Chameleon sick, vitamin A deficiency. Can I treat it at home without a vet?

Hello, I’m so sorry to hear about your chameleon. What you are describing sounds very serious. Without doing an exam, I really can’t determine what could be going on, but I worry she could have a serious infection, retained eggs, or some other problem. Unfortunately, she may be in terminal stages of a disease. Given how serious this sounds, I honestly don’t think there is anything you can do at home without the help of a veterinarian (besides keeping her warm and hydrated). Any antibiotic that would be effective in a reptile her size would need to be prescribed by a veterinarian. If you believe she is dying, then euthanasia may be an option to ease her suffering, and this is typically a reasonably priced service. I’m very sorry she is so ill. If you’d like more detailed advice, don’t hesitate to request a consult. Also, arav.org has reptile veterinarians listed by state. Good luck.

Confirm proper environmental conditions for Lulu. This includes temperature, humidity and lighting. Confirm proper nutrition along with adequate vitamin and mineral supplementation. Without more information, it is difficult to make accurate recommendations. You can have her examined by an experienced herp veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury. If you do not have a veterinarian, use the following link to locate one close to you. http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#us

If MBD is suspected you have to make sure all the lights are adequate as this can play a very important role in the calcium metabolism. it's recommended to start the treatment with a Calcium injection, try to check with some regular vets in your area of living, they all have injectable calcium in their clinic, hopefully they will be willing to treat them.

Sounds like MBD. Without more information all I can tell you is that you should take them to see a reptile veterinarian. This could be trauma/injury but honestly, most problems we see with reptiles are due to improper diet and/or husbandry. I would to know how long you have had them, what is their cage setup, what is the lighting/temperature/humidity set up, what diet have you been feeding, any supplements? How long were you gone? Etc. I don't have enough information to go on. ( https://www.lbah.com/reptile/chameleon-bone-disease/ ) Here is a list of reptile vets in PA. You will need to see if any are near you. You may have to drive a ways to find one..... ( https://www.thesprucepets.com/exotic-pet-veterinarians-in-pennsylvania-1239016 ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Hello, I’m glad you are taking steps to correct the MBD. Oral calcium is important as well as vitamin A and hydration. I like Repashy vitamin A dust on crickets every 2 weeks and calcium powder dust with every other feeding. Make sure the humidity stays above 50-60%. This is very hard inside in the winter so it will be a constant battle. Gut load and dust all insects fed, if you have a drip or misting system, ensure that is working well. The UVB light should be changed every 6 months. MBD lizards are at higher risk of infections and fractures so keep a close eye on his appetite and activity. Pad branches and lower branches if he seems unsteady. Most of all, be patient. Reptiles take a long time to get sick and take just as long to recover. It can take several months for him to bounce back, and any distortion or trauma to his bones may always be noticeable. If you’d like to discuss this more, don’t hesitate to request a consult. Take care!

Check the temperature of the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes daily to treat or prevent minor dehydration. Make sure prey is appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between her eyes. If the behavior persists, have her physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat illness or injury. Review the information at the link below for care of veiled chameleons. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Veiled-Chameleon/

Thanks for reaching out about the chameleon and including pictures. The first photo with the swayed back is very suspect of MBD/calcium deficiency. Diet and husbandry need to be review and correct, and a veterinary visit should be scheduled ASAP. Typically concerns are poor calcium in the diet, lac of UV light, poor temperature, etc. This is an emergency. Good luck.