2 Vets can’t help me and My Cham won’t eat or open eyes
- Thread starter hilizanne
- Start date
We are 10 hours from Houston. We are driving to Rockport on Saturday then going to Galveston on Tuesday. I could take him then. But he would have to go on vacation with us. That will be a last resort. Flying there and back in a day I guess could be done with a cab from the airport, but that is just overwhelming.
I guess I can set up some sort of portable container for him and then possibly leave him at the Houston vet if they let me. I can’t go to Houston first because we are staying with family in Galveston and they are out of town until Monday.
I have thought about it. I don’t know if the stress from being in the car would be too mich for him.
MrsM
Avid Member
All you can do is just try your best since your boy is sick he completely depends on your help.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
He just doesn’t need to see another vet. He needs a specialist. He probably should be with you so you can take proper care of him. My guys enjoy car rides. Just take a small travel cage and all of his supplies. You might even want to consider surrendering him to them.
I have never dumped any of my pets on someone else and I would not like to start now. I am willing and capable of following directions if someone could give them to me. I’m very frustrated right now. I know it’s not anyone’s responsibility on here to diagnose and I do appreciate everyone’s advice. I am trying to get all of the help from every resource available to me. I do not think that most chameleon owners would consider (nor would they have the resources) transporting their chameleon 600 miles (distance to Houston, also distance to Albuquerque when driven there and back in one day). Most people would just let him sit there and waste away. That is not me.
Yes. I know.
MrsM
Avid Member
I really wish I knew how else to help. If I were in your shoes I don’t know what I would do, I would be frustrated too. The only way is a vet that can help with his eye. Did you get him eating, though?
Lennoncham
Chameleon Enthusiast
Sorry that I completely changed what I had said in the first place but there was no mention of any discharge from the eyes. I should of asked if you could get his to open the eye to get a picture.
I don’t think there is much more anyone on here can do. He really does need a vet. At the very least I would call one of the local vets and see if they could do a culture to see what type of bacteria it is so they can prescribe the proper drops and flush his eye with saline. But he really does need a chameleon specialist.
If I get him to open his mouth then I can pop a worm in there and he eats like normal. So I have been feeding him 2 hornworms a day.
Thank you for trying to help.
He only had discharge from the right eye on one day, incidentally last Thursday when I took him to the 3rd vet. The same eye became swollen that day but only the lower lid and it is slightly better now. I did get a picture when he opened his eye on his own that day. You could see his 3rd eyelid and it’s very yellow. I will repost it here. When I got a glimpse of his actual eye it seemed deeper inset but it wasn’t cloudy or red.
I know that everyone has helped as much as they can, and I appreciate it, truly. I know it is frustrating for you guys, too.
Lennoncham
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hmm. Had he been rubbing his eyes on stuff before it became swollen? He may have got something in his eye. I’m not sure what else I can tell you. He may have a combination of all things suggested or it could just be one. Or none.
I would highly recommend the Texas Avian and Exotic Hospital in Dallas, TX. (https://texasavian.com/) It should be closer than Houston. It’s run by Dr. Thielen who was on the television show Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER on NatGeo WILD. I’ve toured the facility and it’s top notch. She has TONS of experience with reptiles including panthers. There are also a bunch of other vets in the same building and one of them is an optics specialist.
Hillary anne
Established Member
seconding Texas Avian and Exotic, this was the first place that was recommended to me for my Lou however I Didnt have a week to wait. I was then referred to Dr. Greg Moore of Southlake Animal Hospital and he's been fantastic.
