Please help colin :-(

N

Nikki Harrison

New Member
Hi, I am looking for some advice on how to treat a veiled with mbd, I got given a chameleon 3 days ago by someone who had no idea how to look after him. Within minutes of looking at him we knew something was wrong so 11pm Sunday night we took him to see the man who runs our aquarium (as we are in Guernsey Channel Islands we have no vets which deal with chameleons) this man is very good we use him for all questions we have on our snakes as the vets over here just tend to start looking through books to find out what the problem could be.

He told us that Colin (the Chameleon) has severe mbd because he had not been looked after for months. Colin is very weak and has lost nearlly all use of his back legs, and is walking on his elbows with his front.

The person we got him off said he hadnt been fed or had any water for a few weeks, so I am guessing this is why he was so weak. I am hand feeding him mealworms and fruit dusted with calcium and am giving him water which has vitamins in (although I am unsure what exactly we got given it by the aquarium to try and pick him up a bit) through a babies bottle which he is taking very well.

I have also moved him from the viv he was in to a smaller one as he wasnt climbing I thought he would get more light from the UV and more heat if they were closer to him, I am also misting the tank about 6 times a day.

I also want to say I have no expierience at all owning a chameleon and said yes to having him rather than him being abandoned as she has left the island. I have spent the last 3 days on the internet trying to find out all I can but there is so much advise out there which is so conflicting!!

Please Please can someone help me I hate seeing him suffer and just want to help him but if he is in pain would the best thing be to have him put down?
 
I live in Guernsey, Channel Islands. I also have 2 corn snakes and when I took them to the vet e looked at a book to see what the mattercould be!! a lot of vets over hear wont go any where near
 
I'm not going to be able to help you with a vet there. Do you know of any? The little guy need liquid calcium and then a shot to draw it into his bones. Do you have a UVB light?
 
I just dont know if I am doing the right thing with him, is really panicking me am getting very upset, I dont mind hand feeding him and having a crippled chameleon as long as he is not in pain :-(
 
Yes I do have a UVB light, I do not know of any vets over here I tried for ages to find one about a month ago when my corn was pregnant - had no luck.

Thanks for the links, I just have no idea what to do:confused:
 
Here is some good husbandry information:

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

Unfortunately, I don't really address MBD very thoroughly.
The information is geared toward keeping a healthy animal, healthy.
Do you have access to crickets? Much better choice than mealworms.
A repti-sun 5.0 is definitely needed and calcium.
Without being a vet I can only feel comfortable telling you to use a powder and dust the food you are feeding him generously.
Fruit is not necessary, but won't hurt if it's helping to get insects down.
Be careful when force feeding that you don't push food too far down and cause him to choke or accidentally block the airway.
Without access to a vet with chameleon experience you have some challenges.
If his situation does not improve in the next several weeks, I would consider euthanasia.

-Brad
 
I have tried crickets but as he can't walk properly he cannot catch then and just didnt seem intersted, one was sat on im and he didnt move??

He does just drag himself along on his belly the whole time, I think you could be right if he doesnt improve, he man I took him to see does have a lot of expierience with chameleons but is not a vet and he said that he thought it was too late for him to ever walk again - I just don't know what to do for the best, have been in tears the last 3 days hate seeing an animal like that :(

I have attached a couple of pics - he has been in this position since I got him
 

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Since there's no way you can get him to a vet just try on your own a few weeks. You have got to load him up with calcium. Can you buy liquid calcium there? Try to give him some natural sunlight if weather premits and keep the UVB on him 12 hours a day, that he's not in the sun. Try to get some better food in him and dust everything he eats. All you can do is try for a few weeks and see if you can get some improvement.
 
Thank you for your reply and advise I was just so worried that we were being cruel trying to keep him alive, I have the calcium drops which I am mixing with water for him. I read somewhere to keep the UVB light on 24hours a day until he was stronger is that a bad idea? I am so confused right now!!

I was also worried it would be too cold for him outside? what temp is ok for him to go out?

I m going to keep going with him for another week or so and see how he is then.

Thanks for all the advise
 
I'd say in the 70's in the direct sun would be ok for a little while. He needs it to be dark when he sleeps. I'm pulling for you and Colin. Jann
 
Yeah I am, am just worried that he is in pain with his legs, he still can't pull himsef off his belly, and his legs are just sprawled out to the side?

Just don't want him to be suffering :(
 
my vet told me you could feed chams chicken baby food when their real sick. if you fill a syringe with it and put a little in his mouth at a time. its definately not something they'd get in the wild, but it should be easier for him to digest too. maybe try chicken and veggies kind since he's a veiled.
 
Oh what sad pictures' how could someone let this happen to an animal,some people are just so cruel.Sending you and Colin all the very best of luck,keep us posted
 
Don forget to offer lots of water. Perhaps using a syring to place dripps on his lips so he doesnt have to travel looking for dropplets.

Can you get butterworms? Superworms/zophobas? Silkworms? these are better choices than mealworms, along with crickets.
 
You're doing a great job of loving this Cham back to health. I suggest Pedialyte mixed with baby-food (meat) and yes they eat birds in the wild, so go for it!

You can give it to him with an eye-dropper, or a syringe. I don't suppose you have a medical feeding tube on hand. With the tube you just drop it into his belly, via his open mouth and push the food down the tube, careful not to over feed to cause regurgitation.
 
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