Took Ocelot to the Vet...

I saw the thread earlier and also thought he looked very skinny even before anyone pointed it out:eek: I went through the thread again and no one has asked about his husbandry.

If his fecal came up clean then and he is eating what you are giving him then he should be nice and thick. Basking temps play a big role in helping your cham digest its food and absorb all the nutrients. Also what you are feeding your insects and supplement schedule.

Basking temp?
What are you gutloading with?
Supplements and schedule?

I would still get the mouth looked at by another vet.
 
Uhh, chameleons don't smile... They gape. It will also start something if you say he is 'happy' I think content would be a better word as we don't really know if they are 'happy.'

Thank you. Chameleons do not smile, he could be "smiling" after a shower because he is trying to get fresh air. Chameleons are not social animals and certainly do not smile, this smiling thing sounds alot like a chameleon with URI gasping for air.
 
My Panther so far had had 3 pinky mice as a snack within a coarse of a week. Whoever says its bad for them, then I dont know because he had a huge energy and growth boost. He shed every three weeks for the next 9 weeks. He looked very happy and haelthy and had no problem going back to his superworms and crickets.

This tells me that you have no idea what your doing. I think you need to do some reading about a chameleon's diet and overall life.
 
Phanks for the tip Dan.
rolleyes.gif

I wouldn't have jumped to conclusions of RI just from that one pic, bubbles or not, though bells might've rung with 'He smiles alot'.
EDIT(other pics now downloaded) RI is a fair bet, or atleast, the hint of one. Looks like mucus on the lower jaw from the nostril 2nd pic. Lots of recent history/husbandry answers needed first. More concerned with the thiness of the limbs.
More experienced second opinion/checkup If I was you. Illness can develope fast without excessive symptoms until its rather advanced. Best to get in early.
Best wishes
 
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You could even post a video of him walking around, and include his cage. If a photograph lies, a video doesn't, and it's often a great way to tell if something's wrong. I will be the first to admit that I don't have a lot of experience with chams, but even I can read his body language in the photos and tell he's uncomfortable. And the people that are commenting on this thread are much more experience than I am and I trust their oppinions. I think it's in Ocelot's best intrest to let them take a look at more photos/videos and listen to their advice.

No offence intended, but if you're going to ignore sound advice (because there DOES seem to be an infection of some sort from the froth) I don't think you should consider breeding at all.
 
yeah im sure your tired of me becaise i started all this "help" your getting....but look at pics of healthy panthers....then look at ocelot...IM NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE.....but visualy its clear.
 
Hi Austin,
Just cruious, I looked at the pictures in the original post and was wondering if you can tell me what prompted you to say the cham is frail? Is it the loose skin?

I don't own a chameleon yet but will have my first one next week and want to be able to tell if he is healthy or not.

Thank you.
Michael
 
Hi Austin,
Just cruious, I looked at the pictures in the original post and was wondering if you can tell me what prompted you to say the cham is frail? Is it the loose skin?

I don't own a chameleon yet but will have my first one next week and want to be able to tell if he is healthy or not.

Thank you.
Michael

The pictures with the loose skin is when he's turned somewhat, so I wouldn't say it's too bad if you're trying to compare yours to those pics.

This tells me that you have no idea what your doing. I think you need to do some reading about a chameleon's diet and overall life.

Well, lets be fair, the amount of fat and protein injected into the animal probably did cause a growth spurt. Not saying it's a wise or healthy choice though.
 
The pictures with the loose skin is when he's turned somewhat, so I wouldn't say it's too bad if you're trying to compare yours to those pics.



Well, lets be fair, the amount of fat and protein injected into the animal probably did cause a growth spurt. Not saying it's a wise or healthy choice though.

Im not arguing that it didn't cause a growth and energy spurt because Im sure it did. Im simply questioning his diet ethics pertaining to chameleon's. He said he fed his panther 3 pinky's in a week and that "whoever said it was bad for them then I don't know." This statement means that he has not researched nutrition in a cham properly and if continued, could potentially be fatal.
 
