Rescue in bad shape NEED INPUT

[Juliaf3]

This is 5 months?! Good lord, our lil guy doesn't even have a neck flap like that. I now see what everyone is saying about the tail...so basically the tail is a fat store? If thats the case will it thicken back up when he bulks up?




Thank you for all the references. We have a while to go it looks like.

No I do not believe it's where fat is stored. Males just generally have bigger tails then females because of their hemipenis. I'm sure there is some fat stored there. I'd assume as he puts weight back on, his tail would get fuller as well. Yes, there is quite a road to full recovery, but you are doing a great job!

 

[jclaiborne]

No new updates other than the fact that he climbed to the top on his own today!!! Getting down is still an issue but at least he can grip enough to climb...its probably taking all his energy at this point

 

[FlChamMom]

I just read this thread all the way through and I think he has made great progress so far. He is a lucky boy to have found you! You may want to try some silkworms and hornworms to help with hydration- they are also easy to digest. Please keep the posts coming!

 

[jclaiborne]

I just read this thread all the way through and I think he has made great progress so far. He is a lucky boy to have found you! You may want to try some silkworms and hornworms to help with hydration- they are also easy to digest. Please keep the posts coming!

I have been looking for silkworms and hornworms locally and have come up blank. I think it may be time to take my search online. I have gotten spoiled living so close to LLL that I never need to buy any supplies/feeders online. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Lovereps]

He is so lucky to have such a caring new owner.
Good thing your friends weren't too embarrassed to ever give him to you.
Hopefully his hemipenes do go back in, as well. Poor guy.
You might also pickup some large Phoenix Worms or Calciworms for him.
They have the added bonus of naturally being better calciumwise than most feeders and are also relatively high in water --although gutloading and dusting do help that way.
In case you haven't seen it already, this page has loads of good Panther cham care info: https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/panther/
Dehydration and lack of food both do cause unsteadiness and weakness.
I believe that the reasons why plain KY is recommended as a supplemental treatment are because it keeps the hemipenes moist and lubricated between the sugar water treatments and it is water soluble, so it should not interfere with the sugar water treatments.
Again, I'm glad he got into your caring hands.

 

[jclaiborne]

So here is today's update. He is getting brave enough to continue climbing, and when he loosens his grip and begins to fall he is catching himself, but can't get himself back upright, he just hangs there and we have to rotate him back up, but the good thing is he isn't falling! I followed up with the vet today and he said that if the hemipenes don't retract by Sunday that he wants to perform a procedure. He left me a voicemail and I am waiting for another call back, because I don't know if he is thinking about just stitching them in or removing them. However he did mention that he would be put under Anesthesia. I trust this vet, but hearing that he would be put under kind of freaked me out. I know the prolapse needs to be taken care of, but is there a chance that putting him under at this state could cause us to loose him?

 

[jclaiborne]

Spoke with the vet again. He said he will determine which surgery to perform once he gets in, but he is thinking complete removal will be the best option so we don't risk them popping back out when the stitches are removed. He assured me the anesthesia is safe, and that they are going to hydrate the lil guy while he is under. The procedure is scheduled for 8:30am on Monday. All that being said I am still worried about the lil guy...I hope he pulls through.

 

[MelissaB]

Good luck, I hope hat everything goes textbook perfect, and your new guy feels better.

 

[Andee]

I just want to say you are truly amazing for taking on such a feat to raise this guy from death's door. It's been awesome hearing his progress. I hope everything with the surgery is perfect and he perks up afterward ^^ good luck and I'm sure everything will be ok. He will be in my thoughts.

 

[Lovereps]

Glad you've been keeping us updated.
Personally, I would add KY treatment between sugar water treatments for the reasons I stated in my previous post.
Surgery is always a risk but if the tissue dries out and dies, then there is no choice at all.

 

[jclaiborne]

Well semi good news...i have been doing KY between sugar treatments as suggested. I woke up this morning and one of the hemipenes has retracted back inside! The other one is still completely out, but if this one stays in then maybe there is a chance that the second one goes in on its own as well?

