Chameleon in declining health

[cham2cham]

My 4-month year old girl is not eating for the passed two weeks. She gets great airflow, a variety of food choices, plenty healthy plants to climb, etc. This is the same girl who had the black mark a couple weeks ago. That has been getting smaller since putting a triple antibiotic on it twice a week. These have been her weigh in the past 5 weeks.

1W 2W 3W 4W 5W
30.9 28.4 27.8 26 24.2

She often takes naps and is very fragile and slow lately. She turns lite in color often and has different moods. She looks like shes going to eat but just stares at the food without setting her tongue up for the kill. I have also gave the option of eating from my hand and a cup. She will even climb on the feeder cup's rim and hang inside as if she was about to eat. She has even hung up side down on a branch looking insde the cup, but will not eat. She shows very little feces. I have been bringing her inside sometimes to sleep so I can keep a better eye on her. This morning her feces was very small clear mucus like.
She shows a huge weight loss. I am no able to pay for a vet. I was wondering if I could get some help from some of the experienced breeders and vets. Has anyone ever had experiences such as mine. Looking at the food but not eating and loosing weight? I believe I may have seen this appetite increaser one time in the shop. Any pros or cons, or recommendations. I understand there is a checklist. I felt this description told the story better. Thanks in advance

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

My 4-month year old girl is not eating for the passed two weeks. She gets great airflow, a variety of food choices, plenty healthy plants to climb, etc. This is the same girl who had the black mark a couple weeks ago. That has been getting smaller since putting a triple antibiotic on it twice a week. These have been her weigh in the past 5 weeks.

1W 2W 3W 4W 5W
30.9 28.4 27.8 26 24.2

She often takes naps and is very fragile and slow lately. She turns lite in color often and has different moods. She looks like shes going to eat but just stares at the food without setting her tongue up for the kill. I have also gave the option of eating from my hand and a cup. She will even climb on the feeder cup's rim and hang inside as if she was about to eat. She has even hung up side down on a branch looking insde the cup, but will not eat. She shows very little feces. I have been bringing her inside sometimes to sleep so I can keep a better eye on her. This morning her feces was very small clear mucus like.
She shows a huge weight loss. I am no able to pay for a vet. I was wondering if I could get some help from some of the experienced breeders and vets. Has anyone ever had experiences such as mine. Looking at the food but not eating and loosing weight? I believe I may have seen this appetite increaser one time in the shop. Any pros or cons, or recommendations. I understand there is a checklist. I felt this description told the story better. Thanks in advance

could quite possibly be a parasite issue, lack of calcium, eye issue ...not to be mean...but..if you truly care for your chameleon,.you should really consider giving your her up for adoption to someone who can afford veterinarian care..she needs to see a vet asap... a fecal exam and or blood work will need to take place to properly diagnose her...

 

[BocaJan]

The colors you mentioned - they are the colors my females turn when they are receptive. They aren't real interested in eating, but rather get like a female cat. My one was just mated and was driving me crazy plucking on the screen of her cage. She wanted nothing to do with me, turned her nose up at food and all but attacked the male when we introduced him.

Females do become receptive even if you don't mate her. Gravid is when she has eggs, either fertile or infertile. It may be an easy answer, but if there is nothing else different about her I would say watch her carefully and maybe don't offer her food tomorrow. Let her think about it. She may surprise you on Tuesday with a healthy appetite.

 

[jannb]

My 4-month year old girl is not eating for the passed two weeks. She gets great airflow, a variety of food choices, plenty healthy plants to climb, etc. This is the same girl who had the black mark a couple weeks ago. That has been getting smaller since putting a triple antibiotic on it twice a week. These have been her weigh in the past 5 weeks.

1W 2W 3W 4W 5W
30.9 28.4 27.8 26 24.2

She often takes naps and is very fragile and slow lately. She turns lite in color often and has different moods. She looks like shes going to eat but just stares at the food without setting her tongue up for the kill. I have also gave the option of eating from my hand and a cup. She will even climb on the feeder cup's rim and hang inside as if she was about to eat. She has even hung up side down on a branch looking insde the cup, but will not eat. She shows very little feces. I have been bringing her inside sometimes to sleep so I can keep a better eye on her. This morning her feces was very small clear mucus like.
She shows a huge weight loss. I am no able to pay for a vet. I was wondering if I could get some help from some of the experienced breeders and vets. Has anyone ever had experiences such as mine. Looking at the food but not eating and loosing weight? I believe I may have seen this appetite increaser one time in the shop. Any pros or cons, or recommendations. I understand there is a checklist. I felt this description told the story better. Thanks in advance

I think your girl is sick and in need of a vet. That weight loss is not good. Where do you live? You said she's outside??????

