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- Thread starter codiwatkins
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codiwatkins
New Member
I was thinking the same thing..... Im almost certain I was fine on all my husbandry and he didnt seem to have any other problems that morning when I fed and watered him..
reyesjoshuacruz
Established Member
what gets me the most is that you weren't really able to learn anything, this is just a senseless loss.
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codiwatkins
New Member
Pure
New Member
I disagree, we learned that branch chewing isn't harmless and no matter how small the chance of this happening is..it's still a risk. And steps need to be taken to prevent the cham from swallowing something he can choke on.
I have strong feelings that this behavior is a genetic trait, and for those who exhibit it shouldn't be allowed to breed. If this was something that panthers did in the wild, well I don't think they would be of breeding age very long. The plants and trees we use in our enclosures are by far safer than what some of the plants they encounter in the wild would be.
Codi I'm so very sorry this guy had this happen. I know all too well how much he meant to you. I still remember reading how happy you were when you decided to get a new one after your last one was stolen. You are a kind sole and don't deserve to have to go through back to back tragedy like this.
PS you need to change/add to your sig. "I'm a girl you nit"
codiwatkins
New Member
Im wondering how long he might have been choking? I feed him around 9:30 the morning that this happened and witnessed him eating a super worm and drinking water before walking out of the room.....Then around 10:30 10:45 this happened. I couldnt see anything in his throat. I even tried to blow into his mouth. I tried to give him water because I know when Im choking that is always the first thing I do is grab my drink. I even had Jason, my boyfriend push on his chest to see if anything would come out. Once discovering him he was alive for probably 4 to 5 more minutes. It was so horrible to watch him suffer. he seemed like a fish out of water. If you do find out anyway to do chameleon cpr please please let us know becasue I keep replaying in my mind anythign I could have done to possibly save him...
codiwatkins
New Member
I though of this after the fact but then wondered if it might cause more damage put the forceps into their throat. Maybe with an adult chameleon since the opening would be larger but for a juvi chameleon i would think It might be rather difficult
Pure
New Member
Honestly, I don't think this is a safe option for a cham that is awake. Not only do you risk damaging the throat with the forceps, you also risk (and more likely) pushing the obstruction further down the esophagus.
Perhaps about the only thing you could have tried would have been to get him to a vet in time for them to put him to sleep to try this themselves. But even then, in your case, this wasn't an option. You simply didn't have enough time. You really did all you could have done in this case.
Pure
New Member
Even then, this is very dangerous. A cham is not going to hold still for you wile you try something like this.
RSGriff
New Member
If they are unable to breathe and have not been able to for a few min, I doubt they would be physically able to move much.
codiwatkins
New Member
Oh yes they can. Pluto was moving. think about when you inhale water into your lungs and you stand up and kinda bounce around trying to get it out.He was swaying from side to side till about the last 30 seconds when he just let me hold him in my hands. they still have plenty of strength, I could barley get his mouth to stay open while I was trying to see if I could see anythign in his throat
jojackson
New Member
So keep it in an empty plastic box? Lol Dont lose sight of the fact that captivity isnt natural . It cant wander off to find something else to munch or other distractions because its in a cage.
Very likely they do chew branches in the wild, who the hell knows. Point is you cant forsee every odd behaviour that Might manifest in captivity. Shit does happen, there was nothing Codi could have done to prevent that short of using steel cable and being bloody phsycic in the first place. Fair go.
How the hell is it a genetic trait?, How about eating soil? Maybe it was just inquisitive.
Seriously mate, Stay real.
So sorry for your loss. He was a beautiful chameleon...and I'm sure you are quite upset watching him die.
You said the piece of bark was 1/2 centimeter piece...isn't that only 1/4"? That seems kind of small to be choking on IMHO.
You said..."I tried to spray water in his mouth"...did you make sure his glottis was closed?
Did the vet do a complete autopsy?
You said the piece of bark was 1/2 centimeter piece...isn't that only 1/4"? That seems kind of small to be choking on IMHO.
You said..."I tried to spray water in his mouth"...did you make sure his glottis was closed?
Did the vet do a complete autopsy?
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