Still no eggs from Missey..HELP!!!

[spenserohara]

Hey Ya'll I wrote a post a few weeks ago about my veiled chameleon Missey who has been pregnant for almost a month and a half. She has metabolic bone disease on top of that. Been giving her the calcium and over time she has been doing so well. She is very strong and has started to move normally. Her back legs are able to carry her and she has also lost alot weight. Before her belly was the size of a golf ball! So all of these are good signs but these eggs need to come out. My vet and I have been going back and forth coming up with ideas to help her but nothing is working. So I was wondering..do any of you know how long a female can go for without laying? Can they go for months and then lay? I am aware of the egg bounding and trying not to think about it. I can now see the eggs in her now that she is losing weight. She has dirt on the bottom of the cage and I see her down there from time to time but I think she is just hungry and wants to hunt. My vet told me to cut back on her eating which kills me with her being a moody momma. I can't imagine what she is going through! I have done everything my vet has told me to do and also from reading about what other people have done and still nothing. I don't want to lose my baby girl!! PLEASE HELP :-(

 

[pssh]

Is your laying bin adequate? Have you tried keeping her in a giant laying bin so that she is forced to be close to the ground (which often triggers a laying response.)

I had a panther who was gravid for 55+ days, however, I would advise you to mention oxytocin to your vet as it can often be a life saver. It causes the female to lay if she is physically able to. It only works during a certain window though, so talk to your vet and get lots of details. She may need an xray

 

[kinyonga]

One suggestion...if you make a new thread for the same problem it makes it harder for us to keep track of what has been going on...which means our advice may not be as good since we won't realize the whole situation without going looking for the other threads you have posted. (At least you indicated that there is another thread which most don't!)

Only once in all my years of keeping chameleons have I seen a veiled female not lay the eggs she was carrying...but it was so long ago and I don't have the x-rays that I can't be sure if she only had follicles in her, which would be easier to be resorbed.

Your vet's advice about cutting down on her eating may be good...but I'm not sure. It may make her body "think" that its a bad year and the eggs should be resorbed....but I have never done this so I don't really know.

You are in an unfortunate situation with her...if she can't resorb the eggs they will quite likely kill her if they stay inside her...but by the time you figure that out due to her decline (lethargy, sitting low in the cage, eyes shut during the day, etc.) it will likely be too late to spay her and save her. I wish I could give you a real answer.

 

[spenserohara]

I have tried the bin, a big box everything. Sorry about the reposting thing..I am very new to this forum thing. So do I need to apply to the same forum instead of making a new one? My vet has mention that which will cause her to move things a long so I am going to call him on monday. I get what you are saying about the eating thing. I feel bad since she acts like she is starving but her being over weight is not helping her situation or her MBD either. Before she wasn't eating at all so I feel a little weight come off to see she is eating again. she finally shed normally as well. Before she would only shed on her leggs and head. Now her whole body. So I am seeing good signs here but the egg thing has become a problem. Right now she is dark and is sitting on the vine next to the box with dirt in it. Don't know what that means..maybe she is hungry? or doesn't know what to do? Maybe is almost ready to lay? I really don't know and it just really upsets me..i feel I can't do anything about this

 

[Shrilly]

Oh boy its times like these i wish i wasnt a newbie like this and could solve problems like this i am praying for you bub and your girls safety take the suggestions above this are great members to listen to

 

[kinyonga]

If you are posting about the same thing a second time, just post it at the end of your original thread about the topic...that way we don't have to look up other threads and we will realize that this is an on-going problem! It takes a while to get used to the forum!

Did you dig her a tunnel/hole?? Sometimes it helps.

As hungry as we know they are, overfeeding can lead to egglaying issues, etc. Lack of calcium in her system can result in poor shelling and prevent strong muscle contractions that are needed to push the eggs out.

You said her colors are dark...is she warm enough where she is sitting?

I'm sorry I can't offer a solution...but I hope the vet knows enough to get her through this....or spay her if its the only option.

 

[spenserohara]

I gotcha on the forum thing. I will continue on the old forum for now on! Thanks for letting me know! I appreciate your help..I wish I knew the answers as well and I will continue to keep praying for my baby. I have made a hole for her yes and the dirt is moist and soft. Her basking light is on the left side of the cage and the dirt is also on that side so I wouldn't see why she would be cold. Her colors come and go which I can't figure out. With the weight thing the vet did say that it can cause problems when it comes to eggs so I think her losing weight really is helping her out. She is smaller and is moving around the cage a lot better. She is able to carry herself again hahaha before her weight was keeping her down and slow. I am proud to see her progress getting better with the MBD. She is getting enough calcium a day which I think saved her. She truly is doing well but the eggs..ugghh got to get them out.

 

[kinyonga]

I have to ask "dumb" questions sometimes to make sure I didn't miss something simple...thus the "is she cold" question.

 

[spenserohara]

No she isn't cold. She is back up towards the basking light. She was towards the bottom. She was in the dirt yestersday walking around and then I noticed she was hunting since I saw her grab something with her tongue. But no she isn't cold. Temp is normal

 

[Shrilly]

No she isn't cold. She is back up towards the basking light. She was towards the bottom. She was in the dirt yestersday walking around and then I noticed she was hunting since I saw her grab something with her tongue. But no she isn't cold. Temp is normal

idk if the souil needs to be moist watch if it doesnt dry out too bad with the basking light on it spray it often to get some moisture soaked in

 

[Shrilly]

here is a few suggestions on this thread it even goes to somethign as simple as giving her space and sometimes it is that simple! maybe giving her some time alone maybe shes shy i would be certainly but here you go
https://www.chameleonforums.com/help-i-am-tears-61144/

 

[spenserohara]

Been spraying it a lot but still on eggs....The reptile specialists at my vet is calling me tomorrow possibly for another check up. I am so scared for him to tell me she is egg bound. It's been too long and they can't figure out what is wrong with her. Been going in and out of the vet and nothing. Her MBD has improved a lot which is amazing and she is eating and shedding normaly..i just don't understand this. I am worried I am going to lose my baby

 

[spenserohara]

I have been giving her a lot of space and privacy. I even have the cage covered and everything. I just don't understand...it kills me to watch all of these other females have eggs with no problems at all. Even when the owner is right there in front of them..doesn't seem to bother them at all. I have done everything in my power to make sure she is happy and gets what she needs to move this process a long. I wouldn't do anything to disturb her..I feel her life is on the line..i haven't been bothering her at all and still nothing. I have tried moving her to different locations and different spots for her to lay and still nothing. I have done everything the vet has asked me to do..and nothing. So upsetting...

 

[Duke]

Well, what happened?