Veiled Constipated, what else can I do? worried

C

ChamSky

New Member
Current Problem - I am almost positive he is constipated. Bloated, grouchy, not moving around as much, not basking and has not pooped in 3 days ( ive checked). Is still willing to eat but don't want to over feed if he can't pass. (or should I continue feeding?)

Already tried: warm tub soak and rubbing belly from front to vent. He ate a bit of dandelion greens this morning.
No sign of pooping and he seems really uncomfortable. '
What Else can I do to help him poop?

Info:
2 yr old male veiled cham, had him since march. He's been pooping well everyday since 3 days ago

Handling - I handle him every other day
Feeding - Feeding dubai roaches. Every day-every other day. I mix it up a bit. He may get a full male or female or a couple lg juvis. I make my own insect chop mix of veggies and 1 type of fruit, they are extremely healthy feeders. mustard, dandelion, collard greens on occasion
Supplements - Dust with zoomed reptivite and flukers cal (without d3) about 3-4 days a week
Watering - have a biodome cham waterfall, he drinks out of that all the time. Mist with warm water every day 2x
Fecal Description - bright white/dark brown, big normal poops, no parasites


Cage Info:

Cage Type - XL reptibreeze
Lighting - 100w jungle basking spot + 50w night blue ( its been a bit cold recently) zoo med UVB 5.0 New bulb
Temperature - temp ranges from 65 bottom to 80-90 top. Infrared laser
Humidity - humidity is usually 70% and 80% when misted.
Plants - Pothos, dwarf umbrella

Location - NH it was really warm last week (80's/90's) and now its dipped in to low 60's to low 70's
 
ChamSky said:
Current Problem - I am almost positive he is constipated. Bloated, grouchy, not moving around as much, not basking and has not pooped in 3 days ( ive checked). Is still willing to eat but don't want to over feed if he can't pass. (or should I continue feeding?)

Already tried: warm tub soak and rubbing belly from front to vent. He ate a bit of dandelion greens this morning.
No sign of pooping and he seems really uncomfortable. '
What Else can I do to help him poop?

Info:
2 yr old male veiled cham, had him since march. He's been pooping well everyday since 3 days ago

Handling - I handle him every other day
Feeding - Feeding dubai roaches. Every day-every other day. I mix it up a bit. He may get a full male or female or a couple lg juvis. I make my own insect chop mix of veggies and 1 type of fruit, they are extremely healthy feeders. mustard, dandelion, collard greens on occasion
Supplements - Dust with zoomed reptivite and flukers cal (without d3) about 3-4 days a week
Watering - have a biodome cham waterfall, he drinks out of that all the time. Mist with warm water every day 2x
Fecal Description - bright white/dark brown, big normal poops, no parasites


Cage Info:

Cage Type - XL reptibreeze
Lighting - 100w jungle basking spot + 50w night blue ( its been a bit cold recently) zoo med UVB 5.0 New bulb
Temperature - temp ranges from 65 bottom to 80-90 top. Infrared laser
Humidity - humidity is usually 70% and 80% when misted.
Plants - Pothos, dwarf umbrella

Location - NH it was really warm last week (80's/90's) and now its dipped in to low 60's to low 70's
Click to expand...

Does he eat fruit at all? Some pear can help. Try using soft bodied feeders such as hornworms or silkworms if you can. 3 days isn't a very long time to go without "going". The other thing I usually do is keep an eye on how much he's drinking. If you have to get more water into him it could help to gently spritz over his head (so the water runs down his face and he starts licking it up) during your hand spraying. Sometimes if you put a cham in a new location such as a warm sunny window the activity and the stimulation of a new spot, a new view, warmth, and bright sun can get things moving.

Also, according to your info you are giving him Reptivite 3-4 times a week?? That's way too much. He should be getting a multivitamin and calcium WITH D3 once every 2 weeks.
 
I agree that is far too much vitamins but everything else sounds good. I just dealt with this problem with one of my 7 month old females. Hadn't seen any feces for at least a week. I did three consecutive days of ten minute warm showers, slight increase in basking temps, and two very small soft bodied feeders (Phoenix worms in this case) dipped in mineral oil 48 hrs apart with no other feeding. She passed a huge impaction, and even though she wasn't ever lethargic while dealing with it, I can tell she's feeling much better.
 
You can try a small drop of mineral oil on a feeder as well as soft worms and making sure he's well hydrated.

Stupid question: Are you sure it's a "he" and not a "she"? We have had past new keepers come to forum asking about constipation only to find out that SHE needed a laying bin asap.
 
Carlton said:
Does he eat fruit at all? Some pear can help. Try using soft bodied feeders such as hornworms or silkworms if you can. 3 days isn't a very long time to go without "going". The other thing I usually do is keep an eye on how much he's drinking. If you have to get more water into him it could help to gently spritz over his head (so the water runs down his face and he starts licking it up) during your hand spraying. Sometimes if you put a cham in a new location such as a warm sunny window the activity and the stimulation of a new spot, a new view, warmth, and bright sun can get things moving.

