Help quick!

[BebeTacoma]

tacoma is going downhill fast! His eyes are sunken and are closed almost all the time, his grip is pretty week but still there, I can see his ribs when he hisses. Also, he is a lot thinner than normal!! I dont know what is wrong with him! Im doing everything that I should be doing and I called the vet again and they are making some antibiotics that im going to pick up later! He is a veiled and if anyone has any idea what this is could you please help! Im so scared for him.

 

[AngieL]

Hi! Im so sorry your little buddy isnt well! Can you fill out this form please? https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[BebeTacoma]

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - He is a Veiled chameleon and is about 5 months old, Iv'e had him for almost one month.
Handling - I dont normally handle him, so times I will pick him up but very rarely, he has gone to the vet though 2 times since I've had him.
Feeding - Im feeding him crickets that have been gut loaded with carrots and apples, and then this calcium supplement I feed to the crickets, plus twice a week a coat the crickets in another calcium powder. Hr has no particular schedule.
Supplements - The two that I mentioned above are the only ones, and I can't recall the names of either.
Watering - I mist his cage 3-4 times a day and when I'm gone, I leave him drip system on(right now Im leaving it on 24/7 because he is sick). I have seen him drinking a few times, I got him to drink water off of some lettuce for me.
Fecal Description - Everything seems to look normal in this department, and he hasn't been tested for parasites since I've had him, he could have before.
History - about 5 days ago, he got really cold and I took him to the vet, they gave him so vitamin stuff and warmed him up. I called the vet last night and they said that it is probably pneumonia. I personally think its an Upper Respiratory Infection.
Cage Info: He has a big cage for his size, its about 2/3 feet tall and probably a foot wide, its made of all like mesh type materiel(it looks like a lot that I've seen online). He has so branches from my backyard that I cooked in the oven and cleaned off, almost he has a fogger type thing that helps keep up humidity, a dripper, a Potho plant(it isnt very big yet), and a heat rope(I feel the heat rope all the time to make sure its just warm and not hot. The bottom of him cage if filled with a reptile dirt that I got from the pet store, he has a UV light and a heat lamp. The humidity of his cage stays about 60-80% most of the time, and the hottest part in his cage is probably 90 degrees.
Lighting - The lights are both a brand called repti something or another. They run from about 6am - 7pm(sometimes a little earlier in the morning,not much though).
Temperature - He mainly stays at the top of his cage which can vary from 80-90 degrees (depending on the spot) I test the temperature by feeling the warmth and it always feels nice and warm for him. The lowest that his cage gets during the day is about 70 degrees, maybe 65 near the bottom at night.
Humidity - I have a humidity gauge and it stays around 60-80%, sometimes drops to around 50% but then I try to get it back up quickly.
Plants - A fake plant and a Potho plant.(both small, the Potho will get bigger soon though)
Placement - The cage is in the corner of my living room, its by a fireplace but I hardly use it. He is located in one of the warmest places in my house, and its normally not that loud. His cage is on a table that is probably 2 feet off the ground, hes around 4-5 feet up at his highest point.
Location - Im in Humboldt county in California(by the ocean, for those who didnt know), its kind of cold here but has high humidity.


The current problem- about 3 days ago I started noticing weird things about him. His eyes have been shut a lot(but open up randomly), he looks thinner when he hisses(I found out its actually gasping),His eyes are a little but sunken, and yesterday I noticed that he had a little bit of saliva coming out the sides of him mouth. I called the bet again last night, and he said he thinks its pneumonia because he got so cold the other day. He gave me a anti inflammatory medicine for him and he has quick gasping and there isn't any more saliva coming out of his mouth, but his eyes are still shut. I've only given him the medicine twice now and it seems to be working, he doesn't look as thin either. The medicine is suppose to be given every 12 hours for half hour intervals, its through a Nebulizer.

 

[AngieL]

Hi again! I think your gutload could be improved to get some vitamins into him to help him grow stronger. Here's a great blog for that https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/

For supplements you need to use plain calcium with NO D3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month and a multivitamin twice a month. This is so important because he's still growing. Calcium deficiencies cause metabolic bone disease, symptoms are curved bones, weakness, tongue problems to name a few.

Pneumonia in chams is basically a lower respiritory infection. When you spray do you let it dry out before the next time and do you make sure th cage is dry at night? If things are too damp and drainage isn't great this could cause an RI.

You may find this care sheet helpful https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html I hope with a few tweaks and your vets help he will bounce back

 

[BebeTacoma]

Thank you so much for the reply, but unfortunately, it was too late. He passed away on Sunday..

 

[Saldarya]

So sorry hear. It is amazing how much these lil guys can mean to you.

 

[AngieL]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that My condolences xx