Cham Dying?

[Dave Weldon]

She has a UVB! That's why I don't know whats going on. She was fine in her glass cage ever since I put her in this screen she has been like this!

Howdy,

I looked back at an old post of yours and saw that you are in Torrance, CA. I'm in M.B. not far away. While you are preparing for a Vet visit, if you want me to stop by and help with sorting-out what's up with your chameleon, just let me know. My next free time is Tuesday night. I've made a lot of freebie house-calls to the benefit of both parties (I'm always looking for a chance to learn from others keepers' chameleons health problems .) Just to let you know, this situation didn't go from a super healthy chameleon to full-blown MBD in the short time that you've had this Veiled. It is highly likely that this went on for months either at Petco and/or the supplier to that Petco. On top of that, if she went into egg production, the MBD process will go into overdrive as her system pulls calcium into egg shells. Toss me a PM or email me at [email protected]. P.S. Among other things, I've got a UVB meter .

 

[kenya]

Howdy,

I looked back at an old post of yours and saw that you are in Torrance, CA. I'm in M.B. not far away. While you are preparing for a Vet visit, if you want me to stop by and help with sorting-out what's up with your chameleon, just let me know. My next free time is Tuesday night. I've made a lot of freebie house-calls to the benefit of both parties (I'm always looking for a chance to learn from others keepers' chameleons health problems .) Just to let you know, this situation didn't go from a super healthy chameleon to full-blown MBD in the short time that you've had this Veiled. It is highly likely that this went on for months either at Petco and/or the supplier to that Petco. On top of that, if she went into egg production, the MBD process will go into overdrive as her system pulls calcium into egg shells. Toss me a PM or email me at [email protected]. P.S. Among other things, I've got a UVB meter .

Wish I had a helpful Dave around here in Oregon! Lucky Californians....

 

[Sancho]

Just a update. I went to a local vet and it was as pointless as me not going. The vet didn't know anything about chams. She was lost on which type of cham it was. And it's the only local vet that was listed on that website you guys have posted here. I sent Dave a email so hopefully he will be able to help.

Let me just get this out there. I understand you guys flaming me and so on for this situation and I don't blame you. I got in this before I knew anything. I thought I got all the details from petco before buying her and well I didn't know that petco was a crock.

I went to the reptile convention this weekend and learned a lot more in 5 minutes then I did a hour at petco.

I LOVE MY CHAMS as much as some of you might think other of me.

 

[BocaJan]

Please don't take personal offense. We are all died in the wool cham lovers too. We always err on the side of the health of chams.

The good news is you have a plethora of important information for raising chameleons. We hope Dave can help when he comes over on Tuesday. We all wish you and your pet the best of luck and hope she pulls through.

Keep reading the posts and asking questions.

 

[Sancho]

No offense taken. Just got the feeling some might of thought I didn't care which its not that at all.

 

[Kat77]

I hope Dave can help you, he is a genius. There are plenty of herp vets in California, and I'm sure you will be able to locate one. She looks horrible, I hope she pulls through for you.

 

[Sancho]

I hope Dave can help you, he is a genius. There are plenty of herp vets in California, and I'm sure you will be able to locate one. She looks horrible, I hope she pulls through for you.

I'm wishing the same I hate seeing her like this. I sent Dave a email so just waiting on a response

 

[SoCaliSon]

What a bummer. That is one of the worst cases of MBD I have seen, poor girl She needs to be treated asap. Good luck, I hope it turns around for the best.

 

[kenya]

Just a update. I went to a local vet and it was as pointless as me not going. The vet didn't know anything about chams. She was lost on which type of cham it was. And it's the only local vet that was listed on that website you guys have posted here. I sent Dave a email so hopefully he will be able to help.

Let me just get this out there. I understand you guys flaming me and so on for this situation and I don't blame you. I got in this before I knew anything. I thought I got all the details from petco before buying her and well I didn't know that petco was a crock.

I went to the reptile convention this weekend and learned a lot more in 5 minutes then I did a hour at petco.

I LOVE MY CHAMS as much as some of you might think other of me.

I'm sorry about what is going on and I hope you don't think that I am flaming you- there are just a lot of people that will post with their chams and not want to do a thing about it "because the vet visit will cost more than the animal". I don't like sugarcoating things, especially for a very serious case. I just want to see your cham helped- hopefully you get a reply from Dave soon. Good luck!

 

[Sancho]

I understand I'm supposed to get flamed seeing I didn't read up before going to petco which I'm wrong for and fully accept that. My mind is set on getting my little girl help. If I don't hear from Dave today I'm rushing her to another vet I just found once I get home from work.