Also, according to your info you are giving him Reptivite 3-4 times a week?? That's way too much. He should be getting a multivitamin and calcium WITH D3 once every 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

Have not tried fruit! will definitely try a pear though! We can get him to eat mostly anything. The rep expo is sunday so I was going to pick up some hornworms and silks. I read other posts about they not going for 10-12 days but he's just so uncomfortable I didn't want to wait that long to get worried.
Will try to get him into the sun (it's still cold out)

I just follow what it says on the containers and by what other people use and everyone says without D3 but his UVB isnt that high so I guess I should get some D3 (thanks for the reminder :) will also lower the reptivite which is a multivitamin that a lot of cham owners recommended. Is there something else that you think is more essential?
Thank you for the info!!!
 
oneillchameleons said:
I agree that is far too much vitamins but everything else sounds good. I just dealt with this problem with one of my 7 month old females. Hadn't seen any feces for at least a week. I did three consecutive days of ten minute warm showers, slight increase in basking temps, and two very small soft bodied feeders (Phoenix worms in this case) dipped in mineral oil 48 hrs apart with no other feeding. She passed a huge impaction, and even though she wasn't ever lethargic while dealing with it, I can tell she's feeling much better.
Click to expand...

thanks for sharing your experience. It really helps!
 
Lathis said:
You can try a small drop of mineral oil on a feeder as well as soft worms and making sure he's well hydrated.

Stupid question: Are you sure it's a "he" and not a "she"? We have had past new keepers come to forum asking about constipation only to find out that SHE needed a laying bin asap.
Click to expand...

Thanks :) will definitely do the mineral oil
He is a proven breeder male ;P heh I can understand why a lot of cham owners would have that issue though
 
You should only use Reptivite twice a month. He also needs a variety of feeders and not just dubia.

Lots of water usually helps them to go. Hornworms make them go too. A small sliver of grape works too.
 
Hornworms were my miracle worker when my cham hadn't gone for awhile. Gave her three and within 24 hours had a huge poop to clean up.
 
jannb said:
You should only use Reptivite twice a month. He also needs a variety of feeders and not just dubia.

Lots of water usually helps them to go. Hornworms make them go too. A small sliver of grape works too.
Click to expand...

Gave him mushed pear with some mineral oil last night and making sure he's getting plenty of water. I'm getting hirnworms at the expo tomorrow so if it doesnt pass by then, hornwoms it is! We do have grapes!
He gets more than Dubais, I breed them so that's the staple. I do super worms, Crickets, horns, and veggies
 
Turn for the worse

So I've been trying everything you guys have suggested, smooshed pear with mineral oil, grape with mineral oil the next day, mist, warm soaks while rubbing belly. He had no problem eating the fruit.
But I just found him at the bottom of his cage :( he's very sluggish and so bloated he can't hold on very well. I put some bunched up towels in there in case he falls again, have extra heat on him and been giving him water.

Expo tomorrow so buying hornwoms and silks. Then It's the vet!!! I'll let you guys know how it turns out. My poor boy...... I wonder what caused him to be so compacted
 
Hmm sounds more like an impaction than constipation to me at this point, especially if he is falling off of his perch, etc.

A vet visit is certainly warranted. Good luck!
 
kinyonga said:
IMHO you don't have time to wait for the vet...you need to get your chameleon there ASAP.
Click to expand...
I wish I could, he would have gone there this morning! Where I live ALL vets and exotic vets are closed until tomorrow. No one is open unless 4hrs away. Maybe someone will know at the expo today
 
MissLissa said:
Hmm sounds more like an impaction than constipation to me at this point, especially if he is falling off of his perch, etc.

A vet visit is certainly warranted. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Yes, I definitely realize this now, its much more than constipation. I want him at the vet today but no one is open! Going to try to find somewhere that may not be Reptile experts but may be able to help. He didn't fall last night...on his branch under the light but I know my time is running out
 
UPDATE! got to vet

Thank goodness I was able to locate an emergency vet that delt with Reptiles only 20min away from the expo!
Brought Chamy in and they checked him. They said they didn't feel any hard deposits in particular but still recommend getting an X-ray at an expert Reptile vet today (since they weren't open on sun)

so they gave him a lot of fluids to help flush and told me what I have been doing is the best I could be doing, thanks to you guys!!!! They said to soak in 85-95f water for 15 3x a day and continue with the mineral oil 1drop 3x a day, hydration and keeping extra heat on him.

I picked up some horns and wax worms at the expo and got him to eat two horns (one dipped in mineral oil.)

Still nothing!!! He is seeing the specialist today for an X-ray and a follow up.
 
jannb said:
I hope the X-rays will diagnose his problem and he can be fixed quickly. I'd lay off the mineral oil. It's not good for chameleons. You might find this older thread helpful especially post number 14. It's what one of the vets here on the forums said about mineral oil. I never use it. https://www.chameleonforums.com/trooper-twisters-recent-x-rays-82174/
Click to expand...
Thank you for the link to the other post. As far as I knew, mineral oil was safe and worked well for a lot of reps. The Dr. I saw see's a lot of Reptiles but isn't an expert, that's why he recommended the other Reptile vet in my area once the weekdays were upon us. I will see what he says. I will just give him water and baths until he goes there
 
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