Im not arguing that it didn't cause a growth and energy spurt because Im sure it did. Im simply questioning his diet ethics pertaining to chameleon's. He said he fed his panther 3 pinky's in a week and that "whoever said it was bad for them then I don't know." This statement means that he has not researched nutrition in a cham properly and if continued, could potentially be fatal.

Ya I agree with ya.
3 pinkies in a week is rough.
But considering I talked to someone who was buying 24 frozen pinkies and told me he feeds his veiled 2 every other day (same with his bearded dragon) it wasn't the dumbest thing I've heard lately :D
 
Pretty clear to me....

Look at the link provided in post #24. Not sure when the four photos were taken. Photos 2 through 4 do not look good. Photo 4 in particular is very concerning. It's not a matter of positioning. You should never be able to see the indents in the leg that show the separation of muscle and bone like that on a leg, or in the tail. It shows a severe condition of dehydration and nutritional deficiency. The casque also has a sunken appearance. It is not full and rounded. The whole head area looks dehydrated. The first picture does not look as bad. Not sure if there is a separation in days in these photos or not. There has to be. The first photo was either taken in the beginning of care and things went downhill or at the end of care where things went uphill. I was alarmed when I first saw the Avatar picture used by this chams keeper. I don't care how crappy the camera might be, the lighting situation or the positioning. I looked at the Avatar picture and thought to myself that it was not a healthy chameleon. I'm sorry if this hurts your feelings. But I could take hundreds of pictures of my chameleons and never come up with one that had legs that looked like the legs in your 4th photo on the original link. If he now looks like photo #1 then I feel a lot better.
 
Ya I agree with ya.
3 pinkies in a week is rough.
But considering I talked to someone who was buying 24 frozen pinkies and told me he feeds his veiled 2 every other day (same with his bearded dragon) it wasn't the dumbest thing I've heard lately :D


You need to remind this guy that cham's are primarily insectivores and if he wants his veiled to have a life longer than a year, than to stop feeding pinky's every other day. I wouldn't be surprised if his or her cham has already developed some health issues.
 
Pinkies.....

Even carnivores should be limited in the number of pinkies they get each month. I've raised plenty of them (various tree monitors and other monitor species). Pinkies are the equivalent to little sticks of butter to a reptile. You can see the globs of fat through there skin. For baby monitors I cut up larger frozen mice (with developed bone structure for calcium) rather than give them pinkies. They are a once a month (one pinkie) treat for a grown veiled or grown Hydrosaurus (another of my kept species). Imagine if humans ate sticks of butter regularily. Not good for the health at all.
 
It's hard to notice changes in our own chameleon because we see them everyday. When I first posted here, I posted some pictures of Kami, my senegal chameleon. Kinyonga mentioned that it looked like she had a bump on her nose. Her nose looked completely normal to me and at first I was convinced that there was nothing wrong with my her. Then I really started watching it more closely and sure enough, it was a bump and it was getting bigger. She ended up with a pretty nasty infection in her mouth. I had to take her to the vet twice to clear it up. I'm glad I decided to listen to Kinyonga, otherwise I may have waited too long. My first senegal lived for several years, but she had a recurring mouth infection which finally killed her, so I didn't want the same thing to happen to my little Kami. If the experts here think there's something wrong, chances are there is something wrong. Good luck with your little guy :)
 
I think the problem here is ego. Nothing personal against the OP, because I have felt it too... If you get a criticism or even suggestive help, you take it personally because your ego is bruised. You probably think you are treating your little friend like a king by giving him pinky mice. The thing is, it's not good for him on such a regular basis. Plus man, even with my limited experience with Chams (ive had one like 2 weeks) I know for a FACT these little animals are solitary creatures. It's darwinism man... they are shaped like a leaf for a reason, lol. To hide :)

Your vet is used to treating cats and dogs...

Now I'm not saying you should believe everything you read on the internet, but it is not like it is just ONE person telling you these things... It has been several.

When I first logged into the forums a little over a couple weeks ago, OOOST16, was a little, shall I say, "harsh" on me as well, but you know what? I'm ok with that. I am an adult and can handle it.

