snitz427
Chameleon Enthusiast
Charlie saw the vet just before Christmas with a potential URI. He was gaping on the lower branches of his enclosure for a few days, which is unusual for him (gaping in basking spot or outside is normal). The vet did not see signs of a URI (no excess saliva, sound, etc), and prescribed an "antibiotic" out of an abundance of caution since "these guys are so sensitive."
I've now realized he was prescribed Albon (it was written as smz tmp but a cham forum tech sheet lists it as Albon). I was not aware of this when prescribed, the vet made it sound like your average antibiotic. It wasn't until I emailed her slides from a fecal I ran of Charlie's that she said he was on an antiprotozoal already. I found pinworms in his fecals, but another round item... I'm now wondering if it is plant materials, as it does not look like the coccidia images I have found through research... but I am a novice, so as soon as he poops we'll run the fecal sample up to the vet (they were closed when we got his last poop).
Charlie's still gaping and making me a bit nervous with that, but he seems ok otherwise. He is eating, albeit he is on a different schedule and getting more frequent, but smaller feedings because of it. I've been giving him a hornworm and/or silkworm every morning while I shoot his meds in the corner of his mouth. He ate 1-2 crickets, as well, today, and a superworm. So his appetite seems ok.
I'm not going to start a cage tear down or panic until the vet reviews a fecal... I'm skeptical about coccidia... but now I'm paranoid about him being on Albon. I will continue to ensure he's hydrated and eating well. I've been letting him free range as it keeps him happy and active. The other chams are not sharing his free range, and will not until/unless his fecal is cleared. They have shared a free range in the past, which is concerning... but again, his fecal has not been reviewed by the vet... and I think the "mystery" object could be plant matter.
Any input or advice for what to do and what to watch for while he is on this medicine is appreciated. I'm concerned about him in general, but now doubly concerned as he is on a very harsh medication without any diagnosis.
Chameleon Info:
Cage Info:
Current Problem - already described above. Cham was presribed albon for a URI... concerned about ill effects.
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Here are a few pics from a fecal, which shows pinworm quite clearly (counted 3... he was taking reptaid prior to seeing vet, but we stopped it once prescribed antibiotics). There is a mystery round object with bubbles... but note that it does not have only 1 or 2 bubbles, but many. Even where it may look like 1 or 2, when the microscope is adjusted you will typically see many bubbles.
I've now realized he was prescribed Albon (it was written as smz tmp but a cham forum tech sheet lists it as Albon). I was not aware of this when prescribed, the vet made it sound like your average antibiotic. It wasn't until I emailed her slides from a fecal I ran of Charlie's that she said he was on an antiprotozoal already. I found pinworms in his fecals, but another round item... I'm now wondering if it is plant materials, as it does not look like the coccidia images I have found through research... but I am a novice, so as soon as he poops we'll run the fecal sample up to the vet (they were closed when we got his last poop).
Charlie's still gaping and making me a bit nervous with that, but he seems ok otherwise. He is eating, albeit he is on a different schedule and getting more frequent, but smaller feedings because of it. I've been giving him a hornworm and/or silkworm every morning while I shoot his meds in the corner of his mouth. He ate 1-2 crickets, as well, today, and a superworm. So his appetite seems ok.
I'm not going to start a cage tear down or panic until the vet reviews a fecal... I'm skeptical about coccidia... but now I'm paranoid about him being on Albon. I will continue to ensure he's hydrated and eating well. I've been letting him free range as it keeps him happy and active. The other chams are not sharing his free range, and will not until/unless his fecal is cleared. They have shared a free range in the past, which is concerning... but again, his fecal has not been reviewed by the vet... and I think the "mystery" object could be plant matter.
Any input or advice for what to do and what to watch for while he is on this medicine is appreciated. I'm concerned about him in general, but now doubly concerned as he is on a very harsh medication without any diagnosis.
Chameleon Info:
- Your Chameleon - Male Veiled, appx 15 months old, in my care 12 months.
- Handling - Charlie is adventurous and often wants out. Handled only when he insists, and only to take to/from free range, or to run about my shoulder while I am working in his cage. We don't hold them just to hold them.
- Feeding - We feed a wide variety. Within the last 2 weeks: grasshopper, crickets, silkworms, hornworms, bsfl, bsf, superworms, dubia. Since medication started 7 days ago, he's had primarily hornworms, silkworms, bsf, crickets, and supers. He gets a hornworm and/or silkworm every morning with his meds. Crickets/Dubia are gutloaded with carrots and gutload cubes made from variety of veggies + bug burger. Typical feeding schedule is Tues, Thurs, and either Sat or Sun (3 days a week)
- Supplements - Repashy LoD every feeding on half the feeders. Repcal's multi vit 1x a month.
- Watering - Mistking, 4min morning, 1 min evening ( I think, have to check... we had adjusted it during vacation). Sometimes see him drink, usually drinks from leaves not overhead.
- Fecal Description - His last poo was small, but good consistency / color. Ran a fecal float myself within 24hrs (refrigerated - vet was closed). Pics below... def pinworm, plus mystery circular object. I am wondering if its plant matter... although yo umay see 2 bubbles on some, when focusing/adjusting microscope there are usually many bubbles, not just one or two. Doesn't seem to match the images I've seen of coccidia thus far, but I am not an expert. Previously clean fecal in spring.
- History - Healthy, active cham that was seen for potential URI... only symptom was gaping in cooler areas of viv.
Cage Info:
- Cage Type - 2x2x4 screen cage. Have a large atrium to move him to, but not until this is over
His enclosure is bioactive. - Lighting - 12hr light schedule. Arcadia 12% I think (will check in AM). T5HO Dual fixture wtih a 6500k + the D3. Sansi LED, basking bulb.
- Temperature - temp/humidity gauge + hand held temp gun. Will check basking temp in am... readjusted when symptoms presented. I believe it is at 85 degrees on the branch, which should be 90ish on Charlie. Lower section in 70s. He free ranges a lot, and those temps would be low 80s when he does.... at least 2-3x a week. Household temps drop to 65-68 overnight.
- Humidity - House's ambient humidity is typically around 50%. Cham cages tend to vary between 45-70, with the low end being very cold days where the heat runs more often, and the high end being rainy days and/or around mistings.
- Plants - Live plants - his cage is primarily scheff arbicola and amate, with a philodendron here and there.
- Placement - 4' cage on top of a waist high table... Charlie's usually eye height or taller. I'd estimate his cage to be 7' off the ground. Its on first floor in a mild- moderately trafficked area
- Location - Baltimore MD
Current Problem - already described above. Cham was presribed albon for a URI... concerned about ill effects.
--------------
Here are a few pics from a fecal, which shows pinworm quite clearly (counted 3... he was taking reptaid prior to seeing vet, but we stopped it once prescribed antibiotics). There is a mystery round object with bubbles... but note that it does not have only 1 or 2 bubbles, but many. Even where it may look like 1 or 2, when the microscope is adjusted you will typically see many bubbles.
