PLEASE HELP ME, MY BROTHERS CHAMELEON HAS AN IR I THINK AND HE IS GONE FOR THE WEEK. THE CHAM WAS FINE THIS MORNING AND NOW I FOUND HIM ON THE FLOOR OF HIS CAGE WITH HIS EYES CLOSED. I think he has an ir because he has all the same symptoms: weak, sunken eyes, not moving, gasping for air, expands chest and lifts head and opens mouth and makes a noise, and sticky saliva in mouth. I am not an expert and I am taking him to a vet tomorrow morning if he makes the night. I put him in a shoe box with cloth underneath him and a heat and uvb lamp on top of him. Please help me, he just spat foamy sticky saliva out of his mouth and i tried to take out some more of it with a cotton swab when it was open. HELP ME ASAP PLEASE
Please help me
- Thread starter GabeLeon
- Start date
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
You are doing what you can until you can get him to the vet. That does sound like an respiratory infection. Be careful not to overheat him, though, keep his temperature in the low 80s. He definitely sounds very sick, so I hope he is strong enough to make it until the vet appointment.
This is nothing you did wrong - the chameleon would have been sick before your brother left for the week.
Good luck to you both and keep us posted.
This is nothing you did wrong - the chameleon would have been sick before your brother left for the week.
Good luck to you both and keep us posted.
Please reply
He is so weak his head in on the floor you don't understand i can't breathe he is lying down on the shirt just dying, should i take away the lamp? i out him pretty close to it to raise his body temp since he was probably on the floor all day... i gave him 3 drops of water and one cricket dipped in calcium like an hour ago idk why i, i was panicking and i don't know if maybe it could make it worse, he swallowed everythibng and the cricket was small. HE IS BARELY REACTING WHEN I POKE HIM FOR TEN SECONDS
He is so weak his head in on the floor you don't understand i can't breathe he is lying down on the shirt just dying, should i take away the lamp? i out him pretty close to it to raise his body temp since he was probably on the floor all day... i gave him 3 drops of water and one cricket dipped in calcium like an hour ago idk why i, i was panicking and i don't know if maybe it could make it worse, he swallowed everythibng and the cricket was small. HE IS BARELY REACTING WHEN I POKE HIM FOR TEN SECONDS
ridgebax1
Avid Member
Your chameleon really needs to get to a vet. I would keep him warm, but not too close to the lamp; be very careful trying to give him water as it could go into his lungs and just make things worse. I really don't think there is much you can do for him at home. Maybe one of the more experienced keepers might have a trick or two but it doesn't sound good for the cham.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
Unfortunately, he sounds like he may be too far gone. Sounds like the repiratory infection has advanced in the late stages. I am sorry you have to deal with this, but do not blame yourself. This is not something that happened overnight and something your brother may not have been aware of as he might have not known what the early symptoms were. I hope you can get him to a vet and save him. Let us know how it goes. Also, if this little one does make it and your brother decides to get another, please consult with us. There may be something in your set up to cause his problems and you would not want that to happen again.
Lathis
Chameleon Enthusiast
Gabe, sorry I didn't see your PM from last night until just now. He sounds like he had a very rough night and is very weak. Other than keeping him comfortable and warm and offering drips of water (don't force it, just drip in his nose), there isn't much you can do until he gets to a vet.
Did he make it through to this morning?
Did he make it through to this morning?
