Rescued chameleon!

[Alia78]

Hi all.
We’ve just rescued a veiled who is at deaths door.
We live in a rural part of the uk where there’s no reptile vets! So I’m stuck!!
She’s had a terrible time - poor thing however no signs of mbd.
She’s in the correct set up now with lights Uvb real plants etc etc.
I think she’s end stage respiratory infection- laying at the bottom of the cage, gasping for air, weak, sunken eyes etc.
Ive had her 12 hours so far.
She’s eaten - and fine. She’s drunk quite a bit although slowed now. She’s enjoyed basking and has changed to a better colour (she was grey/brown when I collected her!).
However - with no veterinary help … what can I do to make her more comfortable? I have some Manuka honey here - I’ve read various things about that … anyone have any experience please?
Ive dropped her humidity but I don’t think there’s much hope. Rescued too late … from a silly teenage mum!

FIRST PHOTO IS WHEN I COLLECTED HER AND SECOND PHOTO IS HER 8 hours later.

 

[Beman]

There is soooo much going on with this girl. When last did she lay she is awfully big? She has swelling in her feet as well, looks like possibly gout. If she needs to lay those feet are going to be very painful and make it very hard for her to lay.

To my knowledge antibiotics are the only thing that will clear a respiratory infection. But if she is actually egg bound then she could be declining due to that and not an RI.

 

[redhorse]

Thanks for taking her in and giving her what she needs without vet help.
JMO without a vet and knowing all the medical issues it does not look good, but I think you already know this.
I would put a lay bin in so if her instinct is to lay eggs, she will continue going to the bottom to look for a place to lay. With her feet and dehydration along with everything else, this might be her last instinctual thing to do.
You came to the right place, but it might be a little too late without the proper vet care. Sorry!

This is a great learning tool for others that will visit if they find a rescue in similar situation. Thanks

Lay bin would be my next step if you can't find vet or meds to treat. It will be very difficult for her because of her feet but sometimes they have instinct to dig, dig, dig.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video.77225/

 

[Alia78]

Thanks for taking her in and giving her what she needs without vet help.
JMO without a vet and knowing all the medical issues it does not look good, but I think you already know this.
I would put a lay bin in so if her instinct is to lay eggs, she will continue going to the bottom to look for a place to lay. With her feet and dehydration along with everything else, this might be her last instinctual thing to do.
You came to the right place, but it might be a little too late without the proper vet care. Sorry!

This is a great learning tool for others that will visit if they find a rescue in similar situation. Thanks

Lay bin would be my next step if you can't find vet or meds to treat. It will be very difficult for her because of her feet but sometimes they have instinct to dig, dig, dig.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/laying-bin-set-up-educational-video.77225/

Thank you.
I can’t see any signs of eggs - she’s not very big at all.

I’m afraid I have no details - the young girl said it was her boyfriends and they had spilt and she had a baby and was pregnant so couldn’t care for a reptile. They had been keeping her in a fish tank 25cms tall by 45cm wide!!! And just a cardboard lid with no heat and no lights etc. Turns out she’s been there since September and the young girl didn’t know who to ask for help!! (But knows how to use a phone and could have googled everything!!) she did say that they had bred from her last year and she had eggs and was fine then she had another lay but the girl didn’t know any details as she apparently wasn’t the keeper.

Anyway , this chami has bouts of gasping for air then it stops again so I’m thinking respiratory infection.

She’s not stable enough to hold herself on the branches and vines (even though I made like a bra out of wives for her to hammock in) she just falls out and I catch her (yes I am sat here by the cage, nursing her!). So her movements are unbelievably clumsy - her eyes are mostly closed but she will turn and look at me from time to time (I hope she knows I’m trying to help her?!).

The young girl had been giving her meal worms and so I had some waxworms here and I tried her this morning and she took a couple but threw them up again about 30 mins later and she hasn’t eaten since. She won’t accept a small locust but I keep trying.

She’s also been shedding for about a month I’m told although I have sprayed her and it’s helped a lot just in this short space.
I have some small locusts which I try and offer her but she’s no interest in food.

She pooped this morning and it was a darkish brown colour with a tiny tiny streak of white. (Yes it was going really well this morning when she ate, drank, pooped then basked!)

I’m sure she won’t survive - she looks so sullen

 

[MissSkittles]

Thank you.
I can’t see any signs of eggs - she’s not very big at all.

I’m afraid I have no details - the young girl said it was her boyfriends and they had spilt and she had a baby and was pregnant so couldn’t care for a reptile. They had been keeping her in a fish tank 25cms tall by 45cm wide!!! And just a cardboard lid with no heat and no lights etc. Turns out she’s been there since September and the young girl didn’t know who to ask for help!! (But knows how to use a phone and could have googled everything!!) she did say that they had bred from her last year and she had eggs and was fine then she had another lay but the girl didn’t know any details as she apparently wasn’t the keeper.

