Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have some serious problems with my chameleon. About a week ago the right rear foot skin on the top turned dark black like it was burnt, but it wasnt burnt. Today I noticed that he had started to shed. When I came home for lunch all the skin on the foot was gone leaving nothing behind, all the muscles and tendons, and blood were showing. After seeing this I cleaned it up and put polisporin on it. He is being taken to a vet in a week, but I am asking what i can do for him in the mean time.

Why are you taking him in from a week from now? that's kinda long.

Unfortunately, I think it will much too late for your cham if you wait until next week to have this dealt with.

By then, regardless of what you do at home, he will probably have a systemic infection/gangrene by next week.

I say this because there had to be a reason for the skin to slough off like that.
Perhaps a bit of retained shed, or previous injury, like a burn, or a constricture of some kind. Either way, the skin had to be dead to just come off...which indicates a huge problem for your cham.

I don't think for that type of injury there is any suitable home remedy. For chams, "simple" things like a bit of bark or a leaf in the eye can turn out to become long term problems, when flushing thier eye should take care of it. Exposed tendon, muscle and blood vessels is way beyond the scope of most hobby cham keepers.

Your poor cham needs medical attention sooner than next week.
Just my humble opionion, but I also think it is common sense (no offense intended!).

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Kim

this is much to serious to wait a week. I am sure your vet has emergency care visits - and if not, find another vet or contact your local herp society for emergency care contacts. not sure where you live but here is a link to vets and societies by state and country. Please get him to someone ASAP.
vets by state and country

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta