Water & Pedialyte soak?

[sammnadine]

I have read many threads saying that soaking impacted chams in pedialyte can help to get things moving, some say it's a good idea and some say it's not. I'm just wondering which it is.

 

[sammnadine]

I have read many threads saying that soaking impacted chams in pedialyte can help to get things moving, some say it's a good idea and some say it's not. I'm just wondering which it is.

I just found some information that basically answered my question (by the way, this was out of curiosity) I just like to know what to do if something were to happen so I can have things on stock instead of rushing to the store. but feel free to post your own opinions!

 

[oneillchameleons]

I believe it's proven that chameleons do not absorb liquids through their skin as some other reptiles and amphibians do. I'll give pedialyte orally for hydration and electrolytes if I get a Cham through shipping, or females after laying. I suppose the warmth of the water may stimulate a chameleon to defecate, but that can be accomplished by misting thoroughly with warm water or placing in the shower rather than putting your Cham through the stress of thinking it's going to drown.

 

[Trace]

I have been a moderator here since 2007 and I have been keeping chameleons since the 1990’s and not once have I heard about soaking your chameleons in Pedialyte.

So to dispel some fallacies, Pedialyte can be used orally (by mouth) for dehydrated and critically ill chameleons. Do this by direction of your consulting veterinarian. It does not need to be given to otherwise healthy chameleons nor should they be bathing in it. The sugars and electrolytes are not something you want on a chameleon’s skin.

Baths can be used to soften impacted sperm plugs or stimulate a chameleon to poop if those are medical issues. Again, do this by direction of your consulting veterinarian. While we are on the subject, baths are not recommended as a daily or weekly hydrating procedure as chameleon cannot absorb water through their vents. Some Facebook groups tout baths as being a proper husbandry technique and unfortunately that misinformation is being repeated elsewhere and taken as truth when, in fact, it does nothing good for the chameleon.

 

[DyeMyEyes]

In response to Trace, and because this is the most recent thread concerning Pedialyte baths, my vet recommended a 50/50 mixture of pedialyte and water to help with hydration. About a week ago, I took the Jackson's in for a general check-up (and assurance that his tongue had healed after it became impaled on a horn). We primarily discussed husbandry, the tongue checked out okay, and then he suggested this pedialyte "bath", just deep enough to touch his stomach.

So, I guess, I'm looking for a little guidance. Above, it's stated to use pedialyte as directed by the vet but to use it orally for hydration, while I was directed by the vet to use it externally for hydration. Thoughts?

 

[Trace]

It’s unfortunate that many “reptile” veterinarians still suggest this outdated practice. Reptile skin is thick and waterproof. It has evolved to protect the reptile from the elements, predators and to keep it from drying out. Chameleons cannot absorb water through their skin or their vent. Some turtles do experience electrolyte exchange in their cloaca and some can actually breathe through their cloaca during extended time underwater but they cannot absorb enough water to rehydrate themselves. Chameleons cannot do any of this.

Here is an article on Hydration written by a renowned Reptile Veterinarian:

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptile-Health/The-Vet-Report-Fluid-Therapy-in-Reptiles/

I also have a longer article written on baths that (hopefully) will be added to the site at some point.

 

[carol5208]

Dyemyeyes, I think it is time to find a new chameleon vet! lol

 

[ChamDE86]

It's difficult as is to find a reptile vet, let alone a reputable one! Chameleons aren't a common household pet, so the average vet would have little to no experience with them at all. I still feel more comfortable with the information provided by some of the keepers on here versus your average vet.

 

[jajeanpierre]

It's difficult as is to find a reptile vet, let alone a reputable one! Chameleons aren't a common household pet, so the average vet would have little to no experience with them at all. I still feel more comfortable with the information provided by some of the keepers on here versus your average vet.

Be very very careful to rely on anonymous posters on an internet forum. Many keepers that post here have not had chameleons for very long, including me. There is a lot of misinformation posted out there. When false information is frequently repeated by different sources, it soon becomes accepted as fact.

