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Chameleon Medical Problem

Bluetegu7 Dec 02, 2003 08:41 PM

My veiled Chameleon recently developed a necrotic bacteria ( or i think it is) I need some major help what should i do?

Replies (5)

reptayls Dec 03, 2003 12:57 AM

>>My veiled Chameleon recently developed a necrotic bacteria ( or i think it is) I need some major help what should i do?

Can you bit a bit more specific and descriptive?
What is the symptoms? Where is the necrosis at?
Can you post a picture of the affected area?
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Bluetegu7 Dec 03, 2003 01:05 AM

it's o the tip of the tail and is a little dryed up but i think its spreding

Could it be an injury that went necrosis

reptayls Dec 03, 2003 01:35 AM

>>it's o the tip of the tail and is a little dryed up but i think its spreding
>>
>>Could it be an injury that went necrosis

Yes, it very well could be just that.
This is not uncommon for veiled. Depending on how old he was when you got him - it could be that he was slightly injured by a sibling. Another way for them to injure the tip of their tail is to have it entwined in the screen or on a branch - and be pulled away - either by picking them up or if they fall.

When a cham bruises, their skin turns black. This can happen in more scenarios than you might imagine (including scratches from breeding). It never hurts to treat the minor injuries before they get worse!

The best medicine we have found to treat such problems is SSD (silver sulfadiazine cream). Clean the area with Betadine (can find generic brand at WalMart), and then apply the SSD. It is a white cream, and should be applied twice per day.

The very tip may completely dry up and fall off - then again, we have been able to arrest the progress of the tail necrosis with the SSD. If your cham loses a 1/4 inch or so - don't be alarmed. Just be sure to keep applying the cream until the black is completely gone.

We had one male get chomped by a sibling, and he ended up losing about 1" of his tail. We had to trim the bone - but it healed up nicely and no ill affects after a year - just a shorter tail. But he still uses his tail for everything. He was recently adopted by a nice couple in Washington who didn't care that his tail was a bit short.

Don't delay - get that cream from your vet. It's not that expensive either... like $10-12 per jar. We discovered it when my hubby had 2nd & 3rd degree burns from a work accident. Great stuff!!!!!!

Hope your cham gets better!
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Carlton Dec 03, 2003 10:55 AM

FYI, a common name for this silver cream is Silvadene. It was originally developed to treat burns on Vietnam war vets.

reptayls Dec 03, 2003 11:50 AM

>>FYI, a common name for this silver cream is Silvadene. It was originally developed to treat burns on Vietnam war vets.

Thanks Carlton,

Yes, we learned that when my hubby was burned. The hospital included it in all his treatments, and we believe it was because of this cream that he didn't need skin grafts.

We have been using it since for years now, and swear by it's healing capabilities. The vet (exotic animal) that we go to has been using it for years too - and offers it (by perscription, of course), and we have had very good results with the chameleons by using it for skin injuries.
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