LilMissBettiePaige7
New Member
Thank you Monkeykungphu. I will definitely post what the vet says and keep everyone updated with how Bettie is doing.
Veiled Chameleon with a large growth on her head
- Thread starter LilMissBettiePaige7
- Start date
Dez
Chamalot Chameleons
I actually have a similar case in one of my older panther chameleons. It started as a small white spot in July of last year. It has since then grown slowly and now is as large as the one on your picture. It is also on the side of his head.
I can touch it and it causes him no discomfort (or at least it seems) it is hard and flaky in the middle. It is a little more circular in shape than the one on your picture. His behavior has not changed since it began, and that is the main reason I have not opted to get it removed.. I wouldn't want to put him through the stress.. but I have debated it.
I asked my vet about it and he said (this is a quote from an email)
"It is granulomatour growth of some sort. They could be bacterial, fungal, neoplastic (tumors), or even a callus. Usually I have peeled them off leaving behind a wound of course and treat the wound with topical meds. The bigger the growth, the bigger the defect it will leave behind and sometimes it might start growing back. Not knowing the cause is part of the problem because you don't know if you are treating properly. I have not had any patients die because of it, or at least not to my knowledge, and they seem more unsightly than harmful but they are certainly not "normal" so to speak."
I can touch it and it causes him no discomfort (or at least it seems) it is hard and flaky in the middle. It is a little more circular in shape than the one on your picture. His behavior has not changed since it began, and that is the main reason I have not opted to get it removed.. I wouldn't want to put him through the stress.. but I have debated it.
I asked my vet about it and he said (this is a quote from an email)
"It is granulomatour growth of some sort. They could be bacterial, fungal, neoplastic (tumors), or even a callus. Usually I have peeled them off leaving behind a wound of course and treat the wound with topical meds. The bigger the growth, the bigger the defect it will leave behind and sometimes it might start growing back. Not knowing the cause is part of the problem because you don't know if you are treating properly. I have not had any patients die because of it, or at least not to my knowledge, and they seem more unsightly than harmful but they are certainly not "normal" so to speak."
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DGray
Avid Member
horror
Wow, how horrible for you. I hope you can get the animal to a vet who has more experience, but I've got to say, from my experience, I would wager the prognosis will not be very hopeful. Growths like this are not usually benign.
Please practice a high level of sanitation until you have more information. Some sort of virucidal hand-wash for you, and heavy bleaching of all utensils would be wise. I think bleach in the water you might be disposing of, is good too.
Best wishes, and keep us informed.
Wow, how horrible for you. I hope you can get the animal to a vet who has more experience, but I've got to say, from my experience, I would wager the prognosis will not be very hopeful. Growths like this are not usually benign.
Please practice a high level of sanitation until you have more information. Some sort of virucidal hand-wash for you, and heavy bleaching of all utensils would be wise. I think bleach in the water you might be disposing of, is good too.
Best wishes, and keep us informed.
FFSTRescue
New Member
Right now it could be anything from carcinoma to parasites to hyperkeratosis, etc. You need to have a small sample taken from it and have a cytologic evaluation, even if the vet does it herself, she can narrow it down, or she can send it out for more extensive evaluation, that way you will have an idea if it is pathogenic or cancer, so you will know if know if you need extreme sanitary conditions. Always nice to know what it is even if you can't remove it.
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
Yes, please keep us up to date on it.
It helps with everyone's general information.
It helps with everyone's general information.
LilMissBettiePaige7
New Member
Reply
The reason why I haven't bothered her getting surgery is also becauase the growth doesn't seem to bother her. When the vet pulled and poked it, Bettie did get a little irritated but other than that shes been fine. The growth is very hard and flaky like in the middle like the one you described. How is your chameleon doing?
The reason why I haven't bothered her getting surgery is also becauase the growth doesn't seem to bother her. When the vet pulled and poked it, Bettie did get a little irritated but other than that shes been fine. The growth is very hard and flaky like in the middle like the one you described. How is your chameleon doing?
