Yellow tail and leg [EMERGENCY]

Bubbaty

Bubbaty

Member
My 1 year old male veiled chameleon has an issue. His back left leg is very swollen, around 2x, and his tail is yellow also with his leg. His leg and tail are both limp, and he can’t move them therefore making it much harder to climb. I believe it may be from calcium deficiency, but I have fed him 5 crickets dusted with reprobate calcium bicarbonate with D3 I think it’s called. He won’t eat today. I discovered it yesterday and I am able to have him drink water so it’s not dehydration, and his humidity and temperature are good. I don’t know what to do

NOTE: the picture is from around 12 hours ago, so the leg has swollen more
 

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Are you only giving him calcium with D3? Is this the only supplement you use?

Looking at these pics I am not seeing swelling. Can you post pics of what he looks like now?
 
Yes that is all I give him. I can post another picture. We are taking him to a vet now although they don’t specialize in chameleons nor reptiles so we are just gonna see what they have to say.
image.jpg
 
I dust his crickets in it. I also sometimes feed him waxworks but I don’t dust them. I may be under calcium dusting them, because last week we had to have a caretaker as we went on vacation, and I’m not sure if his food was being dusted. It would be like 6 days max without calcium but that’s definitely a stretch
 
Bubbaty said:
Yes that is all I give him. I can post another picture. We are taking him to a vet now although they don’t specialize in chameleons nor reptiles so we are just gonna see what they have to say.View attachment 356929
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Bubbaty said:
I dust his crickets in it. I also sometimes feed him waxworks but I don’t dust them. I may be under calcium dusting them, because last week we had to have a caretaker as we went on vacation, and I’m not sure if his food was being dusted. It would be like 6 days max without calcium but that’s definitely a stretch
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If you have not done a husbandry review yet I highly recommend it because I do see other issues with the enclosure set up. By supplementing only with calcium with D3 you are actually overdosing him. D3 is a fat soluble vitamin which means it stores in their tissues and organs. It can take months to fully clear D3 toxicity from their system. And there is no way to make it clear faster other than to stop over supplementing.
Now this would not cause the discoloration but can cause issues in how the organs function.

He has something far more extensive going on with his body to cause that kind of impairment. I am wondering if he by chance fell or was grabbed by the back legs, this could cause a spinal issue which could lead to an issue like your seeing with the limb not working and discoloration.
 
Beman said:
If you have not done a husbandry review yet I highly recommend it because I do see other issues with the enclosure set up. By supplementing only with calcium with D3 you are actually overdosing him. D3 is a fat soluble vitamin which means it stores in their tissues and organs. It can take months to fully clear D3 toxicity from their system. And there is no way to make it clear faster other than to stop over supplementing.
Now this would not cause the discoloration but can cause issues in how the organs function.

He has something far more extensive going on with his body to cause that kind of impairment. I am wondering if he by chance fell or was grabbed by the back legs, this could cause a spinal issue which could lead to an issue like your seeing with the limb not working and discoloration.
Click to expand...
The vet thinks he fell as well. They are doing some sort of xray but not the powerful one . What else should I supplement him with then? Any information would greatly help and be amazing
 
Bubbaty said:
The vet thinks he fell as well. They are doing some sort of xray but not the powerful one . What else should I supplement him with then? Any information would greatly help and be amazing
Click to expand...
When you get home later copy and paste this into your reply then answer all of the questions with as much detail as possible. I will also need pictures of your entire enclosure from the lighting down.

Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  • Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
  • Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
 
Beman said:
When you get home later copy and paste this into your reply then answer all of the questions with as much detail as possible. I will also need pictures of your entire enclosure from the lighting down.

Chameleon Info:

  • Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
  • Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
  • Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
  • Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
  • Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
  • Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
  • History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

  • Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
  • Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
  • Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
  • Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
  • Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
  • Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
  • Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

--------------

Please Note:

  1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
  2. Photos can be very helpful.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks
 
UPDATE:

The vet ruled out calcium deficiency, they x-rayed him with a light X-ray and ruled out breaks but it may be a sprain from falling. The vet provided me with 10 liquid doses of an anti inflammatory, but other than that he doesn’t think it’s an infection. They may laser his leg to reduce the pain ( on the lowest setting safely of course)
 
The foot is definitely swollen. I’m not a vet…I just can give my best guess on things from what I’ve learned along the way in keeping chameleons.

I doubt it’s a calcium issue, just from looking at your chameleon…could be gout though or some kind of infection…or an injury.
Could it have been squeezed in between a cage door or something else in the cage?
 
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