Having trouble with treatment regimen

[Chloe Chameleon]

Hi all. My journey with Edgar continues. I was finally able to get him to a reptile vet Tuesday 4/2 by driving 7 hrs round trip, and finally got into one of our local reptile vets this past Thursday. We are still waiting on fecal and blood test results. Both vets suspect dehydration, and maybe the effects of not enough UV (he's had good UV since this past Jan). He's received liquid calcium and water by syringe for 3 weeks, and has taken worms with a bit of help putting them on his tongue which he can't extend for more than 1/4" (he has also been able to hover over a shallow dish and eat a silkworm). Despite this he seems increasingly weak and it has become harder and harder to feed him what the vets prescribed (Critical Care Carnivore mixed with Pedialyte) I've been shown how to do it and can get one syringe in but have trouble with another (later in the day). I've had to give up and settle for 1-2 feedings a day instead of the several times a day (recommended by 1 vet) or 3-times a day (recommended by other vet). He's getting a pain med in that mix every other day. I had to establish a "hospital wing" using a smaller enclosure as our large enclosure (4'h x 3'w x 18"d) was impossible to work with. He fell t the bottom of that large enxlosure from mid-way twice, and 2/3 of the way to the bottom once. Awful. Now he can't fall but he is also in unfamiliar surroundings. He seems super stressed by all the handling - totally immobile for hours after those feedlings. Oh, I realized the fluid mix was super cold, so am now bringing it to room temp first. Today was the first day he showed no interest in eating on his own, not even a hormworm. Is there anything else I can be doing? Anything I'm doing I should not be doing?

 

[MzLaurie]

So sorry to hear of Edgars bad health Chloe. You are giving him your full attention and everything you can to get him better. Is it MBD? The hospital cage is necessary even if he is not happy with his new surroundings it is for the best. I got a large piece of bubble wrap and created a new floor fir my chams cage when he was a fall risk. Nice thing was i was able to cut slits in it so it would go around plants, sticks, etc.. Then tape the back where i cut then eirher taped or zipp tied the four corners to secure it. Cut the cage from four feet to two feet with a cushion to land on. Good thing too cause he did fall and it worked! i have used the carnivore diet. Did they give you the rubber tip to put on the syringe? He really helps with the feeding to get him to open up and he can bite down on it. I hope all the test results gives you a proper diagnosis. Remember you are giving him your full attention and love and care. Be patient chameleons hide thier issues preventimg you from catching something till iT is severe and also i have learned that chams heal slowly so you must be patient. as long as his husbandry is in order, you are everything you can. I have a full grown vieled male and was told to feed him the carni diet once a day and two full syringes. if you are worried about the number of feedings a day arent as much as the vet wants, then make sure the amount of food he is supposed to get daily is in the number of feedings you are doing. i felt mine was on the czrni diet too long so i got some wax worms i know they have no nutritual value but they are easy to swallow and easy to handle and I would pry his mouth open and pop a few in a day. then progressed to hornworms as i cut back his carni diet. It did work as he got his strength back to eat and hunt on his own. i wish the best if luck to you and edgar thru this hard time. Sending prayers your way and hopes that the tests come back to give you clarity of what is going on.

 

[Chloe Chameleon]

So sorry to hear of Edgars bad health Chloe. You are giving him your full attention and everything you can to get him better. Is it MBD? The hospital cage is necessary even if he is not happy with his new surroundings it is for the best. I got a large piece of bubble wrap and created a new floor fir my chams cage when he was a fall risk. Nice thing was i was able to cut slits in it so it would go around plants, sticks, etc.. Then tape the back where i cut then eirher taped or zipp tied the four corners to secure it. Cut the cage from four feet to two feet with a cushion to land on. Good thing too cause he did fall and it worked! i have used the carnivore diet. Did they give you the rubber tip to put on the syringe? He really helps with the feeding to get him to open up and he can bite down on it. I hope all the test results gives you a proper diagnosis. Remember you are giving him your full attention and love and care. Be patient chameleons hide thier issues preventimg you from catching something till iT is severe and also i have learned that chams heal slowly so you must be patient. as long as his husbandry is in order, you are everything you can. I have a full grown vieled male and was told to feed him the carni diet once a day and two full syringes. if you are worried about the number of feedings a day arent as much as the vet wants, then make sure the amount of food he is supposed to get daily is in the number of feedings you are doing. i felt mine was on the czrni diet too long so i got some wax worms i know they have no nutritual value but they are easy to swallow and easy to handle and I would pry his mouth open and pop a few in a day. then progressed to hornworms as i cut back his carni diet. It did work as he got his strength back to eat and hunt on his own. i wish the best if luck to you and edgar thru this hard time. Sending prayers your way and hopes that the tests come back to give you clarity of what is going on.

