Blood Transfusions??

[Loggyann]

Hi there, my female yemen cham is very week and the vet says she anemic and need eggs removing because she is egg bound. They want to take blood from my male yemen to give to her. Has anyone had this done before?

Worried alot.

Thanks

 

[jannb]

Dr. Mader does this. He is a reptile specialist and I would not trust just any vet to do it. I hope you have a really good vet and the best of luck to your girl.

 

[Loggyann]

Thanks so its okay to do it from one chamber to another? Just worried about blood typing like humans...any info/experiences would be much appreciated.

 

[jannb]

When Dr. Mader was talking about doing a blood transfusion with my chams he told me to bring one of my biggest healthiest chams. He didn't say it had to be the same species even.

 

[Alexl]

As far as I know, there's no real knowledge yet about blood groups in chameleons. But that doesn't matter for one single (and especially the first in a patient) transfusion. As in every other species, your vet will do a crossmatching test before transfusion to assure donor's and receptor's blood don't agglutinate (major crossmatching = donor's erythrocytes + receptor's blood plasma, minor crossmatching = receptor's erythrocytes + donor's blood plasma). You can gather up to 10% of the blood volume of a reptile, which means about 1% of its body weight. E.g. a Chamaeleo calyptratus male weighing 180 g could spend about 1,5 ml of his blood to another chameleon without problems. Just some short thoughts, perhaps it can help assure you it's worth giving your female this chance. If your reptile vet hasn't done a transfusion in chameleons before, he could phone collegues like Dr. Mader for further advice.

Some publications exist about blood transfusion in reptiles (alligators, tortoises), but unfortunately it's still a few experienced topic. There was a nice article in CIN 2001 about a transfusion done in a Calumma parsonii easily explained for keepers, if you're interested I could send a copy to you.

 

[DavidBuchan]

I am not at all qualified to answer, but my opinion is this.......

It seems (to me) that blood groups are not an issue for reptiles.
I have not much idea of the details but in humans blood transfusions are quite common and very safe these days......but you do not want to read the stories of the first Human blood transfusions (before awareness of blood groups........not pretty....).

Anyway.....I have read a little about Dr. Mader in various places.
If he suggested something for one of my lizards I would do it.
Almost regardless of the cost.
Good luck with her, she is in great hands with any vet who specialises in reptiles

 

[Loggyann]

Thanks for your input guys has put my mind to rest a little bit. Well they have had the transfusion today and the vet said all went okay. If my female is strong enough tomorrow they are going to spay her to remove the bound eggs that are making her sick. Just really hope she is strong enough for it all. Even if the worst happens I've still tried to give her a chance.

Fingers crossed for my little lady Betty xxx