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MY VEILED CAMELEON HAS A SWELLING UNDER AND AROUND HIS THROAT, HES HAVING THE RIGHT RATIO OF CALCIUM,PHOSPHURUS SPRINKLED LIGHTLY ON HIS CRICKETS ONCE A WEEK, HE HAS A NEW UVA/UVB LIGHTING WITH HUMIDITY AT 80% AND 30ºC HEATING,HE IS UNABLE TO SHOOT HIS TONGUE BUT HAS LEARNT TO EAT AND DRINK WITH HIS MOUTH.HE ALSO HAD TO HAVE HIS HEMOPENES AMPUTATED AND SINCE THEN HES STOPPED EATING..COULD THE SWELLING BE A CALCUIM DIFFIENCY AND HOW CAN IT BE TREATED?THE ANIMAL IS NOT MINE I WORK IN A PET SHOP AND VETERINARY CLINIC (DOMESTIC PET VET)SO I HAVE ACCESS TO A VETS BUT MY BOSS WILL NOT PAY FOR A SPECIALIST VET..

Without a picture its really hard to guess. But, swelling around the neck as you describe could be gular edema. Edema is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of metabolic problems including kidney failure. He's had a lot of medical treatment from the surgery so the cause could be hard to figure out. It is not simply a calcium deficiency but could be partially caused by a vitamin overdose. Very hard to know with out some bloodwork by a vet. There are a couple of websites that have some info on edema that might give you some better ideas. Check out the health articles on www.adcham.com and search the past issues of the Chameleon e-zine at www.chameleonnews.com. I haven't had to deal with this so I am not expert with it.

I just re read your message. I didn't see anything about vitamins he's getting. Adult chams should get a dusting of herp vitamins (such as Reptivite with beta carotene) about once a month. If he hasn't gotten this, and you are not gutloading his feeders with fresh leafy greens, fruit, and fortified cereal grains (at a minimum) he's probably got a deficiency. Check those 2 websites for vitamin supplementation information and check your husbandry over again.

thanks carlton, I thought it could be edema gular, Youll be pleased to know that he is now eating, although not alot but while his humidity and heating is ok, im not to worried about it, I am also going to start feeding him on cockroaches as i would only need to supplement him once a month.. i am seeing a reptile vet on tuesday and the vets here are doing everything they can for him..i will let you know how he gets on with his treatment..
thankyou

You said..."MY VEILED CAMELEON HAS A SWELLING UNDER AND AROUND HIS THROAT"...as Carlton said it could be edema.

You said.."HES HAVING THE RIGHT RATIO OF CALCIUM,PHOSPHURUS SPRINKLED LIGHTLY ON HIS CRICKETS ONCE A WEEK"...IMHO the supplement doesn't need to contain any phosphorous.

You said..."HE HAS A NEW UVA/UVB LIGHTING"...what brand and type (linear/tube or compact) UVB bulb are you using and is there any glass or plastic between it and the chameleon?

You said..."HE IS UNABLE TO SHOOT HIS TONGUE"...this is often a sign of calcium imbalance...but can be caused by injury to the tongue and sometimes dehydration.

You said..."HE ALSO HAD TO HAVE HIS HEMOPENES AMPUTATED AND SINCE THEN HES STOPPED EATING"...was he put on antibiotics after the amputation? Why were they amputated?

What supplements (be specific please) are being used? What is used to gutload the insects? Do any of these contain preformed vitamin A or D3 or phosphorous or calcium?

You said..."HOW CAN IT BE TREATED?"...a vet can run tests and prescribe a treatment.

kinyonga,
According to a reptile vet he is having the right ratio of calcuim/phosphurus, It is made by a company called Reptimercado, A reputable reptile breeder here in spain. His uva/uvb lighting is tube, inside the viverium and it has a plastic covering with openeing so that the rays are not filtered. The brand is SERA a well known brand here in spain, He is not dehydrated nor does he have as far as we can see on inspecting any injury to the tongue or mouth.
He is now eating! He had his hemopenes amputated due to impactation of a supposidly safe substrate, a Calcuim substrate, due to this he had a prolapse of the hemopenes of which was impossible to retract. He was injected with an antibiotic called Marbocyl 7,5mg kg sc,every other day for 10 days. It was injected in the shoulder to minimise the risk of kidney damage. Hes having a supplement injected once a year of vit D3 the crickets are gut loaded with fresh veg i.e carrots, potatoes, I am now going to start feeding with cockroaches as i would only need to supplement once a month.. Also this male has produced 2 batches of eggs with a female of which will finish incubating around july time...