CAPTIVE HUSBANDRY

Medical problems with Old World Chameleons are pretty common and often very detrimental to their longevity in captivity. It is critical for the reptile enthusiast to review the husbandry practices as most of the problems described here are related to poor husbandry.

METABOLIC BONE DISEASE (MBD)

Juvenile (growing), young gravid female and adult chameleons maintained indoors under poor husbandry conditions are the most susceptible to metabolic bone disease or calcium deficiency.  As with other reptiles, the disease is usually the result of low dietary calcium and/or insufficient vitamin D.  Excessive phosphorus in the diet can also lead to MBD.

 Clinical signs of MBD is chameleons include stunted growth, deformed or fractured bones, soft mandibular and maxillary bones, spinal deviations, and paralysis.

 Treatment involves improving the calcium content of the chameleons diet by proper gut-loading and dusting of feeder insects, and ensuring exposure to ultraviolet light (UVB) through natural unfiltered sunlight or full spectrum bulbs.  Prognosis can be guarded to good depending on severity and duration.  As with other lizards spinal involvement results in a more guarded prognosis.

VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY

Chameleons may present with signs of vitamin A deficiency.  Clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency include eye problems, respiratory infections, neurological dysfunction, spinal kinking, difficulty shedding, and increased formation of hemipenal plugs.  These chameleons typically have a history of low preformed vitamin A supplementation.  Usually insects are being fed a poor diet and are only being dusted with a calcium / vitamin D supplement or a multivitamin that has only beta-carotene but no preformed vitamin A

 Research in the panther chameleon fed a restricted vitamin A diet resulted in these same findings.  Treatment for vitamin A deficiency involves giving vitamin A solution orally.  It is recommended to use a multivitamin (for dusting insects) with some pre-formed vitamin several times weekly to avoid giving excessive vitamin A.  Additionally, feeding insects a beta-carotene rich diet such as green leafy vegetables, carrots and sweet potato, prior to feeding them to the chameleons may be beneficial.

HYPERVITAMINOSIS (excessive vitamin A)

Vitamin A

Excess vitamin A supplementation may interfere with the metabolism of vitamin D3, resulting in metabolic bone disease.  Excess vitamin A supplementation may also lead to organ toxicity (Kidney, Liver).

Vitamin D3
Excess vitamin D3 supplementation – especially in combination with calcium – may result in organ toxicity.  Metastatic calcification and gout are common results.  Gular edema or pseudo gout is a common clinical sign of these problems.   The pseudo-gout (calcium hydroxyapatite) deposits usually appear as irregular firm swellings over joints in the limbs and on ribs.

RENAL DISEASE

One of the most common causes of death in chameleons is renal disease.  One of the most likely causes of these renal changes would be chronic dehydration.  Exposure to low humidity or inadequate watering methods could lead to renal failure, especially in conjunction with other factors.  Clinical signs are usually vague, but include anorexia, depression, weight loss, and weakness.  Other common signs include gular edema, generalized edema, exophthalmia, and sunken in eyes.  Ensuring adequate hydration by maintaining proper humidity – and providing a method to encourage  - and monitor water intake is critical.  Also, showering chameleons with a misting system or on a wooden perch in the bathroom shower for 20-30 minutes once to twice weekly may be helpful in avoiding sub-clinical dehydration.

DYSTOCIA (difficulty laying eggs)

Most chameleons are oviparous (lay eggs) and dystocia is a common problem.  There are numerous factors that may predispose females to dystocia, including stress, poor nutritional status, and the lack of a proper nesting site.

 Providing exposure to ultraviolet light (UVB) and adequate levels of vitamin A and vitamin D3 may be the most important factors in preventing dystocia and other reproductive problems.  Success with medical therapy seems dependent on the duration of the dystocia and the condition of the female upon presentation.

RESPIRATORY \ SINUS \ OCULAR INFECTIONS

Bacterial infections of the respiratory system are common in chameleons.  Signs of respiratory disease include increased mucus in the oral cavity, increased noise with breathing, open mouthed breathing, and over inflation of the lungs.  Frequently, the sinuses of the head are involved and bumps or swellings on top of the head between the eyes will occur.  Respiratory and sinus infections are typically associated with eye problems.  Discharge from an affected eye, swelling behind the eye and periocular areas, and/or holding the eye closed are common ocular signs.  Also, like iguanas, chameleons have salt glands in their nares so some sneezing and discharge of a clear/white fluid from the nares is normal.  Treatment of respiratory infections in chameleons should be aggressive and initiated early.  Generally antibiotic treatment should last a minimum of 21-30 days or longer.  Courses of six to eight weeks may be necessary to prevent recurrence.  A review of the diet may indicate the need to supplement with vitamin A.  Other husbandry factors that may contribute to respiratory/sinus and ocular problems include poor hygiene of water sources and insect cultures, poor ventilation, and improper environmental temperatures.

ABCESSES / CELLULITIS / OSTEOMYELITIS

Abscesses are common in chameleons and are typically the result of damage to the skin.  Trauma from sharp edges in cage materials, bite wounds, or scratches from cage mates or other animals will often result in abscesses.  Damaged nails from screen injuries or from pulling chameleons off branches, or trouble shedding skin on the toes often results in abscessation of the toes, subsequent cellulitis, and bone infections. 

 Abscesses must be treated aggressively.  If they progress to a deep infection, joint infection, and bone infection the prognosis is guarded.

Treatment involves surgical intervention for aggressive debridement and drainage.  Whenever possible, infected bone should b surgically removed.  Often, amputation of severely involved limbs may be necessary for the chameleon to recover.  Radiology is useful to assess the degree of bone and joint involvement.  Culture and sensitivity of the abscess wall or deep within the affected tissue is important in determining the appropriate antibiotic therapy.  Four to six weeks or even several months (for infections involving bone) is usually necessary to treat these infections. 

PARASITIC INFECTIONS

Nematodes, cestodes, coccidian, flagellates, and amoebae are all intestinal parasites commonly found in chameleons.  Clinical signs of parasitism include weight loss, anorexia, regurgitation and vomiting, and malformed and malodorous stools.  Parasitic infections are not seen as often in the more commonly captive-bred species such as veiled chameleons and Jackson’s chameleons.  But nematodes (primarily pinworms) and coccidian can still be found in these captive – born animals and fecal exams should be preformed.  Flagellates, amoebae, and other nematodes may also be present in captive chameleons that live in mixed collections or facilities with poor isolation and quarantine practices. 

It is important to have several fecal exams preformed on every chameleon that enters a collection.  Wild-caught chameleons may best be prophylactically treated with both nematocidal and cestodical drugs.  To attempt to ensure that parasites are eliminated, at least three negative fecal samples may be necessary

 A case of cryptosporidia was recently described in a panther chameleon, and this organism will likely infect other species of chameleons.  Screening fecal samples for cryptosporidia (especially animals showing signs of gastrointestinal disease) is recommended.  Currently no truly effective drug exists to treat cryptosporidiosis in reptiles and infected chameleons should be isolated or removed from the collection. 

In summary, avoid keeping these difficult species unless you are well educated and informed about their challenging captive husbandry issues.  Even under ideal conditions it seems their captive longevity is relatively short due to captive conditions that arise despite excellent husbandry techniques. If you do have a problem with your chameleon, you must be familiar with these conditions enough to recognize medical problems and always be actively trying to avoid them.  When problems do occur seek out the advice of an experienced reptile veterinarian to assist you in addressing the cause and providing treatment.

Other excellent information is at http://www.chameleonjournals.com/