Anyway , this chami has bouts of gasping for air then it stops again so I’m thinking respiratory infection.

She’s not stable enough to hold herself on the branches and vines (even though I made like a bra out of wives for her to hammock in) she just falls out and I catch her (yes I am sat here by the cage, nursing her!). So her movements are unbelievably clumsy - her eyes are mostly closed but she will turn and look at me from time to time (I hope she knows I’m trying to help her?!).

The young girl had been giving her meal worms and so I had some waxworms here and I tried her this morning and she took a couple but threw them up again about 30 mins later and she hasn’t eaten since. She won’t accept a small locust but I keep trying.

She’s also been shedding for about a month I’m told although I have sprayed her and it’s helped a lot just in this short space.
I have some small locusts which I try and offer her but she’s no interest in food.

She pooped this morning and it was a darkish brown colour with a tiny tiny streak of white. (Yes it was going really well this morning when she ate, drank, pooped then basked!)

I’m sure she won’t survive - she looks so sullen

I wish I could offer some words of hope, but from what you describe, it doesn’t sound good at all. The best you can do without a vet is provide proper lighting, heat, food, supplements and water and pray that she has some fight in her to get better. If she’s not able to grip well and falling, putting her in a hospital bin with a small plant and branch is probably the best way to keep her safe.

 

[Lindasjackson]

I’m so sorry! God bless you for rescuing her and giving her a comfortable place to spend her last moments. I just think she’s to far gone.

 

[Ghostbirb]

Your so amazing for taking her in. Giving her a safe peaceful place may be the best you can do and you should be proud for helping her at least a little bit.

 

[CrisBruns]

Maybe it's a long shot but google if there are any telemedicine veterinary services that you could access.

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."We live in a rural part of the uk where there’s no reptile vets! So I’m stuck!!"...SHE REALLY NEEDS A VET. BTW, I AM NOT A VET....JUST GIVING YOU MY OPINION FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, ETC.

You said..."She’s had a terrible time - poor thing however no signs of mbd"...ITS AMAZING THAT SHE ISNT SHIWING SIGNS OF MBD WITH NO LIGHT AND ALL.

You said..."I think she’s end stage respiratory infection- laying at the bottom of the cage, gasping for air, weak, sunken eyes etc.
Ive had her 12 hours so far"...THE GASPING FOR AIR COULD BE FROM OTHER THINGS....ORGAN FAILURE, ETC. A RESPIRATORY INFECTION IS NOT THE ONKY POSSIBILITY IMHO.

You said..."She’s eaten - and fine. She’s drunk quite a bit although slowed now. She’s enjoyed basking and has changed to a better colour (she was grey/brown when I collected her!)"...THIS IS ALL TOOD.

You said..."However - with no veterinary help … what can I do to make her more comfortable? I have some Manuka honey here - I’ve read various things about that … anyone have any experience please?
Ive dropped her humidity but I don’t think there’s much hope. Rescued too late … from a silly teenage mum!"...DONT KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

Yiu said..."I can’t see any signs of eggs - she’s not very big at all"...SHE LOOKS BLOATED TO ME...SO THERE IS SIMETHING GOING ON FOR SURE.

You said..."I’m afraid I have no details - the young girl said it was her boyfriends and they had spilt and she had a baby and was pregnant so couldn’t care for a reptile"...I CAN UNDERSTAND HER WORRYING ABOUT THAT WHEN SHES PREFNANT.

You said..."They had been keeping her in a fish tank 25cms tall by 45cm wide!!! And just a cardboard lid with no heat and no lights etc. Turns out she’s been there since September and the young girl didn’t know who to ask for help!! (But knows how to use a phone and could have googled everything!!) she did say that they had bred from her last year and she had eggs and was fine then she had another lay but the girl didn’t know any details as she apparently wasn’t the keeper"...IT MOGHT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO KNOW WHEN SHE LAST LAID..

You said..."Anyway , this chami has bouts of gasping for air then it stops again so I’m thinking respiratory infection"...MAYBE...MAYBE NOT.

You said...."I’m sure she won’t survive - she looks so sullen "...she might fool you if she gets the right help now. I know you're trying. At least you can keep her comfortable.

 

[Alia78]

You said..."We live in a rural part of the uk where there’s no reptile vets! So I’m stuck!!"...SHE REALLY NEEDS A VET. BTW, I AM NOT A VET....JUST GIVING YOU MY OPINION FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, ETC.

You said..."She’s had a terrible time - poor thing however no signs of mbd"...ITS AMAZING THAT SHE ISNT SHIWING SIGNS OF MBD WITH NO LIGHT AND ALL.

You said..."I think she’s end stage respiratory infection- laying at the bottom of the cage, gasping for air, weak, sunken eyes etc.
Ive had her 12 hours so far"...THE GASPING FOR AIR COULD BE FROM OTHER THINGS....ORGAN FAILURE, ETC. A RESPIRATORY INFECTION IS NOT THE ONKY POSSIBILITY IMHO.

