So your animal is dehydrated. This can be from a variety of things and not limited to just one of them. Heres a list of some possible ways your animal may become dehydrated.
-Illness - Your animal may be ill and despite your mistings, dripper he or she will not drink.
-Medications - Some medicines and treatments will dehydrate your animal(Since meds are hard on the kidneys its important to ensure that the chameleon is given extra water when its on meds. so that the kidneys won't be damaged.).
-Lack of Hydro - Improper techniques/ways to get liquids to your animal.
-Arid/Dry - No or very little humidity.
-Temperatures - higher temps than optimum thermal gradient recommended.
-Injury - Thermal or chemical burns.
-Wild Caught - Importation, exchanging many hands with little to no care these animals needs hydration ASAP in most cases.
*Reptiles who have been starved to the point of emaciation will require rehydration before nutritional support can be started.
The daily amount of fluid (See chart pic.) should not be administered all at once and should be given into atleast 3 doses. This prevents overloading the kidneys. Under normal circumstances, healthy animals who are eating and drinking normally and who are living in an environment that meets their humidity needs will succeed in keeping hydrated.
There are many ways to hydrate your animal.
-Spraying them several times a day with tap water for 2 to 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day minimum. This also increases the ambient humidity. Using a power-spray bottle (one with a pump mechanism on top to pressurize the bottle, and a simple locking push button to release the spray) makes this easy to do.
-If you live in dry arid conditions. Running a good humidifier (cool air mist) 12+ hours a day can increase ambient room humidity.
-Wet juicy prey - You can simply mist the prey before feeding, inject with hydro before feeding or gut load with juicy veggies and fruits. Silkworms and hornworms are great for hydration.
-Shower chamber - Place your Chameleon on a plant in the shower. Adjust the water to a warm temperature. With a removable shower head aim it at the wall (not your animal). As a result a mist will bounce off the wall and onto your chameleon. You will need to adjust this to a fine mist. 15-30 minutes
-Dripper - Add a simple home made dripper or a manufactured one.
-Fluid on snout - Take a dropper or needless syringe and drop a drop of fluid on the tip of the snout.
-Force Fluids: Sterile, gentle hand, needless syringe, fluids and technique. i have supplied a chart for approx amount of hydration per gram of animal. When Force feeding you need to be aware of the glottis. The glottis - the opening to the trachea, found at the back of the tongue just before the esophagus; it opens and closes as the reptile breathes.
****This should only be done if you feel confident in doing so. Improperly doing so can cause more harm to your animal and possibly lead to its demise. It is recommended you seek assistance from a vet.
1.Wash your Hands
2.Take a sterile (rounded tip) syringe and draw proper amount of daily dosage with the fluid.
-At this point you can get a sterile container, place the drawn fluid in it and mix supplements in if needed.
3.Technique of holding the chameleon will be different. See Pic. A
4.Place the syringe on the lips on the side toward the front of the mouth. Gently apply pressure down. Your chameleons mouth will open. Place the tip of the syringe towards the front of the mouth. Administer in small increments (literally a drop at a time). Allow time for your animal to swallow. This can take a few minutes. Take you time. You dont want to cause more harm by causing the animal to aspirate from giving to much fluid at once. See Pic. B
*The daily amount of fluid should not be administered all at once and should be given into atleast 3 doses. See Chart Pic.
-Illness - Your animal may be ill and despite your mistings, dripper he or she will not drink.
-Medications - Some medicines and treatments will dehydrate your animal(Since meds are hard on the kidneys its important to ensure that the chameleon is given extra water when its on meds. so that the kidneys won't be damaged.).
-Lack of Hydro - Improper techniques/ways to get liquids to your animal.
-Arid/Dry - No or very little humidity.
-Temperatures - higher temps than optimum thermal gradient recommended.
-Injury - Thermal or chemical burns.
-Wild Caught - Importation, exchanging many hands with little to no care these animals needs hydration ASAP in most cases.
*Reptiles who have been starved to the point of emaciation will require rehydration before nutritional support can be started.
The daily amount of fluid (See chart pic.) should not be administered all at once and should be given into atleast 3 doses. This prevents overloading the kidneys. Under normal circumstances, healthy animals who are eating and drinking normally and who are living in an environment that meets their humidity needs will succeed in keeping hydrated.
There are many ways to hydrate your animal.
-Spraying them several times a day with tap water for 2 to 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day minimum. This also increases the ambient humidity. Using a power-spray bottle (one with a pump mechanism on top to pressurize the bottle, and a simple locking push button to release the spray) makes this easy to do.
-If you live in dry arid conditions. Running a good humidifier (cool air mist) 12+ hours a day can increase ambient room humidity.
-Wet juicy prey - You can simply mist the prey before feeding, inject with hydro before feeding or gut load with juicy veggies and fruits. Silkworms and hornworms are great for hydration.
-Shower chamber - Place your Chameleon on a plant in the shower. Adjust the water to a warm temperature. With a removable shower head aim it at the wall (not your animal). As a result a mist will bounce off the wall and onto your chameleon. You will need to adjust this to a fine mist. 15-30 minutes
-Dripper - Add a simple home made dripper or a manufactured one.
-Fluid on snout - Take a dropper or needless syringe and drop a drop of fluid on the tip of the snout.
-Force Fluids: Sterile, gentle hand, needless syringe, fluids and technique. i have supplied a chart for approx amount of hydration per gram of animal. When Force feeding you need to be aware of the glottis. The glottis - the opening to the trachea, found at the back of the tongue just before the esophagus; it opens and closes as the reptile breathes.
****This should only be done if you feel confident in doing so. Improperly doing so can cause more harm to your animal and possibly lead to its demise. It is recommended you seek assistance from a vet.
1.Wash your Hands
2.Take a sterile (rounded tip) syringe and draw proper amount of daily dosage with the fluid.
-At this point you can get a sterile container, place the drawn fluid in it and mix supplements in if needed.
3.Technique of holding the chameleon will be different. See Pic. A
4.Place the syringe on the lips on the side toward the front of the mouth. Gently apply pressure down. Your chameleons mouth will open. Place the tip of the syringe towards the front of the mouth. Administer in small increments (literally a drop at a time). Allow time for your animal to swallow. This can take a few minutes. Take you time. You dont want to cause more harm by causing the animal to aspirate from giving to much fluid at once. See Pic. B
*The daily amount of fluid should not be administered all at once and should be given into atleast 3 doses. See Chart Pic.
