HELP!! Adopt my sick chameleon!?!

My veiled chameleon is about 3-4 months old. I'm almost 100% sure she has a respiratory infection. Can someone that lives around Pendleton Oregon take her?? I don't want her to suffer!! She would have a better chance if someone with more knowledge takes care of her in this fragile state. Please help!!

I am trying to be as sensitive as possible here, but are you just going to give a sick chameleon to someone else to avoid paying the vet bills?

If she truly has URI a vet visit and some meds will do her well. If she is sick enough to be "suffering" you should not be trying to get someone else to deal with it.

SaintJimmy said:

I am trying to be as sensitive as possible here, but are you just going to give a sick chameleon to someone else to avoid paying the vet bills?

If she truly has URI a vet visit and some meds will do her well. If she is sick enough to be "suffering" you should not be trying to get someone else to deal with it.

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Couldn't have said it better myself.

A vet bill for a uri is likely under $100. Go get some meds

Again, not trying to be crude or mean to you, but the vet bills for this type of situation are usually cheap, and a URI is very treatable and very preventable in the future. Please, from all of us, don't just give up on your little cham.

I appreciate what you all have to say! And I'm so broken hearted that she isn't doing well. I have lots of animals and 2 other reptiles, although she is my first chameleon. I thought this over many times before I posted it. She has never let me get close to her other than maybe eat a few worms from my hand. She always tries to bite me, and actually did today. So I thought her best chance to get some help would be to someone who can handle her unfriendliness. If I can't get her to let me pick her up, how can I get her out to take her to the vet and administer medication!?! I just want what's best for her, not giving up, just don't want to see her die! The initial care information I got when I bought her was poor. The more research I did, the more I realized I wasn't doing it quite right. Ugh! I ell terrible bcuz I'm a very good"Mom" to my animals/reptiles! I had many plans on building her an outside enclosure and a bigger inside one once she got bigger! I have tortoises that have an extra large enclosure inside and one for them to roam around outside during the warmer months.. I promise you all, I am not giving up. Just feel as though I might be out of time with her! ....

Now I understand where you are coming from.

I am familiar with your point of view and experiences -- with the cham being grumpy and all.

At this point, you know she may have URI. Just scoop her up and put her in a small box with a towel in it, close the box, and take her to the vet. Don't worry about stressing her or getting bit. It's fine. She will be sort of stressed. But she will most likely fall asleep in the box on the drive to the vets, and once she is better it will be worth it.

Ok, thank you for the encouragement! The only vet that will take her is over an hour away. I was just so worried with her already being stressed and ill, the long drive and me trying to get ahold of her might do her in!? Ugh! :'( I will do my best bcuz I don't fail with my pets!! It's just so sad!! I walk by her and my heart hurts for her! Thanks again!

Actually I agree with all the others. It would be better to take her to a vet and get treatment. It will be a little stressful but re-homing her would be much more stressful and only compound the problem. If after she recovers and you still think you cannot care for her properly then would be a good time to rehome her. Chameleons are not social creatures by nature so she may never become what you think of as friendly.

gloves

Puts some gloves on if you are that scared.

My first cham was a Spawn of Satan. He injured his leg and all of sudden I had to take this snarling mess to the vet (I loved the little turd though). I used a thick stick and slowly moved it under him until he climbed on then transferred him to a box to take him to the vet. The positive thing about administering meds to spicy chams is that they have no problem gaping and you can just squirt the meds in. Good Luck!