Molly's visit, NEED TO KNOW INFO FOR ALL REPTILE KEEPERS!

Okay Molly and I are back from the vet and I have a few facts that EVERYONE should know about! Before I talk about Molly here is what I learned:
1) For subQ fluids, remember to tell your veterinarian to mix lactated ringers with 1 part solution, 1 part distilled water. Regular lactated ringers solution has a higher saline content then what reptiles need, so giving it straight solution is actually DEHYDRATING the reptile, no hydrating it.
2) For hydrating at home, DO NOT USE PEDIALYTE, GATORADE, OR POWERADE. Just like the lactated ringers solution, you are actually DEHYDRATING the reptile instead of hydrating it. Give it APPLE JUICE, Dr. Mertz says to not worry about the sugar as long as it isn't given in large amounts.

So now to Molly, We had a culture done of the bacteria, results should be back in a week. In the meantime he gave me another antibiotic, I can't remember what it is called though, it is an oral suspention. I need to give that once a day, he wants her to be able to see again as soon as possible. He says the eye abcsess is not ready to be drained yet, and he wants to leave the abcsesses on her head also, he believes they will go away in time and they are sectioned off from the rest of the body pretty well. He also dewormed her with panacur and also wants me to give her 1/10 of a 250mg tablet of metronidazol next week. In the meantime, this is all. He gave me some syringe tips that at first looked like needles, but are actually blunt on the end and are great for getting medication in their mouths.

I hope this post helps everyone, I did not know about those things!

So does Dr. Mertz seemed to know allot about chameleons? Does he think Molly will be ok?

He thinks she will be okay and he seemed to know a lot about chameleons and reptiles. He even palpated her belly and did not feel any eggs thankfully! he handled her very well also, and all of the interns were mesmerized by Molly because apparently chameleons are not legal in Massachusetts. One of the little kids that was running around was like " Oh look! an Iguana!" Hehe it was cute. The vet is located inside the New England Wildlife Center and the whole building is accessible to the public. It was a very nice place. When I looked down over a ledge I say a large man made pond with a large turtle that looked like it was missing some legs.

Im not trying to say that what your vet said is wrong in any way because he knows a lot more than me. My question is how does gatorade especially pedialyte actually dehydrate the reptile even more? Unless it has a reverse effect on reptiles. Ive seen countless threads where pedialyte was recommended for hydration.

graydon said:

Im not trying to say that what your vet said is wrong in any way because he knows a lot more than me. My question is how does gatorade especially pedialyte actually dehydrate the reptile even more? Unless it has a reverse effect on reptiles. Ive seen countless threads where pedialyte was recommended for hydration.

Click to expand...

A reptile has a different saline level in their blood stream, so mammal drinks do not work to hydrate them. They need a lower level of saline. Apple juice has less salt than pedialyte, gatorade, and powerade.

This DVM is very reliable, here is his resume: http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...oc+DVM+Gregory+Mertz&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

also, profits go towards the new england wildlife center.

justjumpit621 said:

He thinks she will be okay and he seemed to know a lot about chameleons and reptiles. He even palpated her belly and did not feel any eggs thankfully! he handled her very well also, and all of the interns were mesmerized by Molly because apparently chameleons are not legal in Massachusetts. One of the little kids that was running around was like " Oh look! an Iguana!" Hehe it was cute. The vet is located inside the New England Wildlife Center and the whole building is accessible to the public. It was a very nice place. When I looked down over a ledge I say a large man made pond with a large turtle that looked like it was missing some legs.

Click to expand...

I am not trying to sound like a downer but if chameleons are not legal, why did he agree to treat Molly and how would he know so much about chameleons? Are there lots of illegal chams there?

Thats a good question I personally cant think of reason why chams would be illegal in mass. Hawaii on the other hand

Well hopefull molly will get better kayla. How far of a drive is it from Manchester?

Thank you for sharing that information! Keep us updated on Molly's progress.

Are you going to take Molly back to him again for a check up sometime?

justjumpit621 said:

A reptile has a different saline level in their blood stream, so mammal drinks do not work to hydrate them. They need a lower level of saline. Apple juice has less salt than pedialyte, gatorade, and powerade.

Click to expand...

A reminder...when most of us would suggest rehydration with Pedialyte, it is only in an emergency to get some electrolytes into a cham to keep it going until you can get to a vet, that it should be diluted with plain water, and not given for any length of time.

