How to force feed a Chameleon

[jdub0928]

Hi,

My chameleon has not eaten in about eight days now and I'm starting to get worried. He is drinking water, but hasn't eaten or pooped in over a week. I went to a vet that told me to try feeding him with a syringe. While we were in the vets office, the vet showed me how to use the syringe.........My problem is now that I'm back home and actually have food to give him, he refuses to open his mouth to accept it. At the vet's he just popped it right open and now I have to fight him so I'm not sure what i'm doing wrong.

When I bring the syringe close to him instead of opening his mouth he just turns away and tries to fight.

Does anyone have any advice? PLEASEEE

 

[pantherchamlove36]

hey your cham probably has bone disease, its not very curable, because i tried saving my chameleon last year, you need to get him to drink liquid calcium and fast, neo cal is good, otherwise he will probably die

 

[FFSTRescue]

What I usually do is carefully open the mouth with a toothpick or my nail, but you have to open it where the teeth are, not the lip. If you accidentally scratch the gums or the lip, it can develop into stomatitis, so locate where the upper and lower teeth come into contact on the side, and slowly open it that way. I always do it from the side because it would be easy to slip and accidentally stab the back of the throat. You never want to push if you use a toothpick or other item to open the mouth, you want to gently move it up and down. When the mouth is open, if you put a worm or other prey item in there, they almost always swallow it.

Also, they usually open their mouths and gape because they are scared and angry, and the way I get them to do this is hold either side of the jaw with one hand (gently) and tap the corners of the mouth on both sides.

More importantly, what did the vet say was wrong?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hi,

My chameleon has not eaten in about eight days now and I'm starting to get worried. He is drinking water, but hasn't eaten or pooped in over a week. I went to a vet that told me to try feeding him with a syringe. While we were in the vets office, the vet showed me how to use the syringe.........My problem is now that I'm back home and actually have food to give him, he refuses to open his mouth to accept it. At the vet's he just popped it right open and now I have to fight him so I'm not sure what i'm doing wrong.

When I bring the syringe close to him instead of opening his mouth he just turns away and tries to fight.

Does anyone have any advice? PLEASEEE

How old is the chameleon?
What type of chameleon?
What types of bugs are you offering?
Do you see the chameleon drink?
Would you mind completing the How to Ask for Help questionaire (see sticky at the top of the health forum)?
Im not convinced you should be force feeding after only 8 days

 

[sandrachameleon]

hey your cham probably has bone disease, its not very curable, because i tried saving my chameleon last year, you need to get him to drink liquid calcium and fast, neo cal is good, otherwise he will probably die

bullocks! I dont think the above is whatsoever based on reality as presented by the OP in this thread.

 

[Elizadolots]

I agree, Sandra. I found that post rather offensive. It was mean and not at all based on facts. It seemed designed to scare needlessly.

I think this thread actually belongs in the HEALTH forum and the https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/ information should be provided.

That said, first, if this is an adult, then 8 days without food is not deadly. It's not ideal, but it's not deadly. Second, many people have posted about using a credit card (or similarly thick card) to press on the side of the mouth to encourage it to open. You might try that.

 

[hurtonchamo]

My chameleon was having the same issue. It worked for the vet and then not for me. I called the vet and went back in and he showed me two other methods. One was using a q tip and gently pressing the corner of his mouth as well as using it to kind of get between his lips and press gently(at the corner again). It was so helpful to go back again and have them show you what to do. The other method I can not explain but I'm sure your vet has other ideas. By the way mine did not have bone disease. He had a little tongue injury that is all cleared up now. Now if he would just go back to eating his crickets!