Urgent: weakness after illness??

[scs]

I've been on this forum a lot lately due to my chameleon's recent health issues. All details of the recent weeks are explained in this thread:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/showthread.php?p=1201998#post1201998

Iggy has been through a lot recently, and at one point I was unsure if she would make it...

To summarize, Iggy (female veiled chameleon) was dehydrated for a bit and then had parasite issues (not tested for, just assumed). The vet (whom we visited yesterday) gave us two different medicines and a food powder to be mixed with water. I noticed that Iggy was laying on a branch, only holding on with her front legs, her hind legs were dangling on either side of the branch, and her tail and hind legs were a dark color. Although she has moved to a different branch since then, the darkness still ensues. Iggy also seemed to have trouble finding footing with her hind legs, she was more hesitant. And she has had a little bit of fecal matter on her butt since this morning. It was not very prominent when I last took her out of the cage to feed her (with a syringe) but should I see if I can brush off this white bump next time I'm already holding her?

Pictures are in the above linked thread.

Any ideas of what her hind leg weakness could be?

 

[carol5208]

What did the vet say about the darkness of her legs and tail? He could have not overlooked that. She could have some type of blockage or something pressing on a nerve. Did you get an xray?? Are you sure she is not carrying eggs??

 

[scs]

The darkness first occurred today, and we saw the vet yesterday. She did not give Iggy an X-ray. The last time Iggy laid eggs was March 7th, and I discussed this with the vet, who agreed it would be too long ago to have left over eggs but too soon to have new eggs. The vet did feel Iggy's stomach and massage/pinch it a bit... but I guess she didn't feel anything.

 

[carol5208]

The only other thing I could think of is maybe some sort of blockage. Is she going to the bathroom normally? You said you saw some feces hanging out. That is usually not normal. Are you even sure it is feces? What did the vet say about that???

 

[scs]

The feces also showed after the visit to the vet. Because she hadn't been eating for a while, she also hadn't gone to the bathroom often. I try to get a better look at whatever it is on her butt....

I'll call back the vet tomorrow.

 

[carol5208]

Ok good luck with everything! I hope you can find out the cause. I am sure an xray would not hurt to just rule out any type of blockage.

 

[scs]

After I fed her I wiped off the white stuff and I think it was fecal matter because it was between the consistency of a solid and toothpaste. So like play-doh.

This is what she looked like right before bed, the darkness has gone up to her waist now.


I did add in the hammock (what she is on in the picture), and she rested her head when sleeping.

Would it be worth putting her through the stress of going back to the vet for an X-Ray just to see if there is blockage? As in, if they do find blockage, is it treatable??

What even is 'blockage' specifically? Is it constipation or something else?

 

[zlew]

Hey, I added a response to the previous thread. Didn't realize you had started another. Check that out, and also, it is definitely worth going to the vet. How good is she about being handled? She doesn't necessarily have to go in the box, you could have her perch on your shoulder or something.

 

[scs]

Okay, thanks zlew. I read your other comment. I offered her a worm today, and she did not eat it. I'll try the warm water... The color of the tiny blob was white. Could you specify what an impaction is?

Iggy hates being handled. We usually never ever handle her. And the one time she was on my arm was when she was receptive the first time and was exploring her cage so much that she got up the courage to walk out of the door onto my arm.
So bringing her to the vet put her in a navy-blue with dark green blotches type of mood. And when I feed her with the syringe (and have to pick her up and hold her mouth open) she usually gets really dark green/navy spots, light orange, and afterwards (within a few minutes) she is a pale green.

I really appreciate all of your feedback. My mom insists that I go to bed now, but I'll check tomorrow morning before I go to school. Thanks! And my mom is calling the vet tomorrow and taking her if she can get an appointment.

 

[scs]

Now Iggy is hanging upside down on a wall of her cage. Yesterday she did this too, but was hanging from a branch holding and herself with her hind legs.
Does this mean anything? Is she maybe positioning herself to relieve some pressure on her hind legs?

 

[carol5208]

Is there anything in the cage she could have injested, like on the bottom? Honestly, I am just guessing. That is what I mean by blockage. I am trying to think of any other cases of this on here, where a blockage turns the backend dark like that but nothing comes to mind. I have seen a few eggbound females that could not use their back legs though. Maybe some sort of pressure on a nerve from an egg. It is really your call, but if it were me, I would have an xray done. If there is a blockage, or by chance she had eggs, you would probably have to make the decision to put her down or get surgery. She seems like she is very uncomfortable not being able to use her back legs, so I think you have to decide on what you want to do.

 

[zlew]

Impaction is basically constipation. It's more serious in chameleons than it is in humans.

 

[scs]

Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it.

but Iggy did not make it through the day

 

[zlew]

I'm so sorry to hear that! I feel so bad we couldn't help more. I would have a necropsy done to see if they can figure out what happened.

 

[kinyonga]

So sorry for your loss. Sometimes there is only so much we can do.

Every chameleon I've seen do this color changing has been in serious trouble and unfortunately not made it.

 

[carol5208]

Awe so sorry to hear this...

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Did she get any injections like fluids under the skin or anything? That can sometimes cause discoloration that spreads back from the point of the injection. If not then generally a color change like that means either something hurts in the abdomen or back or there is nerve damage. Not using the back legs can stem from either of those. It is generally not a good sign when the lower half turns dark and she doesn't use those legs. It's really not a good sign when you find them hanging from a branch like that...I would be quite worried about her unfortunately. I'd want to do an x-ray personally. She doesn't look very gravid but eggs can cause compression of nerves and discomfort like that. An intestinal problem can too.

Edit: just saw I was late to respond and that she passed. I'm very sorry to hear that but unfortunately expected that outcome based on what you described. So sorry for your loss. You did everything you could for her but they go downhill so quickly.

 

[rf9661]

Hello!

Something similar happened to mine and is currently happening. She needs to be taken to the vet. A fecal test would be great to test for parasites. I would recommend to but the cage your using side ways to prevent falling and getting hurt. My chameleon ended up with parasites. He was given antibiotics for 3 days and in 2 weeks another 3 days of antibiotics. Using a syringe feed OXBOW Carnivore Care. Try Pedialyte and insert water into her mouth with a syringe. I wish the best of luck for you!

Richard

If a senior member could let me know if what Im doing is correct, it was recommended by an Exotic Vet.

Edit: Sorry to hear for your loss. Maybe this will still help some one else!

 

[Suzapalooza]

So sorry for your loss