My veiled chameleon looks thin. Should I be worried about her health?

She looks a bit thin, but if she is a juvenile then that's fine. As she matures, she will bulk up. The best way to confirm good health would be to have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian.

Thanks for reaching out about Pascal and including photos. He does appear thin as ribs are evident but also spine and cask on head. A veterinary visit is recommended for multiple reasons: (1) Determine cause of loss of body condition which could be intestinal parasites or infection, metabolic disorders and others; (2) Review husbandry and diet as optimal temperature, humidity and nutrition is needed for health. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Rango and including photos. He looks very thin. Kidney disease is very common in middle-aged and older chameleons. Calcium and vitamin A deficiencies are often associated with tongue problems. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Continue to try to provide lots of fluids, orally or misting to stimulate drinking. Good lukc.

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.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very hard to assess that from just pictures. In one of the pictures that you can see her right side she looks ok though it really takes an examination and palpation to be able to say it accurately. You want to be able to feel the ribs easily though they should not be prominent. That is one of the things we evaluate when assessing body condition score. Your veterinarian could easily tell you with an examination. Good luck!

There are several things that could be wrong with her like parasites, incorrect husbandry, respiratory infection or even metabolic bone disease. Since she is acting so sick and weak, i would try to get her to your vet as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to determine what is wrong with her and provide her with th proper medication if needed. He will also be able to provide fluids for her if needed. Finally, you vet should be able to help make sure your environment for her is set up properly and give you advice on what needs to be changed to help her heal quicker. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better soon.

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/