Chameleon in declining health

[kinyonga]

If she drinks when you drip water on the end of her nose, when her mouth opens during the drinking ease a little food in her mouth at a time...and she may eat it. Try to bring the syringe with the food in up from below and to the side so she will be less likely to see it approaching her mouth.

A flexible rubber spatula (from the kitchen) will be easier on her mouth if you have to use something to try to open it. Its also quite thin on the edges so its easier to slip in a small space.

 

[cham2cham]

I tried covering her nostrils but my fingers were to big. I was able to get a little this baby food in her this morning. I saw her poo was the color of the baby food, but was runny. Perhaps its normal it is runny from the baby food.
I will try a spatula to open her mouth, but I'm not sure I have one that small. The rubber baby spoon was a little thick. I happened to get a little in by holding her head and she got mad and opened her mouth. Its terrible I have to feed her this way. Has anyone else gone through this?

 

[jannb]

I tried covering her nostrils but my fingers were to big. I was able to get a little this baby food in her this morning. I saw her poo was the color of the baby food, but was runny. Perhaps its normal it is runny from the baby food.
I will try a spatula to open her mouth, but I'm not sure I have one that small. The rubber baby spoon was a little thick. I happened to get a little in by holding her head and she got mad and opened her mouth. Its terrible I have to feed her this way. Has anyone else gone through this?

Yes, when my little Luie had coccidia and the vet gave him Albon it made him stop eating. I had to force feed him for several weeks until he started eating on his own again. I did not feed him baby food tho. I gave him feeders. I know of other members that crush up feeders and force feed with those in a syringe. Jann

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

I just feel like I need to post a bit of a warning here. Yes, Amber Technologies does produce Reptaid. And they use many of the same ingredients in a lot of their products. BUT please be aware that Reptaid is formulated for Reptiles and the dosage of .1ml per 100g animal weight has been carefully determined through a lot of research in our lab. If you give a chameleon 2 drops of Kocce Free from your specialty dog store, you very likely will kill your reptile. Please do not do this, and please do not promote that idea on the forum anymore.
For those of you who want more info on Reptaid, read the very good thread on the Classifieds Forum under Miscellaneous for Sale.
Thank you.

 

[kimvannote]

I am also having problems with my cameleon. I have had her for a year and about a week ago she got real weak. she is still eating and drinking, temps are okay,, has sand for eggs, heat lamps, uvb lite, calcium powder. Just very weak, and stopped changing colors.

 

[kinyonga]

cham2cham...did you try the watering trick?

kimvannote...you should start another thread so that the posts people are trying to make to cham2cham don't get confused with yours. If you click on "Health Clinic" you will see "user CP" below it in the blue bar. Below that you will see "New Thread". You can click on it to start a new thread.

 

[cham2cham]

I have tried with the water trick. I'm not quick enough and I'm a little uncomfortable moving the juicer syringe in quick towards her fragile face. (know what I mean?) I also tried dripping the food on her nose. That is a mess!
So far the only way is to come under the chameleon's front two legs and hold collar bone area with fingers to keep her in place a little. I then gently place the syringe in-between the lip and wait for the jaws to open. Once the jaw opens, I squirt the baby food in her mouth. I rinse her under soothing warm water a couple minutes to relax, place her outside in the sun and leave her alone for most of the day. There are feeders inside, which have been eaten for a while.

• Does anyone know if the one mouthful of baby food is efficient for improving health? I feel terrible putting her through the first mouthful.
  
• I'm hoping to get the Reptaid. With that I just use 1 drop about 7-10 days right in her mouth? or should I mix it with baby food which may lesson the drop?

 

[dodolah]

have you tried the rubber spatula trick yet?

 

[Julirs]

How hot is it in the sun? I would be worried about overheating her if she is already dehydrated. They won't eat if they are dehydrated.

 

[Jam]

Re: getting him to eat. Much of this could have to do with each individual chams personality, but here is what worked for hermie.

I used food that was "stiff" enough that I could sort of pile it on the tip of his mouth ... think ice cream in an ice cream cone. Patience eventually one out, he got annoyed and opened his mouth and it sort of dropped in. That usually works for me to get him started.

Another method that I have used when in a pinch is to sneak some in when he gets ticked off and opens his mouth to hiss. Must be very careful with this method though because (at least hermie) usually has his windpipe open at the same time ... with Herm when I pull that trick if he really is hungry he gets this "light bulb" expression of "man that was good!" on his face and this is ready for more feeding. I can also slip crickets in this way as well.

As far as prying their mouths open. Obviously as you have seen you just be careful with this method as it is easy to break their jaws. Whta I do is sit down on the ground (cross-legged) and put him on one knee. I restrain so that his head is being held still be placing his 'conk' between two fingers in one hand over his head. Then USING the syringe i gently press down on his lower jaw until it opens and put some in. Usually once he tastes the food he is much more agreeable. sometimes even getting ti between his lips is enough to get him to open more on his own while he is trying it out.

These are just suggestions that have worked for me and hermie.