In the end it's your lizard. Do what you want, but don't think everyone here are off their rockers and a bunch of hypochondriacs. Hell, you wouldn't have taken him to the vet had nobody said anything, and your cham is being treated... so there was obviously something wrong. Be grateful someone pointed it out for you ;)

Greg

P.S. Kent... Please don't think all of us are like this. You were very polite in your approach, and had you told me these things, I would have respected your advice. I hope you continue to share your knowledge, and if you come across ppl that don't want to hear it, that's ok. If you only help 1 person and 5 others ignore you, you have still done a great thing.
 
youguys are all so funny. I took him to the vet he was tested for everything I also had to bring in a stool sample. He is Very Healthy and I was given a weeks supply of anti-biotic injections and eye drops for his gums. He is a social animal and has been since he was small, my other Cham is not social at all and does not smile. I gave him 3 pinky's as a snack 1 time not regularly. He eats about 6 very large crickets and 2 to 3 superworms a day or every other. He weighs 3 1/2 ounces which is a perfect weight for his age. I spray him twice a dAy with Reptile mist, his cage is at a constant of at least 48% or higher of humidity, and a basking light at 85 degrees and 73 at night. i have very well taken care of pets. ill take new photos tommorrow so you all can speculate again. too funny... this message board is like every other board full of expert know it alls without a degree. I have had chams and lots of reptiles in my 38 years.:)
 
youguys are all so funny. I took him to the vet he was tested for everything I also had to bring in a stool sample. He is Very Healthy and I was given a weeks supply of anti-biotic injections and eye drops for his gums. He is a social animal and has been since he was small, my other Cham is not social at all and does not smile. I gave him 3 pinky's as a snack 1 time not regularly. He eats about 6 very large crickets and 2 to 3 superworms a day or every other. He weighs 3 1/2 ounces which is a perfect weight for his age. I spray him twice a dAy with Reptile mist, his cage is at a constant of at least 48% or higher of humidity, and a basking light at 85 degrees and 73 at night. i have very well taken care of pets. ill take new photos tommorrow so you all can speculate again. too funny... this message board is like every other board full of expert know it alls without a degree. I have had chams and lots of reptiles in my 38 years.:)

Man, that's fine. I'd suggest not asking for advice since obviously have it figured out.

IMO, you felt insecure that your ability to take care of your pets was somehow in question, and this blocks any ability for you to heed any advice here. When ego gets in the way, it makes it impossible to listen. You seem like the expert know it all to me.

Good luck.
 
I think the problem here is ego. Nothing personal against the OP, because I have felt it too... If you get a criticism or even suggestive help, you take it personally because your ego is bruised. You probably think you are treating your little friend like a king by giving him pinky mice. The thing is, it's not good for him on such a regular basis. Plus man, even with my limited experience with Chams (ive had one like 2 weeks) I know for a FACT these little animals are solitary creatures. It's darwinism man... they are shaped like a leaf for a reason, lol. To hide :)

Your vet is used to treating cats and dogs...

Now I'm not saying you should believe everything you read on the internet, but it is not like it is just ONE person telling you these things... It has been several.

When I first logged into the forums a little over a couple weeks ago, OOOST16, was a little, shall I say, "harsh" on me as well, but you know what? I'm ok with that. I am an adult and can handle it.

In the end it's your lizard. Do what you want, but don't think everyone here are off their rockers and a bunch of hypochondriacs. Hell, you wouldn't have taken him to the vet had nobody said anything, and your cham is being treated... so there was obviously something wrong. Be grateful someone pointed it out for you ;)

Greg

P.S. Kent... Please don't think all of us are like this. You were very polite in your approach, and had you told me these things, I would have respected your advice. I hope you continue to share your knowledge, and if you come across ppl that don't want to hear it, that's ok. If you only help 1 person and 5 others ignore you, you have still done a great thing.

my 1 cham had 3 mice one time. my vet both vets there specialize in reptiles in eugene oregon. sant clara vetranary hospital. call them they are the place all reptiles in this place go too. like i said you guys have fun with it. oh and i left my ego at the door 20 years ago, but have noticed plenty of it on this board.
 
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