Old age signs

Well quick update on Chandler, since force feeding him and basically nursing him back to health, he's a bit more mobile, showing interest in food again and fighting the care regime more each day. If he continues to improve, I can start pain medication for his arthritis. He's more mobile and actually eating somewhat on his own again which he wasn't doing. This is honestly a first for me for dealing with an old reptile. In many ways, I've redeemed myself for the shortcomings with my first chameleon who passed as I was following a care regime for breeding, not longevity and it shortened her life.
 
Jevin said:
Well quick update on Chandler, since force feeding him and basically nursing him back to health, he's a bit more mobile, showing interest in food again and fighting the care regime more each day. If he continues to improve, I can start pain medication for his arthritis. He's more mobile and actually eating somewhat on his own again which he wasn't doing. This is honestly a first for me for dealing with an old reptile. In many ways, I've redeemed myself for the shortcomings with my first chameleon who passed as I was following a care regime for breeding, not longevity and it shortened her life.
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You're very loving to make sure Chandler has the best during old age which is precious ♥️
 
Had a check up today, he has improved, starting meds to help with the arthritis. Honestly the vet is happy with him as his level of care is really high and he is in much better shape than most of the chameleons the vet sees. I know I've done good, but I'm likely fighting something that I can't do much to change.
 
Hang in there. At least you’re doing the best you can for him. Be encouraged by what the vet said and just enjoy your time with him. I know it’s easier said than done but just try.
 
As of today, his enclosure has been altered to reduce risk of falling and I installed a shooting gallery. Tested it and saw him eat some crickets but lights turn off soon.
 
The vet did tell me that a panther chameleon typically lives closer to 5 years, what is the consensus here?
 
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kinyonga said:
Just looked and found these...don't know how reliable the sources are...
5.2 years...
https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Furcifer_pardalis
Exceed 5years...
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Furcifer_pardalis/

Another site said up to 7 years.
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Yeah, everything I've managed to find, the average is five years, rarely longer than that, but not unheard of. Chandler is my first panther and according to the vet, I've done exceptionally well, I'm just facing the one thing I have very little power to change. It seems like the range is 5-7 years, but the data is clumped around 5 years. I know what is coming and I'm trying to prepare myself but this is different than my past pets and even my first chameleon as this is the first pet that has been my responsibility in every aspect from start to finish. I feel I failed my first chameleon as I was limited in the level of her care by my parents. She still lived an average lifespan, but her life was shortened by certain aspects.
 
Well I have to play it day by day. He's doing better in some ways worse in others. I know I'm facing old age so there's not much I can do. From what I've seen 5 years tends to be the average, but there are exceptions. Ironically I know a lot of people's memories gets fuzzy after five years as I have to see identification at work and the primary form of ID is generally only good for five years.
 
Honestly I'm not struggling with this because it seems my options are to be let him pass peacefully and naturally or euthanasia. Euthanasia would be slightly easier on myself, but I view it as cruel if he is passing away naturally without pain. I don't know his exact age, but based on the fact he was starting to develop colors when I acquired him, he's likely around 5 years and 3 months of age and 5 years old at the very least. Based on his bloodwork and X-rays, he's in good health and just old. Everything I've found is 5 years tends to be the age they pass away at in good care which is double their average lifespan in the wild.
 
I do have one question, for those members that have acquired a chameleon from PetSmart, knowing the issues faced by this, what has been a PetSmart chameleon's lifespan. I knew prior to acquiring Chandler that the odds were against him living to be 5 years old because he came from PetSmart which sources their animals from irreputable breeders or are wild caught and not cared for properly while in the store. Knowing this, I'm proud Chandler has managed to live to be 5 years old as the odds were against him, if anything it speaks volumes about the level of care I have for my pets.
 
So I'm not certain, but I think Chandler might be starting to pass, his colors have changed, he's not holding on to anything and despite not having pain, he's vibrating as I hold him. His breathing is also laboured.
 
He hasn't passed, but did have a bowel movement that wasn't really digested at all.
 
I'm pretty certain I'm dealing with the one thing I can't do anything about. He's not in pain but his time is drawing near. It explains why his bloodwork came back really good, he is healthy, but he is old and he is reaching the end of his life naturally. It's a first for my family to have an animal pass away peacefully and naturally without pain.
 
Well, I personally didn't get any sleep last night, he had a bowel movement yesterday and it didn't look like it was digested much at all. He is still eating, around 3 crickets a day, still able to shoot his tongue. He's showing signs of MBD such as muscle weakness and lethargy, but his bloodwork came back fine. I'm fairly certain he is slowly winding down now. With the bloodwork and X-rays coming back as a clean bill of health and the most recent bowel movement not really showing signs of digestion, I suspect his time is drawing near. Honestly with a natural passing, how the digestive system is the first to wind down, developing MBD like symptoms towards the very end makes sense as he won't be able to absorb sufficient calcium through digestion. Reading on the forums here, chams tend to just slowly wind down, eat less, and become weaker progressively towards the end. For the last three months, he's not been roaming around his enclosure as much. In the past month, he's been eating less and sleeping more. While I don't know his exact age, I've been taking care of him for 4 years and 10.5 months as of today and he was just starting to develop color when I purchased him. I know for certain he's over 5 years old. Most likely, I'm seeing him pass away naturally.
 
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