Autopsy results on Horatio (veiled chameleon)

[dlaunde]

Hey all,

The vet just called me and said my veiled chameleon, Horatio, passed away from kidney failure. Since Horatio had no issues drinking/keeping hydrated for the months leading up to his sudden sickness, the vet thinks he may have had an inherent issue with his kidneys since birth or possibly from his traumatic juvenile days before I rescued him (he was burnt and severely malnourished by his previous owner and was raised at PetSmart). He also said that Horaito had gout that had almost made its way to his heart.

In terms of eating, there was evidence of normal stool in his bowels from the Carnivore Care we had tried to force feed him the last few days of his illness with no blockages or worms/parasites.

I know kidney issues in any pet is a terrible thing to treat (our life long dog and cat both eventually had to be put down due to kidney failure) but since Horatio wasn't even one year old obviously a pre-existing condition or situation exacerbated his failure. Just to ask, is there anything glaring I might have missed/done wrong during the 10 months I had him that might have caused it?

I had been using a misting system that ran for 30 seconds every 2 hours (from 8am to 8pm) and Horatio always had access to drippings from the top of the cage after the misting stopped (I could catch him using his tongue to lick it up often). Should I run it more often or longer for my next chameleon?

Also, for my next chameleon I will be using live plants to help trap moisture better (Horatio only had fake plants and vines).

Thanks

 

[kelly_girl199]

What did you gutload feeders with?What vitamins were used?

 

[Angelwolf]

Glad you got some answers, and are trying to learn from this experience. Do you use anything to take chlorine out of the water?

 

[dlaunde]

I fed him crickets only and thought I was gut loading them by using the Flukers Orange Cubes but learned last week I was not. Going forward I am going to be using actual cricket gut load food and plain old water to keep the crickets hydrated for my next cham.

Vitamins were given in the form of Exo Terra Multivitamin powder twice a month via cricket dusting. Going forward I have switched to Zoo Med Reptivite with D3 that I will be giving once a week (dusting the crickets with it) for my next cham.

I used distilled water for his misting system so no chlorine. I now have an RO/DI system for my saltwater tank so that will be the new source of water going forward for my next cham.

 

[ponders]

Your new chameleon will need a Calcium with out D3, lightly dusted everyday. Then use the Multi vitamin twice a month. I run my misting system for 5 minutes- 3 times daily, at least.

 

[dlaunde]

Sorry, I forgot to add that I did feed Calcium without D3 every time I gave crickets via dusting.

 

[Decadancin]

Your new chameleon will need a Calcium with out D3, lightly dusted everyday. Then use the Multi vitamin twice a month. I run my misting system for 5 minutes- 3 times daily, at least.

(assuming you get a veiled )

 

[dlaunde]

We are actually preparing for a Panther if possible. Just a matter of when it feels right and if the member near me who runs a rescue might happen to have the right panther for us.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

You said Petsmart, that tells me everything. You care is fine.

 

[jajeanpierre]

@dlaunde, I'm sorry for your loss.

I think gout is associated with kidney failure. A severe dehydration episode or even chronic low grade dehydration will cause kidney failure. Kidney failure isn't usually sudden, it shows up gradually. The damage might have happened long--years--before you ever got him. Kidney failure is a leading cause of chameleon deaths, so it would appear we aren't doing as good a job hydrating them as we should.

I would suggest you up your mist times and try to increase overall humidity.

I don't think Horatio's death was attributable to your care.

Again, sorry for your loss.