 

[cham2cham]

could quite possibly be a parasite issue, lack of calcium, eye issue ...not to be mean...but..if you truly care for your chameleon,.you should really consider giving your her up for adoption to someone who can afford veterinarian care..she needs to see a vet asap... a fecal exam and or blood work will need to take place to properly diagnose her...

The calcium w/out D3 gets supplied on the crickets once a weeks. She gets bathed and her cage gets fully rinsed every month. The eyes seem responsive. No, I don't think your being mean. I can understand you may think I may not know what I'm doing. I'm not a first time pet owner. I'm simply concerned and asking for help. My financial status is not at the best with the low economy. That's a complete different subject.
My chams get fed very well and have healthy living environments. I would not give them up for adoption because I don't have hundreds of dollars for a vet. I don't take myself to the doctors if I have no medical. Its simply very expensive for an average person with many other expenses. I don't need scalding please. I'm not looking to get ridiculed by anyone or barked at. I am just asking for advice. Advice that can help me and the others who may have this problem. There are vets here, I would like a suggestion. What vets do if there were parasites or bad blood? I would think they would give her something such as Baytril for maybe 10 days? If anyone can give me some help, I'd appreciate it. Feel free to PM me if you want to keep it off the public records.

RE: Yes, I agree she needs to go to a vet. If someone wants to help me with funds I would be gladly to get her there right away. She is outside warm weather.

 

[Julirs]

What in the world does "she gets bathed mean"????

My other question is: Will you just let her die rather than pay for the Vet?

 

[cham2cham]

Where do you live?

Jann,
She is in a warm climate year round and gets natural sun when she wants it.
Julirs,
"Bathed" means I wash her, clean her with warm water, etc. I'm taking your question offensive so I ask you too please respect me and others. I care for her and would not want her or anyone to die. I am asking politely some recommendations. If you don't have anything nice to say. Please keep it to yourself Julirs. Its very easy to speak that way to anyone over a computer, but I'm asking for you to be considerate to me and others.

 

[Brad]

I think previously there was some serious confusion. In the future please create a new thread if you are seeking help. Also, if you don't have anything helpful to offer please refrain from posting in the health clinic.

cham2cham, please post more details on your setup and chameleon.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/veterinarian-resources-67/

 

[Chamero]

Yea, it could be a number of problems... What country do you live in? What are the temps/humidty? It would really help if you could get some pics and fill out the questionare. But it could possibly be...

Hunger strike due to winter approaching (depending on what part of world)

Receptive, like mentioned above

Lack of UVB and proper lighting.

These are just a few. One good thing though, you mentioned she has clear mucous...to me...that eliminates URI. But do get some pics up...oh..and...these guys arent meaning to be offensive, they just care for these animals. Dont care what they think about you, just about your cham.

 

[Julirs]

OK-reading through your past threads I will guess you are in Hawaii-so that explains the warmth and the sun part. The eating thing I am going to guess is the being in the same small cage with a Jacksons. This is either stressing out the Panther and causing her not to eat, or if the Jacksons is wild caught may be a transferred parasite issue. The burn you mentioned before could be a fighting injury or bruise. Chameleons just do not do well being house with any other chameleons after about 4 months of age, and no one recommends housing different species-the 2 you have together have vastly different requirements in temps, humidity, and supplementation. I am unsure of what the temps are there, but that would also concern me. I would separate them ASAP and see if she starts to eat.

 

[Jam]

I would be concerned about getting some food into her at this point. and some fluids if she is not drinking.

In a pinch, what I have done with my cham when he has been sick is to use baby food with a syringe. I don't know where "normal people" get syringes (without a needle) without a vet but being a horse-person I can pick them up at feed stores like tractor supply company (maybe small animal pet shops have them, I'm not sure). they are cheap. Hermie likes apple-chicken baby food, sweet potatoe baby food etc. YES I know that these are not great cham diets, but if it's starve to death or eat that I'll use it to pull him through until I can get whatever else is wrong straightened out. I start out just syringing some on the tip of his nose and eventually he tried it when it started dripping down his lips. it takes some PATIENCE but once he tasted it he actually liked it and would open his mouth like a baby bird for more. Usually something "firmer" works better than runny.

I would try giving regular warm showers for hydration (if you've ever been really dehydrated before it makes you feel like crap! Just getting properly hydrated can give you a boost). I put hermie on a plant in a warm (human) shower and let it go. He likes that well and will drink for extended periods of time. Other than that you can give subq fluids to chams (which I have also done) although this requires some cooperation from a veterinarian (to at least give you the fluids -- you have to use sterile saline soutions do NOT go making your own). maybe there is a vet in the area that if you explain your situation will just sell you the fluids (they cost like 10 dollars and it lasts you a lifetime) but I"m not sure... there are some ethical implications there.

Hope that this helps some.

