Parasites

KatieVick

New Member
Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male, Veiled Chameleon, about 1 year old. My dad has had him since he was a baby.
Handling - He would handle him about once a week or so. They're very close, he never hisses.
Feeding - he was uneducated on this. He's been feeding him only mealworms and they are not gutloaded. He got sick a few weeks ago (eye infection and liver problems) so he's been on carnicare since.
Supplements - calcium without D3 often, not sure how often.
Watering - manual spray at least 4 times a day. My dad is retired so he's home all day.
Fecal Description - last 2 days has been runny yellowish diarrhea. Before that, healthy brown with white urate.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Screen cage, 16×16×30(I think?), plastic vines and clean wood branches for climbing/baking
Lighting - lights go on and off with the sun. 12hrs/12hrs. Reptisun 5.0 UVB and 100 watt baking bulb
Temperature - 85-90 basking, 75ish bottom of cage. Measured with the temp gauge that came with the kit.
Humidity - my dad sprays manually to keep humidity up. I just bought him an auto mist system. Should be getting here tomorrow
Plants - no live plants
Placement - about 2 feet of the floor against a living room wall. No vents or fans nearby
Location - Northern Nevada, US

Current Problem - Like I mentioned above, he was sick with an eye infection. I flushed his eyes for several days with saline and treated with antibiotic ointment. He was also given an antibiotic oral medication for liver problems which he is still taking. He was on carnicare throughout this as he wasn't eating or drinking on his own. He was looking so much better and began fighting the syringe food a bit more. So I got his regular mealworms (I know, not the best) and he did eat 3. But within 24 hours, he had committed vomited 2 of them up and began to have diarrhea. He also passed a very large sperm plug in this time.

Now it's been about 48 hours and he will not open his mouth AT ALL, his eyes are sunken, he's a dark color, he won't leave the bottom of his cage. I'm so worried about the little guy. He's been through so much these last couple of weeks, I just want to help him 😞
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20221022_000636465.MP.jpg
    PXL_20221022_000636465.MP.jpg
    285.5 KB · Views: 105
  • PXL_20221021_233021317.MP.jpg
    PXL_20221021_233021317.MP.jpg
    239 KB · Views: 94
  • PXL_20221021_012451480.MP.jpg
    PXL_20221021_012451480.MP.jpg
    263.4 KB · Views: 95
Welcome to the forums.

He needs a bigger cage with live plants and a lot more vines and branches. and a cooler basking spot. I keep my boys bask right around 87. Never over 88. He need a large variety of feeders. I never feed mealworms. That could be part of the problem. Does your dad use any other supplements?

Did your vet seem knowledgeable with chameleons. Can you post the names or pictures of the meds he’s on?
 
Okay, thanks for the info!

Honestly, no. The vet they saw did not even care about the fact that his eyes were closed and told them not to worry about it. She was only concerned with doing tests for his liver. I did my own research to find out about his eye infection and learned how to flush them out myself.

Here is what the vet gave us for food and his liver.
 

Attachments

  • 1666470418592724183222263104654.jpg
    1666470418592724183222263104654.jpg
    134.8 KB · Views: 79
  • 16664704806573457839605565519269.jpg
    16664704806573457839605565519269.jpg
    135.4 KB · Views: 88
Hello and welcome to the forum.

Based on your description of his issues, you probably need to get him back to a chameleon vet ASAP. The signs he's showing are pretty serious and our scaly friends hide their ailments very well, until they can't anymore. Does he have his eyes closed during the day? That's another bad sign.

Beyond that it looks like there are a number of husbandry things that could be done to help your little guy out, but a vet is going to be crucial here. There's a thread here that you can look through to find a good one in your area: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/area-by-area-country-vet-list.32880/

The issues could be a good number of things, but as soon as they start to show issues, it's usually serious. In the meantime, @MissSkittles, @Beman, and @kinyonga are our resident expert keepers in these forums and can give you some pointed advice for improving husbandry, the cage setup as well as his food - which you indicated you're aware that mealworms are a poor feeder choice.

You're in a great place to get some help and my prayers go out to you and your adorable little one!
 
Did the vet mention parasites or did I miss this in your post?

I’d get him to a vet with chameleon knowledge. I’ll see if I can help you find one.

This is the eye drops my vet commonly uses for eye issues. Sometimes both of these together.

B15768D4-935C-47B0-AE37-2888F4C3511A.jpeg
 
Maybe one of these will be I’m driving distance.

Dr, Jeff Simmons
Mountain West Veterinary Specialists
908 North Main Street, Layton, Utah 8404124 hours(801) 683-6201
Dr. Laurel Harris
Wasatch Exotic Pet Care
1892 East Fort Union Blvd. Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121-305208:00 to 18:00(801) 943-3367
Dr. Samuel Rivera
Utah Veterinary Hospital
161 East 30 N, American Fork, UT 8400308:00 to 17:30(801) 692-1563
Dr. Karen Peacock
A Caring Vet
360 N State St, Lindon, UT 8404209:00 to 18:00(801) 785-6737
Dr. Scott Echols
Parrish Creek Veterinary Hospital & Diagnostic Center
86 N 70 W St, Centerville, UT 84014-182108:00 to 18:00
 
Did the vet mention parasites or did I miss this in your post?

