Mouth crust? Mouth rot?

[nickb]

Seems to be a small little bit of food? It's yellowish and seems to be on both sides. Doesn't want to come off, tried getting it wet and such, which makes me wonder if its beginning stages of something? Just curious if anyone can make anything of it

 

[dlegare]

When you have a potential health problem it's very helpful to provide as much information as possible. In the health forums section is "how to ask for health" Here is the information that makes it easier to help you. My chams get guts and juice on there "Lips" sometimes, especially when eating roaches and Hornworms/Silkworms.

Is your cham eating/drinking? Can you take a full body pic?

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.

 

[Carlton]

View attachment 71260

Seems to be a small little bit of food? It's yellowish and seems to be on both sides. Doesn't want to come off, tried getting it wet and such, which makes me wonder if its beginning stages of something? Just curious if anyone can make anything of it

Is there any swelling on the gum or a reddened area around this? If you can gently lift the lip away from the gum check for that. If not it might be some residue from a feeder. If so it will probably get worn away by chewing something else.

 

[Alexl]

I would always be very careful with lesions at the lips or mouth area in general. Better check twice than be sorry afterwards. Some stomatitis aren't recognized before the whole head is rotten (this is one bad example). There doesn't need to be a swelling or an obviously discoloration. But in the picture shown above the yellowish residues could even be part of a increased salivation, which dried out at the lips (in this case the source of increased production should be found, e.g. a respiratory issue). Another idea would be an left over shed. Well, what you or your reptile vet need to do now is open the chameleon's mouth carefully and check the material of those "crusts" (and whether they're removable or not).

 

[nickb]

Thanks for the responses. There's no swelling or discoloration. These bits dont seem like they want to come off though, so probably not a feeder.

I don't currently have a vet for him, hard to find one I trust (in New Hampshire) but I'm currently looking for one. Do either of you have experience/opinions with reptaid?

 

[Lovereps]

Looking at your picture, the scales on the upper jaw directly over the crust look a bit suspect.
What most of us learn the hard way--often after the preventable death of a well loved cham--is that the money spent on a visit to a good reptile vet is worthwhile in the end.

There are a number of vets with reptile expertise in New Hampshire, such as these, listed on the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians website:


New Hampshire

George A. Messenger

Fisherville Animal Hospital & Bird Clinic PLLC

www.fishervilleanimalhospital.com

108 Fisherville Rd.

Concord, NH 03303

(603)229-0674

[email protected]



Cinthia Fulton

VCA Animal Medical Center

www.vcahospitals.com

1550 Woodbury Ave

Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603)436-4922



Anthony Guerino

VCA Animal Medical Center

www.vcahospitals.com

1550 Woodbury Ave

Portsmouth, NH 03801-3224

(603)436-4922



Justine Hammond

Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital

http://www.canobievet.com/

61 Range Rd

Windham, NH 03067

(603)898-8982

If you're closer to VT then:



Vermont




Susan Dyer

Stonecliff Animal Clinic Vermont

www.stonecliffacvt.com

176 Waits River Road
Bradford VT 05033
(802)222-4903



W. Scott MacLachlan

Poultney Vet Services

330 E Main St

Poultney, VT 05764-1127

(802)287-9292

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Alexl's advice is spot on. A thorough exam by a reptile vet is what I would recommend as well, especially if the crusts don't seem to want to come off. It may still be nothing but if there is something beneath it the sooner the better to start treatment.

 

[nickb]

Thanks for all the great responses folks. I will be contacting some of those vets soon. Definitely going to get him checked out just in case, I want to get a relationship going with some good Cham/herp vet in general for check ups etc.

 

[jannb]

When you take him to the vet be sure to take in a fresh poop for a fecal. Collect one the day before and put it in the frig in a ziplock bag just incase he doesn't give you one the day of your vet visit. If he does give you one the day of the visit take that one...the fresher the better.

 

[nickb]

VCA hospitals does a free initial checkup for anyone who still needs a vet. Normally $75 and it runs through april 2013, not bad

 

[Lovereps]

That's great.
Very kind of you to share it.

 

[nickb]

Also, the receptionist told me it says no exotics on the coupon, but they'll take them anyway. Might want to call and double check depending on your location for any considering

 

[nickb]

Just getting back from the vet, he's in quite good condition mouth issue seemed to resolve itself - she saw nothing and she did a good examination. It seems like it came off with his most recent shed, he just shed. Weird.


Overall it was a great free checkup - will be contacting dr. Dutton at the Weare animal hospital (local pet store said he was great with chams) anyone know of this nh based vet??

 

[Lovereps]

Very glad that your very handsome cham did not have an infection after all.