Meller's Coloring

[farrahsc]

No the exotic vet here said that it's hard to see anything on a small dogs poop let alone a chameleon. He just gave me panacur and told me to treat. I seriously think me and Jarred are the only people in WV who have any type of collection of chameleons and the vets just aren't use to seeing them or treating them. I had to tell him exactly what I needed so thankfully I had read up on here and knew with the senegal. My youngest sons name is Alex lol. I'm going to continue with the showers and pedialyte when he corroperates and hopefully can get a poop sometimes soon. Laurie sent me some info on someone who could do it. Thanks guys!

 

[Julirs]

Wow-your Vet sounds a little undereducated to me. I am still wishing you the best of luck with these guys!

 

[farrahsc]

Oh yah I agree. I took all my WC's with me that day and when I pulled the Graceful out he said "Man he's big!" I knew I was in trouble lol.

 

[summoner12]

parasites are small and require a microscope to be seen..... does he think you look for parasites in poop like you'd look for bones in an owl pellet?

 

[warpdrive]

wow, and I thought that my vet was new to chameleons. at least he knows how to do a fecal. I would clearly look for another vet ASAP or maybe see if you can get a fecal through the mail from someone out of town.

Harry

 

[GoFast]

That is actually quite scary to hear a vet say. I think I would be back peddling my butt out of there faster than you could imagine.

 

[jojackson]

parasites are small and require a microscope to be seen....

Pretty broad brush mate, how about roundworms. sounds like a typical non specialist vet playing it safe with broadspectrum treatment.
Maybe he was trying to save you money........

 

[farrahsc]

There are only 2 exotic vets here. One is the one I went to and the other wanted $165 just for a fecal that he would mail out of state. Laurie gave me some info of where I can mail a sample to and it will only be $25. Why not save the money and mail it myself lol. As soon as he poops I'm going to ship it out. On a good note I was able to get some more pedialyte in him after his shower and 2 wax worms.

 

[farrahsc]

Just an update on the other Meller's, he is dying. When I turned the lights on this morning he is laying on his side and is almost completely white with a huge black place on his side. Looks alot like my Senegal did when he died. I misted him down real good but I'm not going to give him a shower this morning. I think it would just be more stress then he can bare.

 

[warpdrive]

I'm sorry to hear of more bad news Farrah.
I wish you well in this time of stress for you. also make sure you sanitize everything including your hands before going anyplace near you other chameleons.

Harry

 

[farrahsc]

Thank you Harry and I am. I keep hand sanitizer by the cages.

 

[Jimturner]

Really sad news. It is a sad fact that this is the fate of most WC. I comend you for your efforts and hope the other pulls through.

 

[RenVet]

Wow, reading this thread really left me scratching my head. A vet who doesn't know how to read a fecal? And it is very easy for us to send them away for testing for $50, even if you are not educated as to what type of parasite eggs to look for. Just a shocker for me. Good luck with your guys, they sound/ look like they are a very sick group, and you may have a hard time bringing them around unfortunately. If you are able to get the panacur into him safely, I would sooner rather than later. The benefits of immediate treatment far outweigh the consequences. These guys are sick, and you are desperate. I'd also attempt offering them some of the bug juice remedy, and keep them very warm and misted. Especially the one that looks like he is not gong to make it. Try giving him a warm water bath and wrap him up in a small towel, if possible and get a basking light on him. If at any way possible, try to get some electrolytes into him (pedialyte is adequete). For most rapid uptake per os or subcutaneously, warm the fluids. If you have fluid bags are are comfortable administering subcutaneous fluids, it would be a good time to go ahead and do it. Dose rate is max 15 mls/ lb.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Dr Ren (Vet)

 

[farrahsc]

The other Meller's just died.
Ron the Verr that is so sick has been getting pedialyte and wax worms as well as panacure. He is under a basking light and UVB in a well planted 24x24x48 cage. He also gets showers once a day but I have yet to see him drink. But he does well at swallowing the pedialyte. When I first got him he didn't move at all and was completely white/yellow. He was dying. After the first does of fluids at the hotel he lifted his head, the second he was able to life his body and then the following morning he was actually crawling on me. He is doing better as he is now able to climb and hold onto branches and is basking right now but he is keeping his eyes closed.

 

[Carlton]

These poor chams were in terrible shape. You are doing everything you can to help but I doubt they will survive. Even with all the rehydration, if they are in organ failure (kidney damage from previous poor care) they simply can't metabolize the electrolytes and water any longer. Once the kidneys are shot you can't fix them. But, knowing where the point of no return is isn't obvious, so all you can do is hope. I've had a few rescues in this condition...some made it but were always compromised hovering on the edge of health problems and some lingered for a few days and died.

Once I took the approach that included parasite meds early in treatment and the cham died in agony hours later. I have also tried waiting until the cham was a bit more stable to treat for parasites. It usually went a bit better so that is my preference. A functioning immune system is more likely to handle the meds and the parasites.

 

[Carlton]

He is doing better as he is now able to climb and hold onto branches and is basking right now but he is keeping his eyes closed.

He may have a chance, so keep providing him water and some food and he may surprise you. Verrucosus are a bit hardier in terms of drought than melleri. I rehabbed a jacksoni who hadn't eaten or drunk on her own for a month. She just lay on her side trying to lick water off her face. Eyes shut constantly. I kept dropper feeding her and one day I came home to see her eyes open roaming her small cage hunting. It could still happen. Good luck and kudos to you!

 

[pinocchiosmommy]

This post has brought tears to my eyes. I'm a first time chameleon owner, but if any of my pets got in the condition of these animals I would be searching the earth to get them help. You are doing an amazing thing. People just kill me on how selfish they can be.

 

[summoner12]

parasites are small and require a microscope to be seen....

Pretty broad brush mate, how about roundworms.

Can you list the common parasites found in chameleons that can be seen with the naked eye? What about the eggs of the parasites, can those be seen with the naked eye?

I believe most people who are looking for parasites are checking the fecal matter with a microscope... but I could be wrong.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Can you list the common parasites found in chameleons that can be seen with the naked eye? What about the eggs of the parasites, can those be seen with the naked eye?

I believe most people who are looking for parasites are checking the fecal matter with a microscope... but I could be wrong.

You cannot see the eggs with your naked eye. And you can't see coccidia or protozoa. Some worms are too small to even see! Some of the worms are big enough to be seen grossly but to properly test for parasites you need to look at fecal floats or smears under a microscope. Floats use special solutions to make the eggs float so you can find them and smears are specially stained to being able to see organisms/eggs. Just because your cham has parasites, even if they're big enough to see, doesn't mean they are shedding full grown organisms so you may not have any idea. They usually don't shed full size worms unless the parasite burden is severe. If they are only shedding eggs/cysts, as they normally will, then you can't see those grossly and can't definitely say one way or the other as to if they are infected.

 

[farrahsc]

Thank you everyone and no worries I will keep doing everything I can with the Verr until he decides it's time. And Ferret that's a great explanation!