weak grip but not MBD

[dodolah]

Ok, today, weird thing happened..
I was about to take out my chameleon for basking in the sun that i notice he has a weak grip.
I used to cringe when he grabbed my finger.
But this time, he doesn't squeeze at all and almost "too" gently wrapped his finger on my hand.

He still ventures his cage. Still able to ambulate his body with his legs.
The thing is his bone looked normal.
last week vet check, bone density is good.
He never eat mealworm or wax worm.
His staples are phoenix worm and silkies (crickets and roaches are supplemented with Herptivite MTh, Repcal d3 TF, minerAll 0 WSat).
got 5.0 tube reptiSun and UVA basking spot.
Basically all the standard care that i learned from this forum.
28X18X50 screen cage with auto mister and dripping system on.

on top of all, get a chance of real sunlight approximately 8 hours a week.

He is on hunger strike since 2 days ago. but, apparently, been eating small amounts of silkies behind my back (still pooping daily).
Eyes are not sunken.
Apart from the "lame" grip, he's fine.

I'm getting his poops to the vet right now to rule out some parasitic possibility.
Any thoughts?

 

[Justin Carl]

recent picture?

 

[dodolah]

here ya go.

 

[Justin Carl]

To be honest dodolah, It depends on where your chameleons is grabbing.
I have found when I'm wearing gloves I need to pry him off.
When I hold him with my bare hands and when he crawls on my arm he dosent squeeze nearly as much.
He also squeezes very hard when I take him off his branch inside his cage.
Can he support his own weight when crawling at an angle?
You can pull him out of his cage and place him on a branch.
Spin a branch at different angles to atleast see if he can hold his own weight.

 

[dodolah]

well, he has been crawling all over the cage; so, i'm pretty sure that he's able to maneuver his body well.
it just that this is the first time he soft grip my finger.
So, kinda freak me out a bit.

it's time for him to have his fecal check routine anyway.

 

[Justin Carl]

I'm sure he is fine.
I wouldnt worry one bit, actually you of all people shouldnt worry.
He sure has changed since what I have seen in your gallery.
He looks a little fat too.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

He's beautiful, Dodolah!

We have had 2 that presented weak grips when they had bacterial infections. So, I would keep an eye on him. But ours were also becoming lethargic at that point. If he remains energetic and healthy, otherwise, who knows? Have you changed anything in his care recently?

Keep an eye on him.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

How were the bacterial infections determined?
What did you use to treat them (Baytril?)

-Brad

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

How were the bacterial infections determined?
What did you use to treat them (Baytril?)

-Brad

The bacterial infections were determined via the vet- throat swab for the one guy, and then bloodwork on another guy. These were 2 different incidents. One was early last year, the other late last year. Both came through fine and are healthy and in great shape today. One was treated with baytril, the other was treated with an injectable antibiotic, I will pull the file to see what the med was. Have to leave now for a meeting but will return and add that info. (the antibiotic was Timentin, delivered subcutaneously.)

 

[dodolah]

just got back from the vet.
I was right... It was a case of parasite (intestinal nematodes and coccidia).

And I was being super clean too..
I have fecal test on last December (around new year week), it was clean.
So, he must have got it during january.
and the only new thing that i got during January are the crickets I bought at a reptile pet store when my chameleon decided that he doesn't want to eat silkies....sigh...

The good news is i detected it quite early. The vet says the parasites are still under control. So, I got a Panacur and Albon today. and start the therapy.