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 #2075651


NikkiG
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 Fishers Chameleon with Infection

I have a 2 yr old Fishers Chameleon who has what I think is some kind of infection. She is still moving around, drinking and eating fine but I don’t want it to get any more serious. I took her to the vet, who said she looked fine, maybe a little skinny and she told me I need to get a humidifier in addition to misting her cage and having a dripper because she was a little dehydrated. But otherwise, I don’t know why or how she got the infection-if that is what it is. She had it for two weeks before I took her to the vet. To me, it kind of looked like dried poop so I thought maybe that is what it was, but after she didn’t scrape it off and it got worse I got worried. The vet said it looked like she just had dry skin and though maybe there was some kind of infection eating away at it. She perscribed 10 days of the antibiotic Baytril to her but the infection doesn’t seem to have gotten any better. The vet said she had never seen it before and I think maybe she doesn’t deal with reptiles too often so I wanted the opinion of someone who could give me a little more insight. Is it an infection? What kind and what causes it (so I can prevent it from happening again)? What can I do to treat it? Should I go back to the vet?
09/23/09  08:23pm

 #2075764


LunaC
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   Message To: NikkiG   In reference to Message Id: 2075651


 Fishers Chameleon with Infection

Clearly she (are you certain of your cham’s gender?) has a potentially serious issue going on!
Unfortunately, no one can advise you what type or kind of infection she may have or how it occured just based on your photos.

How long have you had her?
Did the vet prescribe, offer or suggest a topical ointment or cream in addition to the Baytril treatment?

If not, are you using any kind of topical ointment or cream on your cham (like Neosporin or Betadine)?

It’s imperative to stop any further necrosis of the skin and keep the area protected, especially since the wound is exposed to her own feces and other potentially unsanitary surfaces (like branches/vines).

She does look thin, so you will want to address that as well as offering more hydration/humidity. Baytril can have side effects that adversely affect kidney function, so extra hydration is especially important during & after Baytril treatment.

As this point, a vet should do a skin/blood culture to determine the exact nature of the bacteria/virus/fungus you are dealing with ... and then treat accordingly.

My fingers are crossed for your little girl!



09/24/09  12:36am

 #2075908


Jonas77
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 2075764


 Fishers Chameleon with Infection

It looks like some serious necrosis going on there and its in a really bad place, this is not something anyone on a forum can help you with, this is something you NEED to go to a vet with, and fast.
09/24/09  11:52am

 #2076193


Xanthoman
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   Message To: Jonas77   In reference to Message Id: 2075908


 Fishers Chameleon with Infection

unfortunately there are plenty of vets willing to fake it and charge you a $100 bucks anyway. you need to find a real herp (reptile) vet . http://www.herpvetconnection.com/ and reptile& amphibian vets by state (association of reptile and amphibian vets. http://web.archive.org/web/20040611201113/www.arav.org/USMembers.htm
09/25/09  02:03am

 #2080323


NikkiG
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   Message To: LunaC   In reference to Message Id: 2075764


 Fishers Chameleon with Infection

-Yes, I am certain she is a female, so far she has laid one clutch of eggs...
-I have had her for 3/4 of a year.
-No, the vet didn’t prescribe of recomend any topical ointment but I have been using neosporin.
And thanks for the advice.
10/04/09  08:35pm


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