Help help help

This is the previous info
https://www.chameleonforums.com/somethings-wrong-88978/index2.html#post83276

My chameleon is basically unresponsive now. I really think he is about to die. Is there anything I can do? He won't move and he is now keeping his eyes closed.

I am gonna try call a vet but is there anything they might be able to do at this point? I have tried taking him to a vet before for something else and they were basically no help at that time. Some of the people there had never even seen a chameleon before.

Online it says extremes cases can get saline injections from vets. If I go there could that help or is he too far go. I really don't think he is gonna last another hour let alone another day. I dont know what to do. Any help please!!

I would get him to a vet ASAP. Let them know that you don't think he's gonna make it and they should fit you in. Try to get a vet with chameleon experience. Keep him as hydrated as you can until you can get him in. Best of luck and keep us updated!

Rambully said:

I would get him to a vet ASAP. Let them know that you don't think he's gonna make it and they should fit you in. Try to get a vet with chameleon experience. Keep him as hydrated as you can until you can get him in. Best of luck and keep us updated!

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I told them I think he might die within the hour. They gave me and "emergency price" appointment in and hour and 20 minutes.

At the vet right now. Couldn't wait for their appointment time. Just sitting in a checkup room now waiting.

good luck

subcutaneous fluid injection could help, if indeed dehydration is the problem

I sure hope he makes it. My fingers are crossed for you. Let us know how he is doing.

man that sux, glad they could get you in at least, and hope they can help him. I know you said he had not been drinking and attempts to get him hydrated had been unsuccessful.

I know how concerned you are, and really hope he comes thru this.

So I left him at the vet this morning so they could try to stabilize him. They called back and said they would have to give him a couple o the fluid injections. They said there is liver damage. He will tell me when i get him how to try and help that. And hopefully he gets better by Monday or else he said they would need to do blood work.

I also mentioned to him a vet visit and leg problem he had last month and apparently the pain killer dose the previous vet gave me was too high and could have been harmful to his kidneys.

I'm so sorry you had to leave him there, but at least he will be cared for and they can do all they can for him whilst he's there. I know how it feels to leave one in a vet's care, it's horrible, but best for them. I get so frustrated when I hear people take them to the vets and trust them to give the right meds and care, yet they don't always know about chams. I had a similar experience a few years ago when my female was injected with a dose of wormer and died just hours later. I too changed my vet to one I Have more faith in! I hope they can help your little guy, I have everything crossed for you and him.

Sorry you are having a tough time right now. I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out for you.

High doses of the pain meds can cause kidney damage. It is better to give too low a dose more often then too high a dose. Trooper Twister was on the pain meds for quite a while and at the worst times, his urates were dark orange. With increased hydration and time, he got to where his urates were a pale yellow and white mixed. So, there is proof that they can get better. So, I wanted to let you know that sometimes, even if it looks really bad, they can recover from it, and I hope that is your case.

So got him back from te be this afternoon. The gave him 3 liquid injections. He seems better but still weak. The doc said he has some liver damage but he isn't sure how bad. And he was also dehydrated.

I am supposed to give him a quarter of a Tums twice a day and I need to be force feeding him if he doesn't eat. Which he hasn't been so I force fed him a silk worm and horn worm. I gave him both his doses of the tums. The first was just crumbled and dry. The second time I mixes it with a little water so it would be easier for him to get it down and get a little more fluid in him.

I have one more silk worm and horn worm to feed him tomorrow. That is all that was left in the store till the shipment next Wednesday. Then I only got crickets or superworms to feed him. It is hard to get him to eat. He likes to just spit the worm back out if I don't stick it right at the back of his throat.

If he isn't better by Monday he says I should do some blood work.

So what the vet thinks went wrong:

He thinks the liver problem and stuck shed caused him to stop eatting an drinking which caused the dehydration/collapse of his body.

He said what caused the liver problem / stuck shed was lack of proper lighting. Now when I bought the Cham about 6 weeks ago the seller told me the light was only Used for 2 months so it was still good to use. So they must have lied to me if the Cham actually wasn't getting enough uv. He told me to put in a new UVB/UVA bulb. I put in a new repti 5.0 tube today. What bulbs give off UVA?

He is still very weak and not grabbing properly but he is better then he was this morning.

glad he is doing better, the reptisun 5.0 will give uva also.

Wykd said:

glad he is doing better, the reptisun 5.0 will give uva also.

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Oh. Thanks. I wasn't aware of that.

The important thing now is he needs to be eatting and drinking. I was told to force feed him to make sure he eats which I did today but how am I supposed to know if he is drinking? He doesn't drInk if someone is watching him. And I can put a dropper on his head or try the shower technique but how will i know if he is actually drinking or not?

Scary day for you. I'm so sorry.

If he opens his mouth at all when you are showering or dripping water, that's water in his mouth. If his tongue appears at all, that's water in his mouth. Dripping water on the nose is really effective. They just cannot seem to resist licking that off.

Elizadolots said:

Scary day for you. I'm so sorry.

If he opens his mouth at all when you are showering or dripping water, that's water in his mouth. If his tongue appears at all, that's water in his mouth. Dripping water on the nose is really effective. They just cannot seem to resist licking that off.

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This is totally true. When my panther was dehydrated a couple weeks ago when I got back from vacation, I used a plastic syringe w/o a needle and let it drip down his nose. At first he was pissed and started gaping, so when he was gaping I let a drop fall in his mouth and after that he opened his mouth for it.

Good luck, you'll be in my thoughts.

Trey

Gosh, I hope you're little guy gets better. I have no advice...just know that I'm hoping and praying he's up and at 'em by Monday. Keep us posted! -Cyndi

I have tried the syringe drips on his nose. He wouldn't open his mouth. I tired spraying more around him. He wouldn't open his mouth. He really hates to eat or drink if anyone is watching.

I know I can set up a dripper on his head and leave the room or set him up in the shower and leave the room but I tried both I those before it got to the point I had to take him to the vet yesterday. So obviously he wasn't drinking then so how am I supposed to know if he is drinking with those methods now?

Tell you what has almost always worked for me....if he is able to grip onto a plant or branch take him outside and mist him...I use one of those roundup sprayers from,lowes..sometimes it takes awhile, but be persistent and don't give up...most finally give in and start licking their lips...also use warm water...good luck