My First Rescue - Tumor or Cyst?

[Ilike4hornedchams]

Ok, picked up this poor lil fella on Friday for free as a rescue. Some nice people wanted to get him into better hands, before he died so they got him away from his first owner who, allegedly had him in a small fish tank aquarium with 1 branch in it and no additional lighting... (I'm surprised he was even getting fed!) The kid was trying to trade him for weed or something sad like that. Anyway, maybe he was from a smoke filled environment with sadly means this bump is probably a tumor, but I think it is too large for such a young chameleon (He looks to be underfed but still only about 1 year old if even), so maybe a bad cyst. Take a look let me know what you think it is. I will be trying to go to the VET for him sometime this week or next at the latest.

Last note his lip looked bloody when i got him but it already seems to be healing in just 3 days so I am not sure that it is a real ailment, but take a look I'l love to know your thoughts.

 

[PJK]

That's unfortunately. Keep us posted as to how the vet appointment goes.

 

[Nursemaia]

So what does the lump feel like, hard or soft and is it fixed or does it move freely?

 

[Remkon]

he looms in rough shape and he needs to see a vet...

I'm no vet but if it's a tumor I think it's hard, a cyst is a bag of pus so should be softer... In both cases it probably needs to be removed, you can drain the cyst but if you leave the bag it will return...

Im watching to much.stuff on youtube...

Good luck with him, hope he gets well!

 

[Carlton]

It could be an abscess, a cyst, a tumor, or even an ecapsulated parasitic worm, as he's most likely a wc import. Actually, what concerns me more is the obvious infection along his jaw. These can be very difficult to treat, and the area is painful, making it harder for him to drink and eat...both of which are super important.

 

[Craigwyatt]

It could be an abscess, a cyst, a tumor, or even an ecapsulated parasitic worm, as he's most likely a wc import. Actually, what concerns me more is the obvious infection along his jaw. These can be very difficult to treat, and the area is painful, making it harder for him to drink and eat...both of which are super important.

I'm suprised you were the only one who noticed that. The lump is very troubling but his mouth might be an even bigger problem. Is he eating for you?

 

[Ilike4hornedchams]

He actually seems to be eating fine at the moment so we're in good shape there, unless it worsens and he stops eating.. Second, i just felt the bump and it isn't going anywhere but kinda squishy. I think it would hurt him a lot if I squeezed it. Last question, how expensive are vet bills for chams typically? Just cuz if they say its a tumor and removing it will only slow the progress but not save him im not takin a cham to chemo u know? But how much does an average diagnosis visit go for?

 

[jajeanpierre]

It looks like an abscess. You can see a scar which is likely the entry point of the original wound. I would leave it. It seems nicely walled off and will likely remain like that. Unless it gets bigger, in which case you might want to have it lanced. I am dealing with a much bigger infection/abscess on the tail of one of my new imports. He had 1/3 of an inch of several spinous process bones (the bones on the vertebrae) exposed on his sail fin of his tail and a lot of them blew up. The vet doesn't want to do anything with it other than treat him for the infection. Another vet lanced a different wild caught with a similar abscess that became bigger--she only intervened when it changed. They do a good job walling off infections.

More troubling as others have mentioned is the mouth. That could be a big problem. A good appetite isn't the gauge you would use to evaluate his mouth. I have one wild caught with bones exposed on both the top and bottom jaw (I'm talking about two lesions 1/3" x 1/8" each) AND an abscess on her tongue who eats fantastically and is gaining a ton of weight.

The cost of vet care is whatever the going rate is for the area and the clinic. I pay around $60 for an exam give or take $10 based on the clinic. In my city, I would expect to pay about $100 to take him to the vet and get meds for his mouth. That would be without a fecal.

 

[Ilike4hornedchams]

Thanks for that info btw, always great info from you! Currently trying to get a hold of some local vets that are not calling me back after having to leave messages.

 

[jannb]

Thanks for that info btw, always great info from you! Currently trying to get a hold of some local vets that are not calling me back after having to leave messages.

Where do you live?
I might be able to refer you to a vet with chameleon experience.