I just don't understand how she is fine for the last 3 months and in a instant she is acting like she is paralized.

I do not want her to suffer at all.

 

[kinyonga]

Did the vet give her any tests? Calcium injections? Do anything at all?

If the vet did nothing about the calcium, what you can do right now is get some liquid calcium sandoz or calcium gluconate from a pharmacy and start to give her some. This is supposed to be more readily absorbed in the chameleon's system than the powders. Be careful with it because its syrupy and chameleons have trouble dealing with the consistency...so ease just a little of it into her mouth at a time so she won't aspirate it. It may help until Dave can get to see her.

I looked at one of the older pictures in an early post of yours. It was quite blurry which is why I didn't likely notice the arm before...but it looks like she already had the beginnings of MBD when you first posted about getting her.

Good luck!

 

[Sancho]

They didn't do anything that's why I was so POed last night. All they said is that she was hungry which is BS cause she ate right before I took her there.

here is a picture of her from last month when she was perfectly active

 

[SoCaliSon]

In the Pic from last month you can see the bowing in her legs that shows she has been suffering this for a while. It is an interesting reference seeing how much worse it got in the last month. Have you tried the herp vet connection for a realiable vet to get her too? This is probaly one of the most common ailments in captive lizards and the fact that the vet couldn't recognize that is pretty sad.

 

[Sancho]

In the Pic from last month you can see the bowing in her legs that shows she has been suffering this for a while. It is an interesting reference seeing how much worse it got in the last month. Have you tried the herp vet connection for a realiable vet to get her too? This is probaly one of the most common ailments in captive lizards and the fact that the vet couldn't recognize that is pretty sad.

The vet I went to is off that site you listed. And now that I look again the reviews for the place sucks.

 

[SoCaliSon]

The vet I went to is off that site you listed. And now that I look again the reviews for the place sucks.

When choosing a Vet for my Herps I do interviews. You can easily waste money on a vet that has less of an understnading of your pet than you do. Before I even drive out to see a vet... I must speak with them on the phone, and they must answer a series of questions for me. I play stupid and ask questions that any reliable herp vet should know off hand, and judge the responses I get. THis normally gives me a good idea on if they have any clue what they are talking about. If I am not pleased I keep shopping. I recommend that you try this... I hope you have better luck.

 

[kenya]

I understand I'm supposed to get flamed seeing I didn't read up before going to petco which I'm wrong for and fully accept that. My mind is set on getting my little girl help. If I don't hear from Dave today I'm rushing her to another vet I just found once I get home from work.

I just don't understand how she is fine for the last 3 months and in a instant she is acting like she is paralized.

I do not want her to suffer at all.

Someone suggested that she may be developing eggs. This depletes a females calcium very quickly and will rob her bones of it in no time. How old is your veiled? They will typically start developing infertile clutches when they are near maturity. You are doing well by having a laying site in there.

 

[Sancho]

Someone suggested that she may be developing eggs. This depletes a females calcium very quickly and will rob her bones of it in no time. How old is your veiled? They will typically start developing infertile clutches when they are near maturity. You are doing well by having a laying site in there.

I've only had her for since may and I'm not sure on how old she was when I bought her from petco (3 inches at max)

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy All,

I made it over to see tbs350z's female Veiled chameleon. He's got a nice setup with the Reptisun 5.0 linear tube measuring the proper level of UVB at the basking spot. She is in a nice LLLReptile type screen enclosure and gets misted by hand. She has/had been eating hornworms etc. dusted with Rep-Cal/D3 and Herptivite on a regular basis. She will be seen by a qualified (this time ) chameleon vet tomorrow. Her case of MBD is extensive but not a death sentence. Dr. Stein will likely prescribe calcium treatments that will be followed-up with additional drugs to pull the calcium into the bones at a later time when the calcium levels in the blood are adequate. There is a possibility that this Veiled has some trouble that made her more susceptible to MBD but that's pure speculation. Her keeper is very concerned about getting her well so we're rooting for her to pull through .

 

[gregdabender]

Your the man Dave !!!

tbs350z Im sorry that this burden has been place upon you but it seems you have came to the right place.....if only everyone got a link to this site when they bought a cham.....good luck

 

[BocaJan]

tbs350z - I am so glad that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Dave is a good guy and Dr. Stein will help pull her through. I know the money issue is always an issue when it comes to vet bills, but our little chameleons are with it.

Hang in there. You are doing all the right things.