Strange Marking / Burn? Discolouration?

[kinyonga]

@MissSkittles said…”you’re teaching me well”… You’re a quick learner!

You (and a few others who I won’t name in case I miss someone) have taken a lot of pressure off me, because you are all quick learners and do things like husbandry checks. I have appreciated it all!

 

[Katy52]

Hello and happy weekend! @kinyonga @MissSkittles

Unfortunately the skin issue on my little kiwi doesn’t seem to be getting better, although I know chameleons heal in strange ways so I would HUGELY appreciate your advice on next steps.

To note: he is eating / drinking / pooping as normal, no changes in his activity levels or sleep patterns.

Attached is a photo I took this morning ‘Week 3’ the white colouring seems to have spread and is more defined.

- Would a burn behave this way?

- What colourations appear as chameleons heal in general? Is black good? White bad?

- Given the way this has evolved over three weeks, what cause do you think is likely and should be considered by the vet?

The last advise I received from the vet was a biopsy involving full sedation as they were very unsure. I’m wary of the stress this will cause him, is it justified in you opinion?

Thank you again! I really value his forum and all the wonderful people who want chams to have the best in life

Katy

 

[elizaann2]

@CalamityCrow didn't you deal with something similar? Or am I making that up?

 

[MissSkittles]

Oh! Well, it’s definitely not a bruise or other type of trauma as it would have healed by now. I’m not really sure how various types or degrees of burns heal on reptiles, but based on what I know of us humans, I would think it would be starting to lift at the edges or show some type of change. The only change I do see is a very slight spreading out of the white on the area on the left side. The only thing that I can think it may be now would be some type of fungal growth. Let’s see what @kinyonga thinks though as my knowledge and experience is nothing compared to hers. She would also know better than I the type of biopsies that can be done on chameleons.

 

[kinyonga]

Wish I had a definite answer for you. The only way to know for sure what it is IMHO is to see a vet unfortunately and get a biopsy done. I’m not a vet and although I can figure out what some of these things are, I can’t ever be sure and some things I can explain. Sorry I’m not of more help.
If it’s not growning/spreading, it’s of less concern usually.

 

[CalamityCrow]

@CalamityCrow didn't you deal with something similar? Or am I making that up?

I did - it was with my first cham. I got a biopsy done and unfortunately he died a few days later. The results later confirmed that he had a form of cancer already deeply rooted in his guts. I've attached a picture of the bump on his leg, and the biopsy results.

Unfortunately he passed too fast for me to have really been able to do anything about it. :/ the cancer was deep in his system and that was sort of the last visual that it'd made it to the outside.

I really hope your cham isn't suffering something similar. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't have done the biopsy on the off chance that the biopsy did something to trigger his downturn. But you never know.