tail problem

[MattiBee]

Im not sure if this is something to worry about but i wanted to ask before it becomes a big problem.

Yesterday i got a young panther chameleon and i have noticed the very tip of his tail (about 2-3mm) is very withered and a blackish-grey colour. I am wondering if this is from when he was with the shop owner and he has not shed properly or if this is a bigger problem.

There is also 2 small black marks on his nose and on the top of his head. They are only tiny black marks but like i said i do want to leave it untill it is too late.

Is this likely to be where the shed hasn't come off of his tail and has constricted it, similar to what happened to my girlfriend's leopard gecko, but as we saw that earlier we manged to save the tip of his tail. Is it likely that the tip of my chams tail going to fall off?

Any help/suggestions would be great as i am just worrying about it now, he is still very cautious of me so for the time being a picture of the tip of the tail is not going to be easy but if it will help i will try.

Thanks

 

[CammieNLeno]

Yea, see what ya can do about getting us some pictures.

 

[MattiBee]

I have just read a health problem sheet on the internet and it sounds very similar to a burn. 'Thermal burns may not appear right away, but eventually the affected area(s) will first turn gray, and then dark. If the burns are deep, the areas will die.'

I will get a picture after he has warmed up a bit more and is more willing to come out.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

That's a very likely spot for a burn.
Baby tail tips go through the screen easily ... possibly getting quite close to a basking light.

-Brad

 

[MattiBee]

Ive found a better shop now and i took this picture to them and they said it is a burn. They have told me to get vetark tamodine and gently apply that twice a day, they also said that judging by how much damage was already done that it is likely to fall off but this tamodine will make it cleaner and less painful for him.

Would you say this is the best advice or is it worth taking him to a vet? It already seems to be looking better after one application.

I am going to report the shop that I got him from as i believe recently it has gone really down hill there and they no longer seem to be caring for the reptiles the way they should.

Thanks

 

[Trace]

I'm not entirely convinced it's a burn... he might have pinched his tail somewhere. I'm inclined to say it happened from one or more of his cagemates because of the black scratches or bites leading up to the mangled tip.

No matter what the circumstance, it looks to be healing up. I'm not sure what vetark tamodine is; but twice daily applications of regular betadine will work too. Apply it all the way up the tail to where those black marks end. A little more of the tail may die off (up to where those black marks end perhaps) before it's finally healed itself. Obviously if he seems painful, or the area starts bleeding or swelling, or becomes infected, a trip to the vet is advised.

Good luck.
Trace

 

[MattiBee]

Ive searched the betadine you mentioned and its the same as what i have, just a different name so hopefully this will do the trick =] he looks to be getting better already and doesn't seem to be too bothered about the whole ordeal.

thanks for your reply

 

[kinyonga]

Something to be aware of...
http://www.anapsid.org/gangrene.html

It bothers me that there are marks further up the tail.

 

[joefarah]

Good luck with him. Time to pamper the little fella.

I hope he ends up just fine..

 

[MattiBee]

Thats what bothered me too actually but i really hope it isnt that, im going to book him a vets appointment in the next day or so and hopefully that will sort everything out. Anyone else had experience with burns enough to tell wether that is likely to be a burn?