 

[BocaJan]

Good reply Jam. I might add that it is best when showering to deflect the spray off the side of the shower so the cham doesn't get bombarded with water. First time I gave a shower it literally swept her off her branch.

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

I would try dribbling 2-3 drops at a time of Ensure in her mouth. She could probably take up to maybe 5-6 drops total per feeding and maybe 2 feedings a day (morning and/or early afternoon) until she begins to feed on her own again. This will help to start a turn-around with both food and water intake. I'd also try using a handheld pump-up misting bottle ($7 Home Depot) with warm (100F-120F) water and lightly mist her for 10-15-20 minutes (once in the AM and again before 3PM) to see if it'll trigger her drinking response. If she is housed with another chameleon, separate them now even if it is still in the same enclosure by using a chunk of cardboard to block their view of each other.

 

[alhickabee]

As far as finding a syringe go to the pharmacy and look around. If you can't find it ask the pharmacist, they have them somewhere. They might look at you funny but tell them what its for and they'll usually help you out. Good luck getting her eating.

 

[JoeyTwilight]

If she is as bad as she sounds I would recommend trying "Reptaid" distributed by "Northwest Chameleons". Please dont confuse this with Fluker's "Reptiaid" which is just a type of nutritional supplement. "Reptaid" is a herbal remedy for parasites, bacterial, and viral infections and I have heard great things about it. You can order it online from Northwest chameleons or if you are lucky you can find it in town under the name "kocci free" by Amber technologies(they same people who make Reptiaid). You will have to call specialty dog supplie stores to find it and it has the exact same ingredients as the Reptiaid stuff but its packaging is targeted at dog and cat owners, you just use 2 drops for you cham vs the 15 or more they would use for a dog. If you have any concerns check out the amber technologies website as well as the Northwest chameleons website. Honestly at this point I think other than the vet the reptaid would be your best bet.

Good luck ! I know exactly how you feel. . .

 

[cham2cham]

Hello everyone and thank you very very much for all your great support. She has been alone. She was housed with a baby for a couple weeks but it was because I was waiting for a setup. She is alone.
I mist her with a 3 nozzle misting top on a hose. Works awesome. She gets the water. I am going to find a syringe and Ensure and babyfood. I also am going to buy the Reptaid. It really means a lot to me that some of you are giving me this great advice and not scalding me.
Whats the best way to get their mouths open? Can you tickle them? I don't want to cause her stress. I will let you know the progress. My camera was stolen the other day as were my slippers. I will get a pic of her better when I get another camera.
Thanks everyone. Keep the friendly advice coming.

 

[dodolah]

Hello everyone and thank you very very much for all your great support. She has been alone. She was housed with a baby for a couple weeks but it was because I was waiting for a setup. She is alone.
I mist her with a 3 nozzle misting top on a hose. Works awesome. She gets the water. I am going to find a syringe and Ensure and babyfood. I also am going to buy the Reptaid. It really means a lot to me that some of you are giving me this great advice and not scalding me.
Whats the best way to get their mouths open? Can you tickle them? I don't want to cause her stress. I will let you know the progress. My camera was stolen the other day as were my slippers. I will get a pic of her better when I get another camera.
Thanks everyone. Keep the friendly advice coming.

If she is still eating, then I would suggest injecting the reptaid into the feeder.
are you really in Bali?
lol the slipper thing kinda giving it away.. That is so classic. I am amazed the thieves over there still love stealing slippers.

Sorry, I digress.

You can also use rubber spatula to gently pry her mouth open if you have to force feed her the medicine.
Do be careful when you force fed the medicine or the ensure. Don't push all at once. You do not want to asphyxiate her.

 

[ciafardo 4]

if you get that cham heathy i will send you new slippers! indonesia right?

 

[ciafardo 4]

i tried to tickle my chams but they wont open i put two fingers firmly over their nostrals they open but careful not to let fluid get into the glottis

 

[cham2cham]

I buy the $4 pair of slippers, thats ok. All these islands like to do the slipper snatching. I really don't mind. Its funny.

BAck to the cham. . I called a vet and they said they don't know much about chams from only working on a few. I told him my thoughts and he told me what to do. I asked how to get the mouth open. He advised getting something like a spoon and twist it. I personally was unable since the mouth was to small.I got some baby food and tried to feed her. She is small and fragile which made it difficult. I was trying to delicately pry her jaw open, but I could just use so much force. The skin fold would fold up, but her jaw was locked down. This was a terrible experience for her and I. Her mouth area started to turn blackish. I was thinking I don't wont her to bruise She wouldn't even get pissed off and open her mouth. She is probably to weak. I happened to squeeze a little in with the juicer syringe. I tried putting in on her nose top, thinking she would lick it off, but that just got messy. I did get a little more when she opened to swallow.
I m going to try the nostril technique. There were times I had her still, but I would get scared.