Took Bemo to the vet today about possible MBD/edema

[Bemo]

I took Bemo to a very accredited exotic vet in my area that has a lot of reptile experience. Some of you know I posted some pics last week because I was worried my cham's legs were a little misshaped/swollen.

The vet didn't perform any special tests, just a standard physical exam and review. He said Bemo looks good and we talked about his care.

The one discussion that really threw me for a loop was about gut loading. He states that I should just feed the crickets fluker's orange cubes, dust with calcium no d3. Now that sounds terribly convenient for me. But then he went on to say that chameleons are not easy to keep captive and when he worked at the San Diego Zoo, they had trouble keeping the chams alive for more than a couple of years.

I have a feeling I know what you guys think, but I would like opinions anyway!

 

[laurie]

You are not a big zoo, so gutload the way you should. The chams at the SD zoo are not kept properly. Small glass terrariums. You can keep yours alive a lot longer than that.

 

[Bemo]

You are not a big zoo, so gutload the way you should. The chams at the SD zoo are not kept properly. Small glass terrariums. You can keep yours alive a lot longer than that.

Lol well if you spent a couple days at my house, you may rethink that statement. But I save the small glass enclosures for my kids. j/j

Good point!

 

[Bemo]

The Toledo Zoo must be an exception, they have a panther cham with a killer enclosure. All the reptiles have great set-ups.

 

[ReptiGeek]

You should find a new vet. That is some very poor advice coming from an exotic pet vet specialist. I remember your post and your veiled definitely has MBD. You cannot reverse MBD, but you can stop the disease!
Make sure your UVB bulbs are up-to-date.
Dust with Calcium every feeding.
Dust with Calcium w/D3 twice a month.
Dust with Multivitamins twice a month.
Chameleons are not easy to care for, but they can live long and healthy lives! Gutload your variety of feeders (not just crickets but dubias, superworms, hornworms, silkworms, pill bugs, mealworms, etc.) with a vegetable gutload. You can also offer a dry gut load with the vegetable gut load.

 

[laurie]

The Toledo Zoo must be an exception, they have a panther cham with a killer enclosure. All the reptiles have great set-ups.

That sounds wonderful. I was member of the SD zoo for many years when I lived in CA. Went to all the chairman functions. The only things I was ever disappointed by were the set ups for the chams, and the fact that all my money would still not get me a chance to hold a koala. I have wanted to hold one of those all my life. Lots of other animals we could hold at functions but never a koala.

 

[Bemo]

You should find a new vet. That is some very poor advice coming from an exotic pet vet specialist. I remember your post and your veiled definitely has MBD. You cannot reverse MBD, but you can stop the disease!
Make sure your UVB bulbs are up-to-date.
Dust with Calcium every feeding.
Dust with Calcium w/D3 twice a month.
Dust with Multivitamins twice a month.
Chameleons are not easy to care for, but they can live long and healthy lives! Gutload your variety of feeders (not just crickets but dubias, superworms, hornworms, silkworms, pill bugs, mealworms, etc.) with a vegetable gutload. You can also offer a dry gut load with the vegetable gut load.

I was already all set to follow through with everyone's advice from the previous post. I located a pet store that carries phoenix worms, but unfortunately not a singe container has larvae, so I am going to go back when their shipment comes in on Wednesday. I found the proper calcium, since I was using the spray form, and changed the schedule of my feedings as well. So I am just going to continue on this path based off of a collection of the advice I have been given on this forum.

Unfortunately, I have searched and only found one exotic vet so far. But I will continue looking, maybe in a surrounding area. Although I live in a decent size city.

 

[laurie]

Where do you live? Maybe we can help.

 

[kinyonga]

A zoo should be gutloading better than that.
They should know better!

 

[fluxlizard]

when it comes to most herps, zoos are on the recieving end of knowledge from hobbyiests and professional breeders, not the other way around. The best zoos seem to have a history of reptile guys who are into the hobby and breeding, not just the zoo thing.

 

[Bemo]

Where do you live? Maybe we can help.

I live in Toledo, Ohio. I scrolled through the vet posting on this site. I only found the one that I went to today, but I didn't go through every page after that.

 

[jannb]

Deffinately get a new vet and a vet visit.