Broken tail

[Zoe]

I came home today to see my chameleon (who can be classified as a rescue considering she has scars, bone showing on her head ornamentation, and is missing an inch or so off her tail) sitting on the ground of the cage (common: she's been fulling a lot these days). I picked her up to put her back on a branch but noticed to my dismay that her tail was broken about two centimeters from the end. The break was clean, and the remaining tail was hanging on by a few threads of skin and a tendon.

http://www.indiepool.com/privateftp/archermultimedia/zoestevens/images/tail01.jpg
(tail before cutting it off... excuse the crappy picture quality, I did this alone)

I decided (following very helpful advice from dear Trace) to cut the end off a few millimeters below the actual break. Due to previous dammages, the area had no feeling and she felt no pain.

http://www.indiepool.com/privateftp/archermultimedia/zoestevens/images/tail02.jpg
(the tail after cutting the end off and removing bits of mulch)

I cleaned up the end of her tail, rinsed it in a betadine solution and applied some polysporin. I put her in a sterile tank for (hopefully speady) recovery.

http://www.indiepool.com/privateftp/archermultimedia/zoestevens/images/tail03.jpg
(removed tail end)

[Trace]

EWWWWWWWW! That's rather graphic! I don't need to finish my snack anymore... I'm suddenly not hungry! LOL

The end looks ok, a little swollen... watch that. With regular Polysporin treatments, that should heal up nicely. Just keep your eye on it (I know you will) and if it does get infected I'd have it checked out by a Vet.

I see what you mean about the cut a little further up the tail. A bit of Polysporin on that area isn't going to hurt. She may slough her tail up to that point as well?

Here's to her speedy recovery. Keep me posted.

Cheers!

Trace

[JeffT]

Aw thats too bad. Well shes on the road to recovery and thats great. I have a female Tokay that isnt doing good at all, loosing weight rapidly and barely an appetite. I dont think she has much time left :(

[katev17]

Oh man Zoe, that's gotta suck to come home to... At least you were able to get it cleaned up in time! Keep us updated on how it's healing!!:)

Kate