 

[Lovereps]

That is good news.
If one went in, it's a step in the right direction and it is also out of the way of the other retracting.
Hopefully, he gets both back in place and doesn't need either removed.

For his eye, you can try rinsing his eye gently with a stream of " Bausch and Lomb Sensitive Eyes "or "CVS Sensitive Eyes " saline rinse.
They are made with the same ingredients and also have a bit of boric acid which, like salt, helps heal eye irritations and mild infections.
They are also pH balanced and free of any preservatives that make eyes sting or burn.
The saline rinses can also help him to flush out any foreign matter that may have gotten into his eye.

I'm so glad that your compassion and care have been paying off for him.

 

[jclaiborne]

That is good news.
If one went in, it's a step in the right direction and it is also out of the way of the other retracting.
Hopefully, he gets both back in place and doesn't need either removed.

For his eye, you can try rinsing his eye gently with a stream of " Bausch and Lomb Sensitive Eyes "or "CVS Sensitive Eyes " saline rinse.
They are made with the same ingredients and also have a bit of boric acid which, like salt, helps heal eye irritations and mild infections.
They are also pH balanced and free of any preservatives that make eyes sting or burn.
The saline rinses can also help him to flush out any foreign matter that may have gotten into his eye.

I'm so glad that your compassion and care have been paying off for him.

Thanks! I have been putting drops in his eyes amd the gunk is clearing up however one eye is still swollen then on the other side right in front of the eye there is a little bump that seems like its filled with fluid...it isnt growing in size but i have been keeping an eye on it...this poor lil guy has so many issues going on

 

[Cait0420]

I hope the little guy pulls through

 

[jclaiborne]

Here is todays updated picture...his colors are getting lighter and lighter i am seeing a lot of green and reds with a white stripe on each side of him and the slightest hint of some blues...his eyes are nice and clear, no gunk, and he seems more responsive!

 

[Cait0420]

I think they said that because this poor guy looks like he was just left in a cage. Never tended to, not even a little. They clearly didn't even toss him any food. Which would give any normal human being a guilty conscience! I'm with zephalia. It's absolutely crazy how thin his tail is! My 5 month old Cham is EASILY his size, with a much much fatter tail. His tail hasn't looked like this guys since he was just barely 3 months old. Have you named him yet? I think you should, he's definitely going to be around awhile now that you saved him. It's amazing the difference you have already made. Keep up the good work! I've been following this thread since you started it. I'm so looking forward to his full recovery and the before and after pictures! You are doing so so good!

I totally agree with this, I too have been following this thread and you're doing marvelously with him, just keep up the good work!

 

[jclaiborne]

he is back home from the vet and surgery went well. While he was under they gave him some hydrating fluids. He decided to hold off on amputating the hemipenes because of how much better he looked so he stitched them back in place. He also gave us some antibiotics for his eye infection. He said this is one tough little chameleon amd he is really pretty positive about his recovery. That being said he has a follow up monday unless he hasnt had a BM by friday then he wants us to just bring him in. This pic is right when we got him home. Hes even got a little more curl in his tail!

 

[Lovereps]

More good news. I love it when a cham responds to good care!
As I've said before, he is one very lucky cham to have gotten into your care!

 

[jclaiborne]

More good news. I love it when a cham responds to good care!
As I've said before, he is one very lucky cham to have gotten into your care!

Thank you! Im so happy hes bounced back...i was honestly worried since this is the first cham I have owned. But it makes me happy to see daily improvements!

 

[jclaiborne]

I did forget to mention the vet did say he doubts he will get any bigger or brighter coloring and wanted to prepare us for "worst possible case" since he is a year old the damage was done and there is really nothing we can do except fatten him up and help him get his strength back. He said the strength may take a long time to get back because he was so malnourished, but as long as we are willing to take care of him, and rehab him he should have a healthy happy rest of the his life. He will just require special care... but best case he will fully bounce back. So we are going to take it day by day and give this guy the rest of the life he deserves.