Community experiences with prolapsed chameleons

[Overbearing_ChameleoGod]

I lost a young female chameleon today due to a severe prolapse She appeared fine Friday evening but this morning I noticed a major prolapse. Having read these forums often, I soaked the tissue in cold sugar water and moistened with KY. This of course happened on a Saturday. I am blessed to be in a city with several well known vets but none of them were available (Saturday) and they referred me to a major clinic (more on this later). A long story short, I had her to the vet by 12pm but I knew she would not make it based on how quickly she went down hill. My question is, do people here in this community actually have chameleons with major prolapses that make it? What is the real world experience with chameleons surviving this?

For some background information, this female appeared healthy and was approximately 8 months old. She was beginning a fertility cycle based on her recent bright pink color. I searched the cage for any unusual feces and could not find anything large or odd. I did a very rudimentary dissection to see if there was anything obviously wrong or blocking her and she appeared clear but there was no feces which I found odd.

To start this off, I am 1 for 1 for experiencing chameleons with major prolapse and having them not survive. Any input or experience of others would be appreciated.

 

[jannb]

I have had males and females prolapse. I’ve only lost one from prolapse. Prolapse is an extreme emergency that need to be seen by a vet ASAP. Not in a day or two.

 

[Overbearing_ChameleoGod]

On the "more to be posted later", I forgot to add...
The two major vets referred me to a very large and busy facility downtown. I notified them 30 minutes before arrival and was checked in. I was assured when I called that they were capable of treating the condition. 30 minutes after arrival, they informed me that they were putting together the quote and it would include a triage to keep the chameleon alive until the specialist would arrive Monday morning. The check-in was $200 and the quote for services was in excess of $1,000 and they wished to know if the chameleon began to pass if I wished to revive with CPR. Knowing what I know about reptiles and the condition that she was in upon arrival I had them bring her back up front and she was already 95% dead. This is in one of the largest cities in the USA and after reaching out to two of the specialist clinics in the city. I am now operating under the assumption that if something similar happens from Friday evening to Sunday night, I am on my own.

If you don't mind me asking, how many males and females approximately have you had prolapse and were they major prolapses?

Regards,

 

[jannb]

On the "more to be posted later", I forgot to add...
The two major vets referred me to a very large and busy facility downtown. I notified them 30 minutes before arrival and was checked in. I was assured when I called that they were capable of treating the condition. 30 minutes after arrival, they informed me that they were putting together the quote and it would include a triage to keep the chameleon alive until the specialist would arrive Monday morning. The check-in was $200 and the quote for services was in excess of $1,000 and they wished to know if the chameleon began to pass if I wished to revive with CPR. Knowing what I know about reptiles and the condition that she was in upon arrival I had them bring her back up front and she was already 95% dead. This is in one of the largest cities in the USA and after reaching out to two of the specialist clinics in the city. I am now operating under the assumption that if something similar happens from Friday evening to Sunday night, I am on my own.

If you don't mind me asking, how many males and females approximately have you had prolapse and were they major prolapses?

Regards,

Most vets do not charge that much to repair a prolapse. I’ve had 2 males and 2 females prolapse over the past 10+ years vet bills were around $400 to $500 or less. Chameleons are expensive to keep and that’s why I have pet insurance on all of mine.