How to open mouth for a force feed with our Jackson

[ericam]

After two, almost three weeks of a hunger strike, and working with the vet, we need to force feed. At his weakest point, we were able to open Spike's mouth with our finger (I held the chameleon, my son opened the mouth and my daughter stuck in the cricket.) Between our one feed and the vet's feeding (and deworming and hydrating and vitamins) Spike has gained strength and we can't pry open his mouth anymore. I'm happy he has spunk again, but we need him to eat. I've tried the credit card and can't seem to get it in between his jaws.

I am also giving him a 20 minute warm water soak per day per the vet as he isn't drinking over the last few days either.

No formal diagnosis, so I'm worried he may be having some internal failures I can't see, but am hoping to feed him and overcome - he's only 2 years old.

Thanks for any advice on the feeding.

 

[EvilLost]

Force feeding causes an extreme amount of stress and should only be done in extreme circumstances. If he is that strong, then why the insistence on force feeding before you even have a diagnosis? IMHO, force feeding should be your last ditch effort...and it really shouldn't take 3 people Did the vet suggest force feeding?

Try filling out the help form....I am guessing that you are just trying to hard to feed him and are stressing him out. If you have a proper setup for him and leave him alone for a bit, he should take to eating on his own. Try posting a picture of your setup and fill out the HELP form as well.


Also, what vet did you take him to? Was he a chameleon/herp vet? Many regular vets are not very knowledgable.

What tests did he do and what were their results?

 

[EvilLost]

FILL THIS OUT and if you can attach a picture or two of your setup and of your chameleon

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[carol5208]

Soaking him in water is not going to hydrate him. Is he drinking through his mouth???

 

[ericam]

On the brink

I think Spike might be on his last ounce of energy. I have gotten great feedback from many of you and I thank you for the encouragement. It has been suggested that I give more information about Spike to see if there is anything left I can do to help him out.

Spike went on a hunger strike about three weeks ago. Until that point, he had been thriving in our environment (about one and a half years). He was so weak this past Saturday, we took him to a vet who specializes in exotics. He was de-wormed (JIC), hydrated, force fed a mixture with food and injected with calcium and vitamin A, D & E.

We really don't know why he went on a hunger strike because nothing in his environment had truly changed, which makes me think it's something internal.

Spike seemed to perk up a little after the vet visit. Saturday night though, we noticed a problem with his right eye being swollen and a purple pea sized bulge when he blinked. Then we noticed a funky color change on his body at certain times. I will post pictures of both these scenarios.

Sunday, we force fed him two crickets and a sow bug (spring has hit and we are starting to see fresh food - last summer he ate sow bugs like m-n-ms).

I have been giving him a warm water soak 20 minutes a day per the vet because she said Spike can soak in some water through his anus for hydration purposes.

So now, Spike is very weak again. He's had enough "spunk" that I can't get his mouth open for a force feeding and feel that it is just stressing him out more. He hasn't eaten since Sunday and is sleeping most of the morning today with a limited grip on his branches.

I hate to see him weak and suffering and based on input from you all, I may take him back to the vet to be put down because I'm thinking that all the signs are not so good and to know that he is suffering seems cruel. There is so much emotional pull to keep him going though, my four kids and I are pretty attached to this guy. I was hopeful this weekend because he bounced back with the injections, but now that he isn't responding to me, I'm thinking there may be more underlying issues that I can see.

Thank you in advance for any advice. Here are the particulars of his habitat below that he once thrived in:

Chameleon Info:
Spike, Male, 2 years old
How long has it been in your care? 1 1/2 years
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon? Frequently
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? Gut loaded crickets in the winter and fresh caught sow bugs and beetles in the summer in addition to the crickets.

What amount? On demand. Some days he'd eat 4-6 crickets and then take a couple days off. Some days he'd take two and eat a few days in a row. He would eat from our hands or hunt. We never left in extra crickets over night.

Watering - We mist a few time a day. He only drinks directly from the squirt bottle, so I stand and "nurse" him until he stops drinking. Usually every day or other day. I leave the spray bottle with the red cap next to his cage and he crawls in front of it if he is thirsty too.

Fecal Description - This weeks droppings from the force feed are only partially digested. You can see the main body of the cricket. He was de-wormed at the vet this weekend just in case.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - All screen 2 1/2 feet by 2 1/2 feet
Lighting - Heat and UV
Temperature - Night time about 65 degrees, Day time up to high 70's.
Plants - All fake
Placement - Cage is in the living room next to a bay window and over a radiant heat source. Therefore lots of misting to keep things moist.
Location - CT

Current Problem - Hunger Strike to the point of extreme weakness. Discoloration on skin. Swollen eye.

 

[Thompson]

You didn't answer a couple questions. What are you gutloading his feeders with and what is his basking temp? What brand and type is his uv bulb (spiral, linear, 10.0, 5.0?) How is he bieng dewormed? Did your vet take a fecal to test and see what type of parasites he may have? Is he on any type of medicine for parasites? Was there any reason to give him a vitamin A shot? Vitamin A can be toxic and is easy to overdose. You might want to try and take him to another more "chameleon" experienced vet so he can figure out what is really wrong.

 

[jpm995]

Be carefull that his cage doesn't overheat being in front of a window. I think Jacksons require a lower temp than vieled or panthers. I hope you and your vet can save him.

 

[Captive Creations]

There is always a risk of parsites when you feed fresh caught bugs. I would recommend not feeding anything that is wild caught. I only feed bugs that I my self have bred or I buy from a local feeder breeder. JMHO I would ask your vet what experience they have with chameleons specifically and go from there. if they dont have much experience I would take him to another vet. jmo I really hope he gets better..
also I agree that the soaking is going to help. the vet was right they can absorb water threw their bum. I would keep trying to get him to feed and drink on his own though as force feeding and soaking all cause stress and I would only do them as long as they are necessary.

 

[ericam]

Thank you

Thank you to all for the kindness in submitting help. I wish I was a forum member before Spike was sick. I am so sad to say that Spike passed away this afternoon.

 

[okiroo]

Thank you to all for the kindness in submitting help. I wish I was a forum member before Spike was sick. I am so sad to say that Spike passed away this afternoon.

im sorry for your loss. next time you'll have this forum to get you started correctly.

 

[jpm995]

Sorry to here that he died.

 

[Andrew27]

After two, almost three weeks of a hunger strike, and working with the vet, we need to force feed. At his weakest point, we were able to open Spike's mouth with our finger (I held the chameleon, my son opened the mouth and my daughter stuck in the cricket.) Between our one feed and the vet's feeding (and deworming and hydrating and vitamins) Spike has gained strength and we can't pry open his mouth anymore. I'm happy he has spunk again, but we need him to eat. I've tried the credit card and can't seem to get it in between his jaws.

I am also giving him a 20 minute warm water soak per day per the vet as he isn't drinking over the last few days either.

No formal diagnosis, so I'm worried he may be having some internal failures I can't see, but am hoping to feed him and overcome - he's only 2 years old.

Thanks for any advice on the feeding.

I think he may have caught parasites from the wild caught bugs. You do have a few husbandry errors, but not enough to make him do this. That is what makes me think it was a parasite.