You said..."She’s eaten - and fine. She’s drunk quite a bit although slowed now. She’s enjoyed basking and has changed to a better colour (she was grey/brown when I collected her!)"...THIS IS ALL TOOD.

You said..."However - with no veterinary help … what can I do to make her more comfortable? I have some Manuka honey here - I’ve read various things about that … anyone have any experience please?
Ive dropped her humidity but I don’t think there’s much hope. Rescued too late … from a silly teenage mum!"...DONT KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

Yiu said..."I can’t see any signs of eggs - she’s not very big at all"...SHE LOOKS BLOATED TO ME...SO THERE IS SIMETHING GOING ON FOR SURE.

You said..."I’m afraid I have no details - the young girl said it was her boyfriends and they had spilt and she had a baby and was pregnant so couldn’t care for a reptile"...I CAN UNDERSTAND HER WORRYING ABOUT THAT WHEN SHES PREFNANT.

You said..."They had been keeping her in a fish tank 25cms tall by 45cm wide!!! And just a cardboard lid with no heat and no lights etc. Turns out she’s been there since September and the young girl didn’t know who to ask for help!! (But knows how to use a phone and could have googled everything!!) she did say that they had bred from her last year and she had eggs and was fine then she had another lay but the girl didn’t know any details as she apparently wasn’t the keeper"...IT MOGHT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO KNOW WHEN SHE LAST LAID..

You said..."Anyway , this chami has bouts of gasping for air then it stops again so I’m thinking respiratory infection"...MAYBE...MAYBE NOT.

You said...."I’m sure she won’t survive - she looks so sullen "...she might fool you if she gets the right help now. I know you're trying. At least you can keep her comfortable.

Thanks for that - not sure I can take anything from it though?

 

[Vaultgirltoki]

I just went through some health issues with a oustalets chameleon I ordered. Definitely getting antibiotics helps. But coconut oil will help the shed. If u can syringe regular pedialyte, water and a small amount of supplement 2 times a day it will boost her. See if running warm water with low pressure on just her tummy. I did this with my boy it worked well. It help relieve him being backed up. He was constipated and had a stuck semen plug. I smothered him once every 3 days his skin has cleared.

 

[pascal2023]

Hi all.
We’ve just rescued a veiled who is at deaths door.
We live in a rural part of the uk where there’s no reptile vets! So I’m stuck!!
She’s had a terrible time - poor thing however no signs of mbd.
She’s in the correct set up now with lights Uvb real plants etc etc.
I think she’s end stage respiratory infection- laying at the bottom of the cage, gasping for air, weak, sunken eyes etc.
Ive had her 12 hours so far.
She’s eaten - and fine. She’s drunk quite a bit although slowed now. She’s enjoyed basking and has changed to a better colour (she was grey/brown when I collected her!).
However - with no veterinary help … what can I do to make her more comfortable? I have some Manuka honey here - I’ve read various things about that … anyone have any experience please?
Ive dropped her humidity but I don’t think there’s much hope. Rescued too late … from a silly teenage mum!

FIRST PHOTO IS WHEN I COLLECTED HER AND SECOND PHOTO IS HER 8 hours later.

So lovely of you to take her on and make her feel comfortable, I’m in the UK too and I agree, it’s so difficult finding a vet that specialises in exotics / reptiles. Keep us updated x

 

[pascal2023]

Hi all.
We’ve just rescued a veiled who is at deaths door.
We live in a rural part of the uk where there’s no reptile vets! So I’m stuck!!
She’s had a terrible time - poor thing however no signs of mbd.
She’s in the correct set up now with lights Uvb real plants etc etc.
I think she’s end stage respiratory infection- laying at the bottom of the cage, gasping for air, weak, sunken eyes etc.
Ive had her 12 hours so far.
She’s eaten - and fine. She’s drunk quite a bit although slowed now. She’s enjoyed basking and has changed to a better colour (she was grey/brown when I collected her!).
However - with no veterinary help … what can I do to make her more comfortable? I have some Manuka honey here - I’ve read various things about that … anyone have any experience please?
Ive dropped her humidity but I don’t think there’s much hope. Rescued too late … from a silly teenage mum!

FIRST PHOTO IS WHEN I COLLECTED HER AND SECOND PHOTO IS HER 8 hours later.

Also can o ask where abouts you’re based In the UK? I’m brighton way, if you want I can give you the vets number to possibly ask them for some advice? They specialise in reptiles

 

[kinyonga]

Also can o ask where abouts you’re based In the UK? I’m brighton way, if you want I can give you the vets number to possibly ask them for some advice? They specialise in reptiles

The OP hasn't posted on the forum since March...so I doubt you'll get any answers.

 

[pascal2023]

The OP hasn't posted on the forum since March...so I doubt you'll get any answers.

That’s me not paying attention, I really need to start looking at dates, only replied because it was top of the list so assumed it was a recent post haha my bad x