Something hanging from my chameleon's butt.

[pmart]

I just noticed that there was something hanging from my cameleon's butt. I read someother threads and it doesn't seem to be a sperm plug, any idea what I should do?

 

[PsychoRep]

does he still have that ?

 

[BocaJan]

Looks like a sperm plug to me. Put him in some warm water. You can gently pull it out. It won't hurt him.

 

[sandrachameleon]

kinda looks like he was trying to pass waste. Did he do so successfully on his own?

 

[saltwaterguy02]

Looks like a sperm plug, you can gently try to remove it or leave it alone, it will come out on it’s own in a day or two.

 

[pmart]

I think its waste i don't think its a sperm plug cause its white at the base of it and i've seen him pass sperm plugs before and they didn't look the same. no he didn't pass it yet. the base of his tail seems a little swollen too like he might be backed up. I did spray him down for a while and then tried to pull it out but it wasn't coming out easily and thats when the white part came out. Should i just keep pulling i don't want to yank its insides out.

 

[Kent67]

Can you get a more clear photo, please? The swollen vent and angle out the side make me fear it's a hemipene prolapse. If it is, time is of the essence.

 

[GooglezNvincent]

I think its waste i don't think its a sperm plug cause its white at the base of it and i've seen him pass sperm plugs before and they didn't look the same. no he didn't pass it yet. the base of his tail seems a little swollen too like he might be backed up. I did spray him down for a while and then tried to pull it out but it wasn't coming out easily and thats when the white part came out. Should i just keep pulling i don't want to yank its insides out.

Fill a bucket with warm water, enough to when you set him in it doesn't hit his mouth or nostrils. Then cup the warm water and basically bath him. This will make his whole body temp rise and will naturally help pass what ever it is. Do that asap because it cant hurt him, but it definitely can help him.

 

[pmart]

Are these better. I don't have a good camera

 

[Lizardlover]

Are these better. I don't have a good camera

Thats definetly a sperm plug. They call it a plug because it does'nt look the same as when they normally pass sperm, its been retained and is over-enlarged. Mist it with warm water and then pull it out.

 

[pmart]

how are you sure cause someone else said it might be a hemipene prolapse. I don't want to hurt him.

 

[Kent67]

I'm afraid those new pics aren't clear enough for me to say for sure but I will say it's much larger around than a sperm plug should be. I would soak him regardless. How long has it been sticking out like that?

Edit: Has the vent been swollen or had any other issues you've noticed lately?

 

[pmart]

I noticed it today it must have happened yesterday I will go see if my mom has a digital camera and try to take some better pics. I will soak it too.

 

[pmart]

if this isn't better i think im sol

 

[Kent67]

Better. Any chance of a few more from different angles, particularly clear towards the vent?

 

[pmart]

I took a bunch but thats the only one that came out clear the flash makes it unclear and no flash does the same i turned on all the lights in the room and thats the best i could get but here are two others. I have him soaking now so hopefully that will help

 

[pmart]

and i just saw the other question, no hasn't had any vent problems

 

[Kent67]

Hmmm, don't you just love cameras? Those last pics make it appear as though the whole piece sticking out is/was flesh that is attached at the vent. Is that the case?

 

[pmart]

it doesn't seemed attached to it because i pulled a little on it when only the black part was showing and a white part came out and there seems to be more of the white part inside of him. also the white part seemed thicker and more moist not that its out it seemed to shrink a little and looks drier. the black part is kind of hard and didn't disolve in the water while soaking. the part of the vent where its coming out seems to be just on the left side there is no red anywhere. i was looking at pics of prolapse and they all where red. He also just shed yesterday too i don't know if thats relevant

 

[Kent67]

Ok, here's what I would recommend based on being unable to see what it is for sure. Let him soak in that shallow water for a good while. If it's a sperm plug it will not dissolve but it will be soft enough to gently slide right out. The hemipene is normally red as you've seen, but if prolapsed and left untreated for a short amount of time, it could become necrotic, in which case it could be dark and dessicated looking. Regardless of which scenario this is, and I'm 99% sure it's one or the other, I think a vet trip is in order as soon as you can get him there. If it's a necrotic prolapse, amputation and antibiotics will be the only way to save his life. If it is a sperm plug, it is an abnormal one and the blood around the vent is troublesome, too. You wouldn't have to deal with something like that in a normally functioning male. Hopefully the long soak will allow you to pull it out and let the vent close somewhat, but I think a vet visit to figure out the why part will be necessary.


Edit: Here's an article from Adcham about prolapse: http://web.archive.org/web/20040223023118/www.adcham.com/html/veterinary/vet-hemipenal-pare.html