I’d get him to a vet with chameleon knowledge. I’ll see if I can help you find one.

This is the eye drops my vet commonly uses for eye issues. Sometimes both of these together.

View attachment 330576
No, the vet has not mentioned parasites, I just think that is what's happening based on my own research.

His eyes have cleared up entirely now, they're not red and puffy anymore and there's no more gunk coming out when I flush. Like I said, he was doing really well! He was looking and acting healthy and active. But then just in the last day or 2 is when he's started to decline in a different way. Right after I went away from the carnicare and fed him the 3 meal worms.

Unfortunately, the "find a vet" lists on here do not show any near me at all and the one "reptile vet" that is in the area is the one that he has been to and they didn't seem knowledgeable.
 
Maybe one of these will be I’m driving distance.

Dr, Jeff Simmons
Mountain West Veterinary Specialists
908 North Main Street, Layton, Utah 8404124 hours(801) 683-6201
Dr. Laurel Harris
Wasatch Exotic Pet Care
1892 East Fort Union Blvd. Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121-305208:00 to 18:00(801) 943-3367
Dr. Samuel Rivera
Utah Veterinary Hospital
161 East 30 N, American Fork, UT 8400308:00 to 17:30(801) 692-1563
Dr. Karen Peacock
A Caring Vet
360 N State St, Lindon, UT 8404209:00 to 18:00(801) 785-6737
Dr. Scott Echols
Parrish Creek Veterinary Hospital & Diagnostic Center
86 N 70 W St, Centerville, UT 84014-182108:00 to 18:00
I appreciate the help! Unfortunately not, I'm in Reno, NV. So, I'm a lot closer to California than anything else
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.

Based on your description of his issues, you probably need to get him back to a chameleon vet ASAP. The signs he's showing are pretty serious and our scaly friends hide their ailments very well, until they can't anymore. Does he have his eyes closed during the day? That's another bad sign.

Beyond that it looks like there are a number of husbandry things that could be done to help your little guy out, but a vet is going to be crucial here. There's a thread here that you can look through to find a good one in your area: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/area-by-area-country-vet-list.32880/

The issues could be a good number of things, but as soon as they start to show issues, it's usually serious. In the meantime, @MissSkittles, @Beman, and @kinyonga are our resident expert keepers in these forums and can give you some pointed advice for improving husbandry, the cage setup as well as his food - which you indicated you're aware that mealworms are a poor feeder choice.

You're in a great place to get some help and my prayers go out to you and your adorable little one!
Yes, he does have his eyes closed during the day. He's had a very bad eye infection the last couple of weeks, so he really hasn't used his eyes much recently.

He can't seem to lift his head or stand well right now either. He seems very weak and lethargic. I've tried force feeding him for some energy and nutrition but he will not open his mouth for me anymore. The one time he did and I got something in there, he didn't swallow and I was worried about him choking.
 
Metronidazole is sold under the brand name Flagyl among others. It's an antibiotic and antiprotozoal and treats trichomoniasis, amebiasis as well as some liver issues.
IMHO...it's a shotgun approach.
 
Last edited:
Metronidazole is sold under the brand name Flagyl among others. It's an antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication.
They gave us the metronidazole to treat his liver. They also gave us a prescription for Amoxicillin, but that has to be shipped in so it's on the way. I read Flagyl would help treat parasites, so hopefully it will help him if he does have parasites? His vet can't see him for another 2 days.
 
Here’s a post from here where the members were talking about Reno vets.

I’m in Reno, NV. I called the vet at Kreature Komforts(their vet is out of town) and that led me to Mountain View. I talked to them this morning. Do you think I can get the cream from them without bringing in my Cham?


I believe there’s a good one in Sacramento. I can check that out for you if you are willing to go that far.
 
They gave us the metronidazole to treat his liver. They also gave us a prescription for Amoxicillin, but that has to be shipped in so it's on the way. I read Flagyl would help treat parasites, so hopefully it will help him if he does have parasites? His vet can't see him for another 2 days.

It can help with only certain parasites but not the common ones that chameleons have such as pins, hooks and coccidia. It’s also given for tummy problems sometimes.
 
Mountain View is where he has been already. I've never heard of Kreature Komforts, but it looks promising. Thank you so much!
 
Here’s a post from here where the members were talking about Reno vets.

I’m in Reno, NV. I called the vet at Kreature Komforts(their vet is out of town) and that led me to Mountain View. I talked to them this morning. Do you think I can get the cream from them without bringing in my Cham?


I believe there’s a good one in Sacramento. I can check that out for you if you are willing to go that far.
Just called Kreature Komforts and their exotic vet is booked up for over a month 😞

I will get him to the one we've already seen on Monday, but like I said before we weren't impressed with her. Maybe my dad would be willing to go to Sacramento? I'll talk to him.
 
Just called Kreature Komforts and their exotic vet is booked up for over a month 😞

I will get him to the one we've already seen on Monday, but like I said before we weren't impressed with her. Maybe my dad would be willing to go to Sacramento? I'll talk to him.

Did you tell Kreature Komforts it was an emergency? Let me see who my friend uses in Sacramento.
 
Here is a recommendation of someone in Sacramento that has a very large chameleon collection.

Madison Avenue Veterinary 8520 Madison Ave, Fair Oaks 916-961-1541
 
Back
Top Bottom