Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wish I were able to provide pic's. For the past month or so our cham's mouth looks to be swelling on the bottom jaw line on the edges which now she is not able to close her mouth at all.
She still eats well and moves around pretty normal. However today I noticed that is is starting to do the same to the top lips. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Layla

How long have you had this cham? What are you feeding it? Are you providing any vitamin and/or calcium supplements? What type of enclosure does it live in? What kind of lighting and heat sources are you providing?

I am not an expert with chams, but I beleive the answers to these questions could help figure out your problem. I know that Metabololic Bone Disease is common in chams who don't receive, or can't properly digest, enough calcium in their diet. If the jaw itself is deforming, this could be your answer. If it is only the lip(s), then perhaps someone who really understands cham ailments could provide helpful advice. Good luck!

-----
1.1.0 Leopard Geckos (Booger & Gimp)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Lucutis)

Layla,

Suggestion? Yes, bring her to a vet. Sounds like an infection or supplement issue. Since this has been going on for a while I would not wait. Of course photos would help, but keep in mind that no one (even a vet) could properly diagnose and prescribe via this forum.

Do you have a vet? If not, go to link below and look for vet listings.

Keep us posted,
lele

>>I wish I were able to provide pic's. For the past month or so our cham's mouth looks to be swelling on the bottom jaw line on the edges which now she is not able to close her mouth at all.
>>She still eats well and moves around pretty normal. However today I noticed that is is starting to do the same to the top lips. Any suggestions?
>>
>>Thanks
>>Layla
-----
Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

If its really a swelling and not just the bone being soft and curving as a result, then its possible its mouth rot and needs to be treated. Is there any discoloration or does it look sore? Because you say that the upper jaw is now starting to swell, I would suspect this over MBD....but I'm not a vet and only a vet can tell you for sure....especially since you can't post pictures of it.

If it is mouth rot you should take it to a vet to have it treated. It isn't something that is easy to cure without the area being cleaned out well by someone who knows what they are doing. A swab/culture/test needs to taken to determine what is causing it and medication given based on the culture results to cure the mouth rot. Most chameleon pus is like cottage cheese and if the area isn't cleaned out well the infection won't be cured. If its the usual bacteria that causes mouth rot, its not the easiest one to kill off anyhow.

If, on the other hand it is MBD appropriate steps need to be taken to get the chameleon's levels back to normal ASAP.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the quick responses that have came in. The last one about mouth rot almost sounds more reasonalbe then MBD. I don't know if our vet has the experiance for exotic animals but it is worth a shot. We will take a trip to the vet come Monday.
Again thanks...

Will post an update when we have been diagnosed in case others have the same concern.

Layla

Best of luck with your chameleon!
Keep us posted!

We went to the vet today. And is reported the dreaded mouth rot.
But not a bad case of it. Maybe we caught it in time. Thanks ya'll.