only suggestion I COULD change was adding crickets, greens, and soak him in a warm bath. If I see he is dehydrated I have ALWAYS taken him in the shower with me to help. He used to love it. Today he doesn’t seem so good. He still hasn’t used the bathroom. He’s still grumpy. And seems weaker. And I do make him eat crickets and lettuce and try to make him drink but he spit out his water basically tonight. I tried a drop of mineral oil too because I heard that can help with digestion. Just did that tonight. He won’t go to the top where it’s hot even though he physically can with his from legs. Please tell me what to do. Should I put him down? I love him very much but the closest TRUE reptile specialist is in Raleigh over three hours away! So unfair to take him so far. The heat is always (at the top) between mid 70’s to night 80’s. They’re NEW bulbs. Never make it to the six month mark. Maybe I don’t give enough calcium and vitamins?? But could I be THAT bad to make my Cham this sick?
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Please fill this out as detailed as 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.
 
Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care? Male. Veiled. A little over One. One year
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Not often unless I feel he needs more water
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? -mealworms usually a few everyday. I feed them often with fruits and veggies.
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? Repticalcium. I always keep some in his bowl so the meal worms roll in it. Sometimes they don’t. Repticalcim EITH d3 once or twice a month. Recently was told to try repashy vitamin a. Done once.
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? - I spray him a few times a day . I also take him in shower with me if I feel he needs more.
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? I don’t believe he’s been tested and prior his poops were fine
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you. -other than the eye issue previously he had a sperm plug stuck so I soaked him until it came out months and months ago


Cage Info:

  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions? Screen. Not sure of dimensions but the starter size you can buy as a kit. It’s plenty big
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reptilian 10 and it’s on an auto timer for 12 hours. And I don’t recall the other but I’ve always used it and got it at pet store.
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot. • 70-80
  • Lowest overnight temp? 70 ish
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? Between sixty and 80. Humidifier. And spraying
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? No. Using fake.
  • Placement - Where is your cage located? He’s in our room. We’re only in there to sleep and read.
  • Location - North Carolina
 
jayraye2 said:
I just posted a couple . I just don’t know how I could be doing THAT badly. My last cham was fine. She passed due to being egg bound which the vet said hapoens sometimes and other than that she was perfectly fine
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Hi. I’m struggling to find a nice way to tell you that if your lady died from being egg bound and now you are having problems with your male, your husbandry is obviously incorrect. Oh...you just posted the help form so let me give it a read.
 
The previous vet told me she was perfectly healthy and it was a rare thing. Not only was she egg bound they were deformed but honestly, at this point, I’m not sure how much I trust them anymore. They sent me home with no help
 
jayraye2 said:
I just posted a couple . I just don’t know how I could be doing THAT badly. My last cham was fine. She passed due to being egg bound which the vet said hapoens sometimes and other than that she was perfectly fine
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If it’s me, I’ll accept that. But I really thought I was doing my best
 
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? Reptilian 10 and it’s on an auto timer for 12 hours. And I don’t recall the other but I’ve always used it and got it at pet store.
This is something you should look at. What do you use for UVB?
 
No. I’ve had to replace often. If I take Milo out my cat will climb on the cage. And Milo is always locked in our bedroom without cats. If milos in there and the cats are in there, so aren’t we
 
When a chameleon has MBD, the nutrients (calcium, phosphorous, D3 and vitamin A need to be brought back into balance and kept there by proper husbandry....supplements, feeding of the insects, proper temperatures, UVB light especially.

When a chameleon has MBD, it not only effects the bones but the muscles and other things too...so the digestion can be slower, pooping slowed down. I've never heard of eye issues with MBD though.
You said..."I recent went back because behind his vent seems swollen. Haven’t seen poop. And is not using back legs"....this could be to do with the MBD but there could also be other reasons.

"He’s also gotten a bump on his head and it’s moving closer to his eye"...I'm no good with eye problems. They have too many possible causes.

Correcting MBD is usually done by giving the chameleon some liquid calcium in addition to the other supplements being given properly. You need a vet to tell you how much liquid calcium to give the chameleon each day and likely to supply the calcium too. Once the nutrients are back in line and the bones, etc are all strong again the liquid calcium can be dropped and the regular supplements continued to prevent it from coming back.

It's important to feed the insects well. Crickets, roaches, superworms, etc can be fed dandelion greens, kale, squash, collards, sweet potato, sweet red pepper, etc and a tiny bit of berries, pears, apples, papaya, etc. Orange cubes and lettuce are not good choices.

Appropriate temperatures will help with digestion.

UVB is needed to produce the D3 that is needed along with the D3 we recommend providing in supplements twice a month in order to use the calcium in the chameleon's system.
What supplements have you been giving him and how often for each? Are you mostly giving him meal worms?
 
The vet told me the eye issues had to do with MBD and sent me home with nothing the second time. Just told me to make drastic changes in EVERYTHING because he wouldn’t let me get a word in and by that point he had made me feel so awful I couldn’t talk. I worry I’m too late. I do feed him mostly mealworms I have calcium with d3 and without. And repashy vitamin a they just suggested I start. Why didn’t they offer me injectable calcium? Why the hell did they just send him home and say they couldn’t help more? I don’t think milo is in the shape to go THREE hours to another vet
 
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