HELP --- She won't dig!

[EKEKO]

I’ve have said this before on other threads but I honestly don’t think this girl is gravid. She isn’t heavy looking in the recent photos; she eats a lot, has normal girl colours and this has gone on for FAR too long. You mention the vet doesn’t have a huge amount of a reptile experience; have they actually done x-rays to verify whether there are eggs inside and would they know what they are looking at? Has there been any other diagnostic tests performed outside of a quick visual inspection and palpation in the exam room. I’m going to say this too and people can hate me or not, but some of the members that have helped you on this and other related threads are not necessarily truly experienced in chameleons and while their intentions are good, they have potentially lead you in the wrong direction.

I would honestly find another vet who has some reptile experience and/or push your current vet for more information. If they are unsure about the different reptile health problems they can always consult with a vet that does.

Good luck!

If you take the time to head over to the 5th page of this thread an xray has been done showing 22 eggs approx.

 

[Trace]

That was the beginning of February. Perhaps she has reabsorbed those eggs. Perhaps she quickly laid that small clutch of eggs while the owner was at work/school/away and didn't notice. Another x-ray at this point would be prudent.

 

[Jupiter]

Hot damn I just read through this whole thread and my fingernails are ragged! This sounds really stressful for everyone. If you haven't done so you might want to go back and re-read this whole thread all at once, looking back on it altogether might give you some insight as to where things went wrong. Here's what I got out of it:

1. Gravid females should be left alone
2. Gravid females should be left alone
3. The road to hell is paved with good intentions
4. Gravid females should be left alone

Trace: you said she may have reabsorbed the eggs? What causes them to do that as opposed to getting eggbound?

 

[StickyPad]

Thank you for all the replies, you have all helped a lot...
So here are some answers:
1. She deffinatly has eggs, someone pointed out the xray is on page 5
2. I have never heard about reabsorbing eggs...could someone inform me?
3. She doesn't actually look unwell!
4. When we place her on the floor of the tank after she has come out for calcium, she sometimes sits there for a while and sometimes climbs straight back up.
5. We found her a new vet who is deffinatly more professional.
6. She is due a caesarean on Friday.


I hope some of these points/questions help everyone to help me.
Thanks again

 

[StickyPad]

We booked the caesarean for friday because the vet said basically...those eggs aren't coming out.
He said he could feel them!
So caesarean on Friday
Pick her up on Saturday or Friday night
Then get her stiches out in 6 weeks.

£150...worth every penny

Just wondering, will they probably be infertile Because of the amount of time they've been in there?

Thanks

 

[AngieL]

All going well you should keep the eggs. I think there's a certain way you have to cut fertile eggs out but I can't remember! That is pretty cheap for that operation as far as I'm aware. Is the vet you're seeing a reptile vet?

 

[StickyPad]

Yeah, he's a proper specialist.
When we rang yesterday to book the surgery, he was busy removing a tumour on a bearded dragon...
The vet said since they have been in her so long they probably aren't fertile...
But they still could be, right?
Thanks

 

[StickyPad]

Weren't eggs, they were follicles and didn't actually form into eggs. She had surgery and is recovering in the vets, waiting for a call to see if she can come home tonight.
I will post a picture later
No overies, no more eggs
Thanks anyway guys,
Problem solved

 

[AngieL]

Weren't eggs, they were follicles and didn't actually form into eggs. She had surgery and is recovering in the vets, waiting for a call to see if she can come home tonight.
I will post a picture later
No overies, no more eggs
Thanks anyway guys,
Problem solved

So just egg folicles? That's odd if she was mated then you would think that the folicles would get fertilised! I hjave not heard of that with chameleons but I do see folicles often with my female leopard gecko. It could be that she was too young (how old is she btw? Sure you have already said) or in rare cases fe,ales are known to re absorb eggs when the conditions are not right to lay (i.e. a wc female caught while gravid and shipped will re absorb her eggs)

Maybe it is just as well that you won't have to go through this again as you are obviously quite stressed out about it!

What was the surgery for then if there weren't any eggs? Surely the vet could see that through an xray before hand??? An if he didi then why would he operate?

I hope your girl has a speedy recovery

 

[StickyPad]

She's 10 months.
The vet had to remove the follicles, by the way

 

[AngieL]

I see. Could be that she was too young, should really be 1-1.5 years before producing fertile clutch but obviously it's up to you when you choose

I really hope a vet will chime in and explain why invasive surgery would be necessary to remove egg follicles. As far as I know thats how eggs start, as follicles, then when fertilised they develop into eggs! I could be totally wrong but is it not possible that your girl was at the early stages of egg development rather than gravid and ready to lay?

 

[StickyPad]

The vet explained it all

 

[breakinglass]

Wow!

WOW, You're something else man!

 

[StickyPad]

What? .....