Preparing for my first chameleon, tips appreciated

Thanks guys!

I am still concerned for her after seeing her this morning, but I'm trying to remain positive as she was literally at the vet just yesterday.
Her eyes appear a little more sunken this morning and she's walking around with her eyes closed, but I know her body is under some stress from the injection and the URI and now meds.

I was able to give her meds this morning. She didn't drink too much from the mist, just some deep inhales and walking, some minor lip licking. I filled up her dripper, she went to bask, and I headed to work.

The medication is heavily diluted due to her size, so I hope it helps keep her hydration up as well.
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
Thanks guys!

I am still concerned for her after seeing her this morning, but I'm trying to remain positive as she was literally at the vet just yesterday.
Her eyes appear a little more sunken this morning and she's walking around with her eyes closed, but I know her body is under some stress from the injection and the URI and now meds.

I was able to give her meds this morning. She didn't drink too much from the mist, just some deep inhales and walking, some minor lip licking. I filled up her dripper, she went to bask, and I headed to work.

The medication is heavily diluted due to her size, so I hope it helps keep her hydration up as well.
Click to expand...
Did the vet give you seven pre filled applicators or a vile ? Either way you can add a bit of water and Pedialyte ask @Andee the brake down for dilution ?
 
Pedialyte is similar to the meal replacement for kids the actual name fore that is Pedialyte. Pedialyte is a ecltrolyte packed drink/syrup thing that is used when people aren't eating and are dehydrated at home. I have had to use it in the beginning of realizing I was becoming intolerant to foods since I couldn't keep even water down regularly. So whatever Pedialyte I could get in got absorbed too quickly for me to vomit back up.

For chameleons you want a 50/50 solution. 50 water and 50 Pedialyte. Usually plain Pedialyte is best they are all disgustingly sweet but reducing it will help.
 
Awesome, thank you for the info!
I'm going to pick this up after work today.

Would you recommend any kind of force feeding or is this way too much stress to add? I have repti-boost/carnivore care. She still weight 9g yesterday, so she hasn't lost much. Hydration is clearly the bigger concern, but I thought I'd ask
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
I've seen pedialyte recommended a lot of hydration but I am unsure what this actually is.
I'm familiar with pedialyte meal replacements for kids, I have to assume this is not the same thing lol.

Where would I acquire this? Is there a certain formula to use?

EDIT - this?
https://www.target.com/p/pedialyte-...VCoZ-Ch1-1g7REAQYAiABEgLR8vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Click to expand...
It has to be the unflavored . I'm not sure of the dilution ratio . Let's see if @Andee is avable she will know the amount .
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
Awesome, thank you for the info!
I'm going to pick this up after work today.

Would you recommend any kind of force feeding or is this way too much stress to add? I have repti-boost/carnivore care. She still weight 9g yesterday, so she hasn't lost much. Hydration is clearly the bigger concern, but I thought I'd ask
Click to expand...
See what Andee thinks but she's still same weight . It may be too much stress . I would start tracking weight at home for Mamool .
 
Umm as far as force feeding with the pedialyte she likely only needs one feeding of it a day .4 ml would be fine. You may be able to get her to drink it off her nose if you drip it on it, otherwise.... yeah force feeding would be necessary. But I would wait a 24 period at least before doing so.
 
Thanks for all the input!
I'll pick up the pedialyte after work and make up a concoction of 50/50 in a small container for her.

On lunch she was bunkered up in her little flowers up-top, and looked better than this morning. She was closing her eyes but was opening them to look at me and look around. I filled up her drip cup also. She was basically sitting right next to where the drips land
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
Thanks for all the input!
I'll pick up the pedialyte after work and make up a concoction of 50/50 in a small container for her.

On lunch she was bunkered up in her little flowers up-top, and looked better than this morning. She was closing her eyes but was opening them to look at me and look around. I filled up her drip cup also. She was basically sitting right next to where the drips land
Click to expand...
Hopefully she's been a good girl and drinking . Happy she looked better . It takes a long time for chameleons to show sickness in return it takes a long time for improvement. She's a fighter :love:.
 
She's a good little fighter :)
She was extremely active when at the vet, probably nervous, and would not sit still - waving her little clamp hands around. They said when they gave her the injection she was a little trooper.

Her grip is still very strong, and her mobility shows a lot when in the pothos in the window. She loves that pothos.
I do hope she drank, and I'll begin some pedialyte tomorrow and through the weekend.
 
Traildrifterphalanx said:
She's a good little fighter :)
She was extremely active when at the vet, probably nervous, and would not sit still - waving her little clamp hands around. They said when they gave her the injection she was a little trooper.

Her grip is still very strong, and her mobility shows a lot when in the pothos in the window. She loves that pothos.
I do hope she drank, and I'll begin some pedialyte tomorrow and through the weekend.
Click to expand...
Excellent that should help and some out side time if you have a bit of time .
 
She is probably really stressed, when they are heavily stressed they close their eyes a lot sadly, poor babies.

But right now getting her healthy is necessary, so stressing her is necessary, just try to make it as short as possible and then just walk away for an hour at least. I really think she needs a longer break than most.
 
Just another quick question.
When administering the medication, I do want to make sure none get into her lungs. The vet assistant said to hold her horizontally and eject it near the back of her mouth slowly so she can swallow.

Is this accurate? I don't want any to pool in her spoon mouth and inhale it
 
Yes it is correct, I actually place the tip in the beginning of their throats, but she is really tiny and a pain to medicate so I don't know if you can do that yourself.
 
That's about where I administered it this morning. She didn't fight too much. Just pressed it under her lip and wiggled it a bit toward her mouth til she opened up
 
Yeah that's what I do with my chams. They can bruise from it, but bruises fix themselves
 
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