 

[JoeyTwilight]

I just feel like I need to post a bit of a warning here. Yes, Amber Technologies does produce Reptaid. And they use many of the same ingredients in a lot of their products. BUT please be aware that Reptaid is formulated for Reptiles and the dosage of .1ml per 100g animal weight has been carefully determined through a lot of research in our lab. If you give a chameleon 2 drops of Kocce Free from your specialty dog store, you very likely will kill your reptile. Please do not do this, and please do not promote that idea on the forum anymore.
For those of you who want more info on Reptaid, read the very good thread on the Classifieds Forum under Miscellaneous for Sale.
Thank you.

I apologize for any distress caused by mentioning the kocci free, the chances of them finding it are fairly slim. Most shops carry only a select few of their products and the Kocci free is rarely one of them.The shops around here stopped carrying Amber's stuff altogether. So for anyone reading this Gesang knows a lot more than me about these products as she distributes them and I wouldnt recommend using the Kocci free if she advises so. Sorry for making it seem harmless when in fact it is not. However Kocci free has the exact same ingredients as the Reptaid (check their website for an ingredients list) maybe not the same ratios, but the same ingredients. I have seen the kocci free used at a local animal shelter for 1 adult veiled and at a pet shop for some Red ackies, both with amazing results. So I am more of a believer these days in herbal remedies and "Reptaid" seems to be a great choice especially for without a prescription. I will warn my friends about the dangers of Kocci free use on reptiles but they will probably shrug it off due to the fact most of these animals they have used it on were in dire straits already(just a last ditch effort).I know people that have been using Grapefruit seed extract on a lot of different critters including humans long before these products ever came around. Again I apologize. . . and thats all I really have to say about those products. I will be sure to never mention either ever again.

 

[cham2cham]

I didn't try the spatula yet. I don't have one yet. I really don't think she is dehydrated. She gets heavy misted twice a day. Its always arounf 70-80% humid.

Jam,
Your tips are great. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, I just squeeze one mouthful in and let the cham rest. I may try to do it twice when I get the Reptaid. She seems to puff up when I feed and she looks like she's moving her tongue around in her mouth to swallow. Her color is great. She looks healthier, but small still. Her black mark is 50% smaller as well. I think she's on the road of recovering. This is looking better then previously. Keep the great advice coming.

Joey,
We all know your just trying to help. Gesang was just letting people know the proper uses. Keep please sharing your ideas openly.

Great news: She is gaining back weight from my feeding treatments. In just 3 days look at the difference.

10/27/08 11/2/08 11/9/08 11/16/08 11/23/08 11/26/08

30.9 28.4 27.8 26 24.2 27.2

 

[cham2cham]

A friend of mine shared some Reptaid with me. On the 3rd day of use. She I saw her go for food with her tongue aiming short. Although this still seems to be an issue, this was the very first time in weeks I saw her attempt to go for the food. Its amazing how bad she was and how much life she is getting back in to her from the Reptaid. I highly recommend this product. I'll keep you posted.

 

[ciafardo 4]

A friend of mine shared some Reptaid with me. On the 3rd day of use. She I saw her go for food with her tongue aiming short. Although this still seems to be an issue, this was the very first time in weeks I saw her attempt to go for the food. Its amazing how bad she was and how much life she is getting back in to her from the Reptaid. I highly recommend this product. I'll keep you posted.

i find that if my chams go on a hunger strike for a few weeks when the begin eating they always shoot short i believe this is because the muscle that controls the tongue get weak but they keep trying and it gets its strength back this is a guess not a fact

 

[cham2cham]

Really? That is very reassuring. Thank you for telling me that. That is probably what has been some of the trouble and reasons she hangs on top of the feeding cup staring at them for an hour, but doesn't eat. Many times it looked as if she was about to shoot but didn't. Today was the first time I saw her attempt. When I weighed her today, she was only .8 greater than last Sundays. She's also having larger poops, She might be eating the crickets in her cage. I know I need to try and mange the feeding better. Its very lush inside her cage, so sometimes the crickets hide. Like I said, she's improving. I'm glad I am able to care for her and use natural remedies.

 

[ocdirtyjerz]

Hey cham2cham,
Hows the little girl doing? HAs she gained any more drastic weight? Is she eating? I'm stoked you were able to get help from some of the forum members.
How has the surfing been brah? Sick pits? My jacksons are getting huge! I have one at 88g! oooooorigh

 

[HmC]

can you post a picture of her?

 

[THECHAMMAN]

i find that if my chams go on a hunger strike for a few weeks when the begin eating they always shoot short i believe this is because the muscle that controls the tongue get weak but they keep trying and it gets its strength back this is a guess not a fact

kinda like having a cast. the muscles get weak, and you have to readjust.

 

[cham2cham]

can you post a picture of her?

If I get another camera I will post pics. The marking is still on her top dorsal area. They heal very slow, I'm just glad in didn't get infected.No a big eater still. I pop worms in her mouth when I can. She is moving around and is showing signs of being stronger.

How long does the tongue stay weak like it may be?