What is this?

[BECHARD4]

I have previous posted here; https://www.chameleonforums.com/should-i-worried-about-119573/

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - Ambilobe - approx. 5 months old. Purchased Sept. 15 from breeder
Handling - Every Day
Feeding - Horned worms, silk, worms, butter worms, crickets 2 - 3 worms per day, 8 crickets daily. Worms in the AM and crickets in early PM How are you gut-loading your feeders? kale, mustard greens, carrots, water crystals, turnip greens
Supplements - Reptical without D3 - every day on crickets, Flukers calcuim with D3 twice per month
Watering - Dripper twice per day and spray twice per day. and yes I have seen him drink
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Every day, white and brown. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? NO
History - Was at the vet last friday and had his hemipenis cut 4mm. and advise if it comes out again to use water or KY jelly to push back in. I have done this and it keeps coming out.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - 24X 24 X 48 - reptibreeze
Lighting -Arcadia T5, florescent bulb, 60 watt heat light
Temperature - 85 during the day under the bulb and lowers to mid 70's at the bottom Lowest overnight temp? 70 How do you measure these temps? temp gun
Plants - Are you using live plants? yes, ficus plant
Placement - Not near fans or vents, high traffic area
Location -Ontario, Canada


Current Problem -Was at the vet last friday and had his hemipenis cut 4mm. and advise if it comes out again to use water or KY jelly to push back in. I have done this and it keeps coming out.
I was told by the vet if it keeps happening that they would have to remove it.
It has happened a few times since last friday. Your opinion on the pictures. Much appreciated. Not sure what to do.

 

[carol5208]

That looks like a dried sperm plug to me and not a hemipene. Usually if the hemipene is not dried up, the vet will get it back in and then stitch the vent(not completely closed so they can still poop) to keep it in. That is too small to be a hemipene, dried up or not. Does your vet know chameleons?

 

[BECHARD4]

Thanks Carol

We originally thought it was a sperm Plug but was told by the vet that it wasn't.

Anyway just did a lot of searching for pics on the internet and it does look like a sperm plug.I gently pulled at it and it came off.

We are not sure if the Vet knows about Chameleons( says he does) but we don't have many options for vets where we are( have to drive an hour to get to this one)

Since this is happening all the time is it anything to be concerned about?

Thanks

 

[laurie]

Sadly you share the same problem I do. Not a vet for miles that knows chams. I have to drive 5 1/2 hours each way to see a decent vet. I am in Montana near the border of Canada. Where are you at?

On the sperm plug, nothing to worry about, just males being males.

 

[carol5208]

Thanks Carol

We originally thought it was a sperm Plug but was told by the vet that it wasn't.

Anyway just did a lot of searching for pics on the internet and it does look like a sperm plug.I gently pulled at it and it came off.

We are not sure if the Vet knows about Chameleons( says he does) but we don't have many options for vets where we are( have to drive an hour to get to this one)

Since this is happening all the time is it anything to be concerned about?

Thanks

So are you saying that your vet charged you for a partial amputation of hemimpene? From what you posted before, that sure did not look like a hemeipene that was shriveled up. I would say there is a good chance that your vet does not know chameleons.! How did they perform the amputation? No, sperm plugs are really nothing to worry about unless they back up on the inside. Jann B had a chameleon that had this issue and they did have to be removed. As long as they are hanging out, they can be gently removed. Pm FerritinmyShoes and ask her her opinion on whether what your vet amputated from the previous thread was a dried up hemipene or a sperm plug. If you get the answer of the latter, then I think it is time to find a new chameleon vet!

 

[BECHARD4]

@Laurie

We are in Southwest Ontario, about a 3 hour drive from Toronto

@Carol

The bill was only $85 and they took him out of the room for about 10 minutes, so not sure what they exactly did. All he said was that he removed 4mm.

I think its time to look for a new Vet



Thanks guys for your help

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I would squirt a little warm water in that area, let it sit for a few, and gently pull on that little piece. If it comes out with a little tug then it was just a little dried sperm plug or stuck shed. That's what it looks like to me. If it doesn't move at all or causes pain then stop and don't keep pulling. But if it keeps coming out slowly but surely then be careful but keep going until it comes out. If I saw him for that that's where I'd start. If it doesn't come out then I'd figure out why it was attached. Does not look like a hemipene at all though.

 

[pigglett79]

Definitely look for another vet. I was sure it looked like a sperm plus from your first thread. They sometimes get stuck, a little warm water asnd light pull usually does the trick.