I have given dilute Pedialyte to many chams in trouble. It has probably saved a few, but again I didn't use it straight and never used it once the cham showed any signs of drinking on its own.

i have heared that chams are required to have an almost impossible to get permit in mass. but never really had any need to verify. if anyone actually knows the specifics of this , i would be interested in hearing from them. as anyone who reads my posts regularly, knows, i am not a big fan of pedialyte as a rehydration technique. just for future reference the blunt tipped hypodermics are called cannula and come in a wide variety of sizes, they also make plastic flexible ones (in case anyone was interested in getting some) , just my 2c worth

Chameleons are illegal to sell in massachusetts aparently, but he can still treat them. He has not always been in massachusetts. Someone on this forum said that they bring their mellers to him I think. Here is the list of animals exempt, but if you go down to lizards it says all chameleons can only be kept with a permit. I am from new hampshire so I am allowed to go down to massachusetts with Molly for vet appointments.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/cmr/cmr_900.htm#901

xanthoman said:

i am not a big fan of pedialyte as a rehydration technique.

Click to expand...

I suspect none of us would choose Pedialyte if we had other options available. The main reason I even suggest it is that someone can find it easily after vet hours or on a weekend.

A suggestion for forum members:

What about creating a home-made rehydration solution that anyone could quickly make in a pinch with common kitchen ingredients? Then, let's post the recipe and refer to that instead. What would you suggest, and can we get a vet's opinion?

Carlton said:

I suspect none of us would choose Pedialyte if we had other options available. The main reason I even suggest it is that someone can find it easily after vet hours or on a weekend.

A suggestion for forum members:

What about creating a home-made rehydration solution that anyone could quickly make in a pinch with common kitchen ingredients? Then, let's post the recipe and refer to that instead. What would you suggest, and can we get a vet's opinion?

Click to expand...

I would like to know as well. I was using pedialyte to get this rescue panther hydrated and a combo of pedialyte and frequent mistings brought her back to life. Still working on the feeding ...

Chameleon's require a permit in Massachusetts.

http://www.neherp.com/state-regulations/74-massachusetts

Permits are relatively easy to obtain for animals that are captive-bred (if they aren't already exempt) except in the case of venomous species.

Click to expand...

Leilaskeeper said:

I would like to know as well. I was using pedialyte to get this rescue panther hydrated and a combo of pedialyte and frequent mistings brought her back to life. Still working on the feeding ...

Click to expand...

He said to use apple juice, so why would you spend all of this money on a recipe when you can just go to the store and buy apple juice for a couple dollars? Organic no sugar added apple juice would probably be best.

Carlton said:

What about creating a home-made rehydration solution that anyone could quickly make in a pinch with common kitchen ingredients? Then, let's post the recipe and refer to that instead. What would you suggest, and can we get a vet's opinion?

Click to expand...

Honey salt and water are used in some "solutions".. but the amount I can not remember, unfortunately. I used this to rehydrate a rescue gecko and it worked wonders!

We use pedialyte because of the electrolytes in them. I don't think apple juice has them. I've also saved numerous reptiles lives with it adn it is recommended by 3 vets that i use. Again, diluted and only for the time that is necessary.

Yes chams are illegal in MA at this time. However, last year a proposal was passed to make them legal. They are just waiting for a signature. Don't ask me what is taking so long, i don't know. Ma works in mysterious ways. Thats why i was wondering why you were bringing yours there. Like i said i knew he was a great vet but i was a little concerned about his exp with chams.

From what i understand from the Wildlife Center, chams are illegal in Ma, because way back when, if you bought a cham, there was no way to get the needed supplies for them. Of course, that was awhile ago which is why the Wildlife Center and others proposed the new bill.

Chameleons require a permit in MA. Bob Arini in the department of fisheries and wildlife can talk to you about how to go about getting permits. The permit process is really quick and easy (cheap!). You do require a signed affidavit from the breeder stating that the chameleon is captive bred.

Dr. Mertz is my vet. He is probably the best vet you can find in new england. He is well respected and follows-up. I rescued a panther that had eye problems from the UV compacts before this problem was first reported. I suspected it was the light, and Dr. Mertz was really interested in reports from people regarding compact tubes causing eye strain. When this issue was more widespread I forwarded user comments to him and from what I understand he was researching this issue in his own time. A great personable doctor.