VOHEMAR Chameleon with MBD updates
- Thread starter ZEROPILOT
- Start date
ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
I immediately took him to the TV famous Broward Avian and Exotic. My longtime vet for my tortoises anyway. And Dr Pardini did an Xray and drew blood to check for Calcium and Phosphorus levels. All of which confirmed the MBD.
In fact. A lot of the bones were so fragile that they didn't show on the Xray.
But no bone breaks!
I was sent home with oral Calcium drops and two syringes
In fact. A lot of the bones were so fragile that they didn't show on the Xray.
But no bone breaks!
I was sent home with oral Calcium drops and two syringes
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ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
Yesterday I went back. And the new Xray already shows an improvement in bone density and the blood calcium levels are within a normal range.
In this newer photo, his tail is still dark from the blood draw.
His mobility is much improved as is his food targeting skills. His weight is up and his colors are brighter. Hopefully because he's in less pain.
He will get his oral medicine for at least another month along with his UVB dialed in at 3 and dusted, gut loaded crickets. With the D3 dust applied once a week.
Dr. Pardini and I are very hopeful that he can grow strong and live a healthy, long life.
(With ZERO support from THE JUNGLE FLORIDA)
In this newer photo, his tail is still dark from the blood draw.
His mobility is much improved as is his food targeting skills. His weight is up and his colors are brighter. Hopefully because he's in less pain.
He will get his oral medicine for at least another month along with his UVB dialed in at 3 and dusted, gut loaded crickets. With the D3 dust applied once a week.
Dr. Pardini and I are very hopeful that he can grow strong and live a healthy, long life.
(With ZERO support from THE JUNGLE FLORIDA)
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ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
He's still recovering and he still has an issue with his tongue:
He doesn't shoot it out very far or very fast. Instead he'll crawl halfway inside the feeder cup and nab his insects at almost point blank range.
It works for him.
I just find it odd. But then again, he's been unwell the whole time I've owned him.
I've only seen him shoot out his tongue twice. And he missed.
I suppose he's saving his energy?
He doesn't shoot it out very far or very fast. Instead he'll crawl halfway inside the feeder cup and nab his insects at almost point blank range.
It works for him.
I just find it odd. But then again, he's been unwell the whole time I've owned him.
I've only seen him shoot out his tongue twice. And he missed.
I suppose he's saving his energy?
CasqueAbove
Chameleon Enthusiast
That is awesome he is improving. The tongue is affected by the hyoid bone which is tiny. He will likely never be a great shooter, but who cares as long as he can eat. You know you are doing something right when you can turn them around like that.
The tongue is stored on the hyoid bone (partially cartilage) and the tongue is a muscle...so when a chameleon has MBD it's kind of a double problem to shoot it. Lack of calcium/improper nutrient balance affects the bones and the muscles.
https://www.madcham.de/en/der-zungenschuss/
https://www.madcham.de/en/der-zungenschuss/
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Poor guy. Glad he’s got your great care to help him recover.
Glad he has you and that he is recovering. 
ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
We go back to see Dr. Pardini again next Wednesday the 17th.
I'll take photos of the newest xray. (If I can)
Thanks for the information about his tongue.
The last time he shot it out. Maybe 3 weeks ago, he had issues with getting it back in his mouth. He looks fine. His mouth and tongue LOOK ok. But there is clearly an issue. And your comments about that bone seem to fit perfectly with my observations.
He does still eat very energetically also.
If I've been successful in stopping the progression of the MBD, I'm confident that he can still live a long, relatively normal and pain free life.
I'll take photos of the newest xray. (If I can)
Thanks for the information about his tongue.
The last time he shot it out. Maybe 3 weeks ago, he had issues with getting it back in his mouth. He looks fine. His mouth and tongue LOOK ok. But there is clearly an issue. And your comments about that bone seem to fit perfectly with my observations.
He does still eat very energetically also.
If I've been successful in stopping the progression of the MBD, I'm confident that he can still live a long, relatively normal and pain free life.
Ambilobe123
Avid Member
When my first cham Leo had severe MBD, he lost his tongue range, even stopped eating for a while. A couple months later, he now has full range again, and is eating healthily. With proper care, and time, your cham may get his shooting ability back. Just my 2 cents.
@ZEROPILOT said..."The last time he shot it out. Maybe 3 weeks ago, he had issues with getting it back in his mouth"...if the tongue shoots out and he can't retract it then it will have to be amputated and will be considered an emergency, of course.
It might be better to not have him shoot it out fully for a while so this can't happen. It's a "catch 22" situation. Not shooting it doesn't exercise it but may give it time to "heal" but shooting it gives it exercise and may stop it from getting weaker.
It might be better to not have him shoot it out fully for a while so this can't happen. It's a "catch 22" situation. Not shooting it doesn't exercise it but may give it time to "heal" but shooting it gives it exercise and may stop it from getting weaker.
ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
He isn't "free range" fed at all.
Everything he eats, he just grabs out of his cup within a few inches of his face with a quick flick of the tongue.
No long distance strikes.
This won't be an issue.
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ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
We just got back from BROWARD AVIAN AND EXOTIC and Dr. Pardini.
His bones show an astounding 85% normal density!
I'll continue treatment for another 2 months. Then he can live the rest of his life in relative health.
Bent bones and all
His bones show an astounding 85% normal density!
I'll continue treatment for another 2 months. Then he can live the rest of his life in relative health.
Bent bones and all
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ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
The 2nd photo really shows how bent his arm long bones are.
That poor thing.
Thank you once again FORUM MEMBERS for catching that in time.
This PROVES that prior to my purchasing him, he was not kept correctly.
The Xrays explain how bone density can be restored and MBD can be stopped. But the damage is mostly permanent.
Those bent bones are now almost perfectly strong again.
He would've eventually died.
Now his outcome looks good.
And I'm very happy about that!
That poor thing.
Thank you once again FORUM MEMBERS for catching that in time.
This PROVES that prior to my purchasing him, he was not kept correctly.
The Xrays explain how bone density can be restored and MBD can be stopped. But the damage is mostly permanent.
Those bent bones are now almost perfectly strong again.
He would've eventually died.
Now his outcome looks good.
And I'm very happy about that!
ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
With his newly restored health, he's developing a new personality.
He's very cranky.
Maybe he's tired of me constantly bothering him to give him his liquid calcium?
For a little guy with bent bones, he's pretty fast on those branches too!
He's beginning to get around like a healthy, mean Panther.
He's very cranky.
Maybe he's tired of me constantly bothering him to give him his liquid calcium?
For a little guy with bent bones, he's pretty fast on those branches too!
He's beginning to get around like a healthy, mean Panther.
ZEROPILOT
Avid Member
I'm very unhappy to report that in the months I was away from the forum, my sickly Chameleons health took a turn for the worse and he passed away after suffering from a fall in his cage.
This really sucks.
He and I fought as best as we could. But he just couldn't recover from the terrible start he got in life.
RIP little buddy!
This really sucks.
He and I fought as best as we could. But he just couldn't recover from the terrible start he got in life.
RIP little buddy!
