Possible case of Gular Edema?

[mattcast1214]

Hey guys, just wanted to get some more opinions/ expertise on whether or not my sambava has gular edema. Another forum member pointed out the possibility to me so I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't the case. During the day his mouth/throat look perfectly normal and he has never had a problem eating. Thanks for any comments!

 

[abramyan]

I would say so. Maybe some other forum members can verify this for me.

Is this the same chameleon that you are selling right now in the classified?

 

[carol5208]

Different angles would be better of that area but yes, it does look like it to me also. There is no real magical treatment for it. I got a chameleon in February who had it horrible too. A sambava also. Alls I can tell you is I have supplemented his feeders very lightly and gotten him out in the sun every single day that weather allows for many many hours. It is completely gone. the skin is a little loose cause it was actually stretched out by all the fluid. Honestly, taking him to a vet is kinda useless cause they are going to tell you there is no cure for it. Its not like an infection that can be cured by an antibiotic. i took mine to a vet and he said because it takes quite a while to develop, it can take a long time to go away, if ever. What kind of diet are you feeding him, what are your gutloads and what is your supplement schedule?.

 

[mattcast1214]

yes, he is already sold but I just wanted to make sure for the buyer so I can inform them. Could it be that since he is sleeping he just lets it "hang out", not necessarily that it's the sickness

 

[carol5208]

yes, he is already sold but I just wanted to make sure for the buyer so I can inform them. Could it be that since he is sleeping he just lets it "hang out", not necessarily that it's the sickness

well if that pic you just posted was taken the same day as the other then I would say no he does not have it. It would not just come and go in a day. I don't think it could appear at night and be gone during the daytime. But I am not an expert on Gular Edema. Just telling you what experience I had and what I did to try and get rid of it. So it never looks like that in the day though? Can you post some pics of him now?

 

[mattcast1214]

Thanks for the info Carol. I feed him about 10-12 large crickets every other day and occasional horn/silk worms; crickets are fed cricket crack, carrots, collard greens, and potatoes; supplement is calcium every feeding, calcium w/d3 twice a month and multivitamin 1-2 times/month. I also take him outside about 3 times a week. Those pictures were all taken within last week, so that is why i say during the day his neck/throat looks perfectly normal and he never has problems eating. I sent these pictures to the buyer and he was concerned, but it may just be the camera angle.

 

[carol5208]

well maybe it is just the pic and way he is angled. Does he look like that every night? Everything you are doing seems to be what most of us do. Sometimes they can get it and no one really knows why. When i got my other Sambava I knew it was going to have problems. The guy said the cham "has boobs" and I knew right away it had to be edema and I was right!

 

[UrbanChameleon]

I've been curious about prevention and treatment options with this too. I have a young Panther and the skin on his neck looks pointed or something. It's hard to explain, but it just looks a little longer, and looks like there's something there. Kind of like a cricket that didn't go down all of the way. It could just be his neck, but I am concerned that it might turn into something like this. Any information would be helpful.

 

[abramyan]

Well from the new picture you posted he looks a lot better. I would still say he has it seems mild. In any case I wouldnt be sell him unless he is 100%

 

[carol5208]

I've been curious about prevention and treatment options with this too. I have a young Panther and the skin on his neck looks pointed or something. It's hard to explain, but it just looks a little longer, and looks like there's something there. Kind of like a cricket that didn't go down all of the way. It could just be his neck, but I am concerned that it might turn into something like this. Any information would be helpful.

Natalie, its is a build up of fluid. When you feel it, it moves around just like if we had a pocket of fluid under our skin. It really isnt pointed but more rounded and puffy. My cham actually had two seperate sacs that looked like boobs! That is the best way to describe it. There really is no treatment as far as medicines are concerned.

 

[mattcast1214]

Well from the new picture you posted he looks a lot better. I would still say he has it seems mild. In any case I wouldnt be sell him unless he is 100%

In the day time it has never looked saggy, even when I touch it it does not feel fatty or like loose skin, maybe since the branch he tends to sleep on, like in the picture, is sloping downward it just makes his skin bunch up like that? That picture was taken a few days before the pic of him sleeping. Should i supplement a bit lighter just in case?

 

[abramyan]

Natalie, its is a build up of fluid. When you feel it, it moves around just like if we had a pocket of fluid under our skin. It really isnt pointed but more rounded and puffy. My cham actually had two seperate sacs that looked like boobs! That is the best way to describe it. There really is no treatment as far as medicines are concerned.

I've seen gular edema effect many chameleons, and therefore you shouldnt take it lightly. It causes a lot of problems and leads to a lot more. And if there is no cure, there is really no way to tell if it is ever going to go away

 

[abramyan]

In the day time it has never looked saggy, even when I touch it it does not feel fatty or like loose skin, maybe since the branch he tends to sleep on, like in the picture, is sloping downward it just makes his skin bunch up like that? That picture was taken a few days before the pic of him sleeping. Should i supplement a bit lighter just in case?

I would say so. Maybe more time in the sun as well and less food. Your husbandry and everything sounds great to me though. Maybe it's just the chameleon

 

[carol5208]

I've seen gular edema effect many chameleons, and therefore you shouldnt take it lightly. It causes a lot of problems and leads to a lot more. And if there is no cure, there is really no way to tell if it is ever going to go away

When I said no cure, I meant no medicine that is going to make it go away like an infection or some other kind of ailment that can be treated with meds. There was no med that could be prescribed to me for it. the vet said a healthier diet(which he was not getting) sunshine(which he got basically none even though the owner lived in FLa) good hydration and light on the supplements. I seem to have it under control. Whether he is prone to it now and it can come back, I guess only time will tell.

 

[UrbanChameleon]

Man that's sucks! Couldn't they puncture and drain it like a cyst? Or are these just two totally different situations? And by pointed I didn't mean pointy. It's hard to explain, but it is rounded, it just looks different than my other Chameleons necks. It points down further and looks like something is stuck in his throat at certain times. I want to make sure I don't oversupplement and make it worse. Are there certain supplements to watch out for?

 

[mattcast1214]

just another pic of him in the day time, its the same day too. I'll try to take a better picture of him tonight and get some more angles of him, thanks for all the replies!

 

[sandrachameleon]

I've heard tell that increasing B vitamins, otherwise lowering the amount of supplements generally and beta carotene and Vitamin A specifically along with increasing hydration (i know that sounds counter intuitive) can help with edema.

I've had one male panther develop "man boobs" in his old age, which vet and I attributed to his age and organs no longer working efficiently.

I had a female that was prone to mild edema when gravid, but it was clearly linked to being gravid (she was always bakd to fine once eggs were out)

I dont see a problem in that last photo.