Dehydrated Cham

[chamlover]

question for everyone. When a cham or any other reptile gets dehydrated and you go to the vets they give them an injection of fluids. Been there and done that, but if that is the only problem is there any where to buy the stuff to inject ourselves. I know it isn't just water and i do have it saved somewhere on my puter, but i don't know if you can buy the stuff or if you need a script for it.

Debby

 

[xoiceox]

I highly recommend that if you are not a trained vet, or vet tech u do not attempt to administer any medications to ur pets! I am currently going to school to be a vet, so I know how easy it is to mess up or inject at the slightest wrong spot.

 

[nightcrawler]

instead of injecting it in their skin you can try pedialite, or gatoraid (correct me if im wrong please) into their mouth with a eye dropper

 

[chamlover]

Yes i have done that. But i had one that just passed away last night. Boy was i bumming. And i knew she was dehydrated and the vet around here is over 1 hour away and i knew all he was going to do was give her an injection and charge me 95.oo. I've watched him do it and he has actually shown me how to do it before but i never thought to ask about the solution and if you can purchase it. That is what i was wondering about. Sometimes they just won't take it by mouth and i am too worried and nervous about putting a tube down their throat.
Debby

 

[AFH]

I've given SQ injections before. I know other members have given intramuscular. If you've been trained (read: shown by a vet) it's not that difficult.

However, mixing the medication/fluid is something different. I can't help you there.

 

[Will Hayward]

Is the dehydration so sever that you think there i no chance by supplying water via sustained misting, or time in a shower? A dehydrated chameleon has a weakened immune system, and is already stressed. Giving injections and vet visits add to the stress level and might contribute to the problem, rather than the solution.

 

[dodolah]

Yes i have done that. But i had one that just passed away last night. Boy was i bumming. And i knew she was dehydrated and the vet around here is over 1 hour away and i knew all he was going to do was give her an injection and charge me 95.oo. I've watched him do it and he has actually shown me how to do it before but i never thought to ask about the solution and if you can purchase it. That is what i was wondering about. Sometimes they just won't take it by mouth and i am too worried and nervous about putting a tube down their throat.
Debby

so sorry to hear your loss..
But, I agree with Will.. injection seems pretty severe way to cure dehydration. I would only reserve that method as the last effort. Usually shower is best for mild case of dehydration.
Chameleon rarely refuse to drink under the stimulation of rain (shower).

Also you can try pedialyte. It works wonder for me, Debby.
And i bought the orange flavor.. for some reason, I think he likes that particular flavor. (I dilute the pedialyte with water).

I put the liquid in my dripper and let him drink on his own.

if you really have to, you can use syringe to put it down their throat.. (but you want to slowly give the water to avoid asphyxiating him).
I think force feed is a bit better than injection..

 

[chamlover]

Yes i had tried the pedialyte, not the orange i'll try that next time, i tried the showers, which really seemed to stress her out, but i did it anyway, i tried baths, eyedroppers, and stuff. We have had a problem with her since we got her 6-7 months ago and she never really grew like her sister. Her sis is 72 gr and even before she got really sick she was only 32. I really believe that with her there was an underlying problem. I did bring her to the vets and he gave her an injection, but i think the only thing that did was to buy her a couple of extra days of suffering. Unfortunetely the vets here really don't know much about chams and i knew that was all he would do. But with everybodys replies i think if i ever run into another situaltion like this again i will just use the tube if necessary. Providing everything else fails!! I figured she was dying i just didn't want to watch her suffer with the dehydration. That most be a painful way to go. Thanks for everyones input.

Debby

 

[xoiceox]

I'm so sorry for ur loss I know how hard it is *sniff* I lost my Lilly in August. I also had taken her to the vet and spent over $100 for treatment. I wish there was more that could've been done. Sry again