joshuadh2310
Established Member
What's the best thing to put your chameleon in while transporting to the vet?
Vet transportation
- Thread starter joshuadh2310
- Start date
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
pillow case or a shoe box with a stick through it. I recommend installing the stick before putting in the cham.
JoCarp
Established Member
Yep you want something that will block out the light. I put a towel in the bottom of a box with a well secured branch and then put a towel over the top so no light gets in. I've heard that by blocking the light you can somewhat trick them into thinking it's night and they will stress out less as they may go to sleep. It worked well when I took Merlin in.
absolutbill
Chameleon Enthusiast
I use a combo of the above. I take a shoebox and line it with a towel. Then, on top of the towel I put a small piece of bendy vine - thick enough to have a good grip on. I lay this on the towel, flat, so that the cham can hold on (my average time to the vet is 4 hours each way, so they have to be in something sturdy).
Rapunzel's Pascal
Avid Member
I use a small cat carrier with a branch in it and cover with a towel. If it is really cold I add in a warming bag or mit.
joshuadh2310
Established Member
sounds like some good ideas for next time. i live in florida so not too cold but my vet is about 45 mins away each way so i will be thinking some something like this maybe a combined of them thanks guys.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
Whatever you do, don't put it in a bag. That's really stressful for them to be wrapped up. That's what predators do before they eat them.
You can put it in any dark box. Small is good, in fact better than big since they can't get thrown around far in the event of mishandling (hard braking) the container. I use small totes smaller than a shoe box for a chameleon less than 100g with holes drilled in them. I line with crumpled paper towels. I often put in a damp paper towel. I don't always use a branch. I do keep them in the dark and won't bring them out until the vet and I have discussed the problems. The vet tech does not need to see them or weigh them before the vet has heard your story and is ready to weigh them and examine them. I do everything to keep them stress free. Once the vet is finished examining, I put them right back in the dark even if the vet needs to give a treatment. I wait until they are ready to treat, then bring the animal back out again. I try to do everything really quickly to reduce stress. I don't worry too much about the cold, but do have a bag of IV fluid I will microwave if I need to add some heat. My species does poorly in heat. Heat kills a lot more than cold ever does.
Glad someone mentioned the bag. I don't like cloth bags at all either - really seems to stress them out, and I feel the risks of the bag rubbing the eyes is too great, especially since chameleons have somewhat protruding eyes. I suppose there are times using a bag cannot be avoided, but for vet trips a dark box with well secured branches is excellent.
joshuadh2310
Established Member
thanks for the info that will be very useful when i have to go in about a month.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
Out of curiosity, why are you going in a month?
joshuadh2310
Established Member
i took my little girl to the vet Wednesday for the first time since i have had her for almost a month now and wanted to get her checked out and im glad i did because she has some type of protozoa and the vet gave me meds to give to her orally every 3 days for a month. so i have to go back to them and get another fecal test to make sure that its gone. other than that the vet said she is in great shape and healthy.
You should be able to take a fecal sample without having to bring your chameleon to the vet. No need to add the extra stress of another trip.
joshuadh2310
Established Member
sounds good to me. i will call and make sure they dont won't to see her again but i dont see why they would say they do.