Thank you- great tips.

 

[elizaann2]

Im so sorry you and your chameleon are going through this.

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

My adult male veiled was falling and not eating a few weeks ago. The Vet did blood work and xrays. I thought he was near death. However, the Vet gave him a clean bill of health. Turns out he was really dehydrated. I've started providing him a 15 hour dripper ( he never drinks - I monitor him with a camera). I also fog him 6 hours and run a cool mist humidifier overnight. It took 2 weeks but he is stronger, 1 fall in ~ 4 weeks. He has really good daytime color. I removed all plants but 2. I added landscape honeycomb plastic to make catch nets at strategic places in his enclosure. The fall distance is about 4-6 inches.

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

Nighttime fogging!

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

Nighttime fogging! View attachment 354026

Just be careful that it dries out at some point in the day to avoid RI's.

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

Just be careful that it dries out at some point in the day to avoid RI's.

Thanks, it definitely dries out. I only hand mist this guy because I don't want him getting soaked or trying to hide/run from the mister. He gets misting 2 times between 9pm- midnight and at 7am before lights on. The cool mist humidifier helps me drop the temp to 67 so that I can fog for longer hours.

 

[elizaann2]

what a beautiful boy

How often do you feed him? His casque looks a little full.

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

what a beautiful boy

How often do you feed him? His casque looks a little full.

Every three days. He was overweight when I adopted him. Initally I was feeding every other day but he was not losing weight. Now I've switched to every three days with only 1 or 2 grasshoppers ( depending on size). Before I was giving him 3 feeders and he was gaining weight. I'm monitoring really close, the size of his feeders. He will only eat grasshoppers and hornworms. Trust me this guy has had a 19 day hunger strike. He was living off of Pothos and Money Tree leaves. Picky eater!

 

[elizaann2]

Little stinker! I’m wondering if some of him falling might be in relation to his weight too? Just a thought.

Every three days. He was overweight when I adopted him. Initally I was feeding every other day but he was not losing weight. Now I've switched to every three days with only 1 or 2 grasshoppers ( depending on size). Before I was giving him 3 feeders and he was gaining weight. I'm monitoring really close, the size of his feeders. He will only eat grasshoppers and hornworms. Trust me this guy has had a 19 day hunger strike. He was living off of Pothos and Money Tree leaves. Picky eater!

 

[ChamelaChameleon]

Little stinker! I’m wondering if some of him falling might be in relation to his weight too? Just a thought.

I don't think so. He's been overweight from the start. He would patrol his enclosure for hours. He also he would spend an hour climbing up and down (7ft) the cords holding the tree swing. His grip is really strong.

 

[elizaann2]

I don't think so. He's been overweight from the start. He would patrol his enclosure for hours. He also he would spend an hour climbing up and down (7ft) the cords holding the tree swing. His grip is really strong.

ok just a thought

 

[Chloe Chameleon]

My adult male veiled was falling and not eating a few weeks ago. The Vet did blood work and xrays. I thought he was near death. However, the Vet gave him a clean bill of health. Turns out he was really dehydrated. I've started providing him a 15 hour dripper ( he never drinks - I monitor him with a camera). I also fog him 6 hours and run a cool mist humidifier overnight. It took 2 weeks but he is stronger, 1 fall in ~ 4 weeks. He has really good daytime color. I removed all plants but 2. I added landscape honeycomb plastic to make catch nets at strategic places in his enclosure. The fall distance is about 4-6 inches.View attachment 354024View attachment 354025

Thank you so much.