First aid kit

[ZippiesPal]

I want to put together a first aid kit for my next cham.

I have no vetrenary training, but I think it would be good to be prepared with some basics. I have lost Zippy. I believe i have done everything that I knew was right. I just didnt have the experience to be able to tell that she was having problems.

I know what my first mistakes were. I didnt know that a cham from a petstore was a bad idea until I alrady had her home. The guy at the store said it was a male. You people here on the forum informed me otherwise. I had already made a commitment to keep her when I brought her home. When she looked kinda fat, and pudgy, I took your advice and made a sandbox for her to lay eggs in. She never touched it. I got all the information on suppliments, plants, lights, humidity, and temperature from this sight, and followed directions religiously.

I dont plan on jumping back in soon. I want to do more research first.

I would like to get some books (not the basics). I am looking for information on how to tell if my cham is sick, and to be able to properly diagnose the issue.
Then I want to have a first aid kit available so I will be able to treat whichever problems arise.

I will likely get my cham from Chamelens NW in April or May. Unlike the petstore cham, I will have all the information I will need in order to take fuller advantage of your advice section.

 

[ataraxia]

If you find a book that covers everything please pm me the link! Honestly, you will learn more than you will ever need to know in the health clinic section of this forums. We have some excellent keepers that frequent these forums that have a wealth of information.

This is not a recommendation but a thought of mine. If you start out rescuing a wild caught. You give it your all to turn the guy or gale around. Most wild caughts in bad shape have everything under the sun to deal with. You will not only hopefully save a animal but you will learn so much its crazy. Dont get discourage if you lose a wild caught, many have some illnesses we have no idea how to identify yet or have problems beyond our control. This is not for everyone and you do gamble your money. This is where i started. I lost many w/c animals in already bad shape at first but have since gained the information to take on just about any situation thrown at me. Just a thought.

First aid kit...heres what i have in my box.

syringes
polysporin
provodone iodine
bottled water
Liquid calcium
Panacur
Rept Aid
Jump start
Squash baby food, Pear baby food
Fish oil capsules
Terramycin
Saline solution
Silvadene
Popcicle stick
Rubber gloves
I do have a few other drugs but this is a good simple kit.

Misc tools great to have:
Uvb Meter
Microscope and slides (i dont have one yet but will very soon)
Gram scale

 

[Solid Snake]

Thats a nice list Ataraxia. I need to get some of those things handy.
A simple magnifying glass, and KY would also be useful.

 

[coldbloodedAL]

If you find a book that covers everything please pm me the link! Honestly, you will learn more than you will ever need to know in the health clinic section of this forums. We have some excellent keepers that frequent these forums that have a wealth of information.

This is not a recommendation but a thought of mine. If you start out rescuing a wild caught. You give it your all to turn the guy or gale around. Most wild caughts in bad shape have everything under the sun to deal with. You will not only hopefully save a animal but you will learn so much its crazy. Dont get discourage if you lose a wild caught, many have some illnesses we have no idea how to identify yet or have problems beyond our control. This is not for everyone and you do gamble your money. This is where i started. I lost many w/c animals in already bad shape at first but have since gained the information to take on just about any situation thrown at me. Just a thought.

First aid kit...heres what i have in my box.

syringes
polysporin
provodone iodine
bottled water
Liquid calcium
Panacur
Rept Aid
Jump start
Squash baby food, Pear baby food
Fish oil capsules
Terramycin
Saline solution
Silvadene
Popcicle stick
Rubber gloves
I do have a few other drugs but this is a good simple kit.

Misc tools great to have:
Uvb Meter
Microscope and slides (i dont have one yet but will very soon)
Gram scale

uh ohh, I only have about half of these Mostly the simpler things, But a few drugs. Whats the baby food for?

 

[ataraxia]

squash is a good vegetable all around. i usually mix a tad bit in with my bug juice for a sick chameleon. I think i have read somewhere that squash slows digestion down and food sets a little longer in the tract. Thus the animal pulling more nutrient from the food. I could be wrong but at any rate i use it for sick chams.

pears - for constipation

Forgot to add mineral oil to the list.

Oh and KY!

 

[coldbloodedAL]

squash is a good vegetable all around. i usually mix a tad bit in with my bug juice for a sick chameleon. I think i have read somewhere that squash slows digestion down and food sets a little longer in the tract. Thus the animal pulling more nutrient from the food. I could be wrong but at any rate i use it for sick chams.

pears - for constipation

Forgot to add mineral oil to the list.

Oh and KY!

Alrighty, Im gonna add that to my list as well then!

 

[Hoj]

i like to keep the first aid style qtip around as well they have wooden sticks and the fluff in alot better attached so you dont get fibers falling out.
and tweezers
eyedroppers
syringes
toothpicks
cuticle scissors.
just to add afew

 

[ZippiesPal]

Thankyou all so much

My girl was bought from a pet store. They said she was a six month old CB Ambilobe Panther cham.

I did not recognize that she was having trouble until it was too late.

Then, when I did realize she was having trouble, I did not know what to do about it.

I did not consult this forum because I felt afraid of being critisized for buying from a pet store, and I just did not have all the data to properly complete the data sheet.

Before I bring my next cham home, I will have the emergency kit al stocked up, and ready to go.

My next step will be to learn what each item in the kit is used for, how & when to use them. Can I PM you on each of these items, or would it be OK to have this out on the forum. I assume that if I am asking, then others may have the same questions.

I have al the time in the world (40 or so years) to learn these skills before I get my next cham.

 

[Solid Snake]

My girl was bought from a pet store. They said she was a six month old CB Ambilobe Panther cham.

I did not recognize that she was having trouble until it was too late.

Then, when I did realize she was having trouble, I did not know what to do about it.

I did not consult this forum because I felt afraid of being critisized for buying from a pet store, and I just did not have all the data to properly complete the data sheet.

Before I bring my next cham home, I will have the emergency kit al stocked up, and ready to go.

My next step will be to learn what each item in the kit is used for, how & when to use them. Can I PM you on each of these items, or would it be OK to have this out on the forum. I assume that if I am asking, then others may have the same questions.

I have al the time in the world (40 or so years) to learn these skills before I get my next cham.

Im sorry to hear about your cham
Dont ever feel like you cant ask a question here!
Even if some are rude/less than helpful, there are plenty of people here who will help, and answer any question you have!
Thats what the forum is for.
Im sorry you felt that way

 

[ZippiesPal]

Books can be helpful too.

I just took a minute to look on Amazon.com for books about chameleons. There are a few books that look promising.

I already have all of the basic stuff about the lighting, hydration, and general pet care. I am looking for a book that goes beyond the basics for caring for a healthy cham in good conditions.

Does anyone have some Suggested Reading about first aid, recognition of ilness, and or parisites in chameleons? If I can find such a book(s) on Amazon, I will not hesitate to purchase them.

I want to have an awairness of trouble BEFORE it visits, not as, or worse, after.

By doing my own research in books, I hope to reduce the burdon I may otherwise place on others.

 

[Solid Snake]

Ive looked at a few books. They all say slightly different things, and I havnt heard of one that is "all encompassing" on chameleon care.
Your best bet, is to read through the posts in the health section here, and the blogs too.
You can pick up on alot of knowledge from experienced people.
This site is the best resource I have found.

 

[Hoj]

the site bookstore has some good books the reptile parastie book is very good and i really like the dvd.