 

[Lathis]

^ This

There is an absolute wealth of knowledge on the Forum, but it is no substitute for the knowledge of an experienced vet and your own slow-earnee experience. I really believe the best value of the forum is helping keepers with basic husbandry to minimizing needing a vet's care. Always take the information you read on the internet with healthy skepticism and educate yourself as best you can. Even the best keepers here can only help so much, and remember that what worked in one situation may not be appropriate in another situation.

Ideally, you will have both keep from the Forum and a great vet, but I do understand that finding a chameleon vet in some places - even midsized cities like KC, can be difficult. I think my exotic vet is a good vet, but honestly he only has a few cham patients. He's one of only two or three reptile vets in the city, and we are a metropolitan area of about 2 million people. If this were a more rural area, or if I didn't have the resources to travel if needed, I would really think hard about keeping an exotic.

That being said, I am so grateful for having the CF community. This is a great forum.

 

[carol5208]

I agree with you guys, but boy there have been some vets over the years on here that have given out wrong care and info too! When the vet says "let me look it up in one of the books and get back to you," I kinda cringe. Dr Mader who wrote the article that Trace linked on her post is very well known in the reptile world.Not just in the United States, but worldwide. Even my vet said, "he is in a class all by himself" I consider my vet well versed in reptiles and so so with chameleons. For instance, when the chameleon in my avatar had Coccidia he wanted to prescribe Albon. I had told him about what I had learned on here from other members who had success with Ponazuril. At first, he was a little reluctant, but I insisted that that was what I wanted to treat my chameleon with. My vet breeds ball pythons, but that does not make him a total expert in chameleons.

 

[Virgil1972]

I agree with you guys, but boy there have been some vets over the years on here that have given out wrong care and info too! When the vet says "let me look it up in one of the books and get back to you," I kinda cringe. Dr Mader who wrote the article that Trace linked on her post is very well known in the reptile world.Not just in the United States, but worldwide. Even my vet said, "he is in a class all by himself" I consider my vet well versed in reptiles and so so with chameleons. For instance, when the chameleon in my avatar had Coccidia he wanted to prescribe Albon. I had told him about what I had learned on here from other members who had success with Ponazuril. At first, he was a little reluctant, but I insisted that that was what I wanted to treat my chameleon with. My vet breeds ball pythons, but that does not make him a total expert in chameleons.

I agree that just because a vet is good with reptiles does not mean they are good with chams. Reptile database at http://www.reptile-database.org/db-info/SpeciesStat.html there are 10,272 reptile species in there data base as of August 2015. Nobody can be an expert with all of them. Also vets are like doctors, there are a lot of bad ones.

 

[knc01]

I have been a moderator here since 2007 and I have been keeping chameleons since the 1990’s and not once have I heard about soaking your chameleons in Pedialyte.

So to dispel some fallacies, Pedialyte can be used orally (by mouth) for dehydrated and critically ill chameleons. Do this by direction of your consulting veterinarian. It does not need to be given to otherwise healthy chameleons nor should they be bathing in it. The sugars and electrolytes are not something you want on a chameleon’s skin.

Baths can be used to soften impacted sperm plugs or stimulate a chameleon to poop if those are medical issues. Again, do this by direction of your consulting veterinarian. While we are on the subject, baths are not recommended as a daily or weekly hydrating procedure as chameleon cannot absorb water through their vents. Some Facebook groups tout baths as being a proper husbandry technique and unfortunately that misinformation is being repeated elsewhere and taken as truth when, in fact, it does nothing good for the chameleon.

What type of pedialtye is best? Are flavored ones okay to use?

 

[Syreptyon]

What type of pedialtye is best? Are flavored ones okay to use?

Absolutely do not feed or bathe your chameleon in pedialyte unless you have been given explicit instruction by a qualified exotics veterinarian. Your chameleon is very sick and this is no time to be experimenting with random "treatments" to help. You will only do him harm by stressing him out and quite possibly worse.

Also, this thread is 3 years old. Please keep info related to the same issue in one thread so it is easier to keep track of.