Help Please, female veiled sick...
- Thread starter Fishead
- Start date
I didn't realize she was so weak separate of the tongue issue. Your vet made a good call not wanting to anesthetize! That is dangerous in an animal already not doing well. I hope she regains strength and does well for you in the long run! Keep us updated. 
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Fishead
New Member
Bungee is still hanging on. She's certainly a lil fighter. She seems to be regaining some strength and spirit. Still weak, but improving strength a bit...putting up a dignified fuss at (force) feeding/medicine time. I'm continuing with pedialight, and 2 medicines, and 1 dose of liquid calcium daily. Only feeding cricket/pedialight puree every other day per doctors advice. She seems to really like a luke-warm soak, and has grown accustomed to being handled. Has always looked at me as the lesser evil in the household, and now seems to get that I'm trying to fix her up. So she tolerates our daily torture regimes pretty matter of fact.
Tongue looks plain awful...no other way to say it.
It is blackened and hardening at the tip, though she is managing to keep it almost fully retracted most of the time...just can't keep it completely inside her mouth as it's still swollen. So the tip keeps drying as much as I try to keep it moist...I can't keep it up 24/7. It seems to be starting to slough off some dead surface skin. I'm hopeful as Vet suggested was not terribly likely (but possible), that the effected area may dry up and fall off, leaving the healthy remaining portion in useful shape. Vet said it was generally a very dim prognosis, but she may in fact pull through it as she has observed in other cases. Encouraging the fact she was able to retract her tongue as well as she is able, much less at all considering how bad it looks.
Hard to say what is going to happen, however she seems to be taking it in stride and making the best of coping with it. Poor thing was tripping over it constantly when she tried to move around. Seems to be getting used to hauling the damn thing in before she moves now. Irritates her.
I wanna say she seems to have stabilized and improving overall somewhat.
If it wasn't for the blasted swelling, she could close her mouth all the way and keep her tongue moist. I sure wish I could make her zapper all better for her. She's clearly bummed out without it
Oh, and I still think she is likely mid-term gravid...kinda where this whole thing began.
Anyway, that's the latest...
Peace and Best,
><(((*<
She's certainly a lil fighter. She seems to be regaining some strength and spirit. Still weak, but improving strength a bit...putting up a dignified fuss at (force) feeding/medicine time. I'm continuing with pedialight, and 2 medicines, and 1 dose of liquid calcium daily. Only feeding cricket/pedialight puree every other day per doctors advice. She seems to really like a luke-warm soak, and has grown accustomed to being handled. Has always looked at me as the lesser evil in the household, and now seems to get that I'm trying to fix her up. So she tolerates our daily torture regimes pretty matter of fact.Tongue looks plain awful...no other way to say it.
It is blackened and hardening at the tip, though she is managing to keep it almost fully retracted most of the time...just can't keep it completely inside her mouth as it's still swollen. So the tip keeps drying as much as I try to keep it moist...I can't keep it up 24/7. It seems to be starting to slough off some dead surface skin. I'm hopeful as Vet suggested was not terribly likely (but possible), that the effected area may dry up and fall off, leaving the healthy remaining portion in useful shape. Vet said it was generally a very dim prognosis, but she may in fact pull through it as she has observed in other cases. Encouraging the fact she was able to retract her tongue as well as she is able, much less at all considering how bad it looks.
Hard to say what is going to happen, however she seems to be taking it in stride and making the best of coping with it. Poor thing was tripping over it constantly when she tried to move around. Seems to be getting used to hauling the damn thing in before she moves now. Irritates her.
I wanna say she seems to have stabilized and improving overall somewhat.
If it wasn't for the blasted swelling, she could close her mouth all the way and keep her tongue moist. I sure wish I could make her zapper all better for her. She's clearly bummed out without it
Oh, and I still think she is likely mid-term gravid...kinda where this whole thing began.
Anyway, that's the latest...
Peace and Best,
><(((*<
Fishead
New Member
Lil Bungee is still hanging on...
Tip of her tongue has dried and blackened, and the last 1 inch or so has become somewhat rigid...like a lil club
Nothing I can do to keep it moist 24/7...she hasn't been able to fully close her mouth since this all began.
She is a lil trooper though, she readily drinks from eye dropper and is getting used to the syringe feeding...as much as one can having equivalent of a pipe crammed down your throat. I am patient and gentle till she opens up and tries to swallow it (to get it over with), and it slides right in.
I am still hoping the dead / messed up tissue at the tip of her tongue will dry up and fall off (like it appears to be trying to do). It is just taking forever...and I an not sure if it's going to happen...soon enough
She is wasting, slowly loosing weight, her casque is shrinking and starting to see some wrinkling in her tail...all the while she is getting fatter.
Has anyone heard of inducing to lay eggs? Considering the effort it took her last time I'm sure she just basically couldn't even try...
QUESTION!!!
Is there ANY recommended commercial food supplements available out there I can use instead of puree of live crickets I am doing here? Something I can use with syringe, thin a little, even puree further if needed...a paste?
This is getting real hard to keep up with ongoing...getting to pet store that often, gut loading, grinding em up...and it only keeping a day or so...80% is going to waste
Anyway, that's the latest....
Peace and Best,
><(((*<
Tip of her tongue has dried and blackened, and the last 1 inch or so has become somewhat rigid...like a lil club
Nothing I can do to keep it moist 24/7...she hasn't been able to fully close her mouth since this all began.
She is a lil trooper though, she readily drinks from eye dropper and is getting used to the syringe feeding...as much as one can having equivalent of a pipe crammed down your throat. I am patient and gentle till she opens up and tries to swallow it (to get it over with), and it slides right in.
I am still hoping the dead / messed up tissue at the tip of her tongue will dry up and fall off (like it appears to be trying to do). It is just taking forever...and I an not sure if it's going to happen...soon enough
She is wasting, slowly loosing weight, her casque is shrinking and starting to see some wrinkling in her tail...all the while she is getting fatter.
Has anyone heard of inducing to lay eggs? Considering the effort it took her last time I'm sure she just basically couldn't even try...
QUESTION!!!
Is there ANY recommended commercial food supplements available out there I can use instead of puree of live crickets I am doing here? Something I can use with syringe, thin a little, even puree further if needed...a paste?
This is getting real hard to keep up with ongoing...getting to pet store that often, gut loading, grinding em up...and it only keeping a day or so...80% is going to waste
Anyway, that's the latest....
Peace and Best,
><(((*<
Elizadolots
New Member
You can cut down on trips to the pet store by buying a larger quantity of the smaller crickets and keeping them. You'll need to water and feed them (as you will pull some out and gutload them before grinding them, you can use a dry food and moist paper towels for the "holding bin") but that takes lots less time than going to the store.
thephotoprincess
Avid Member
QUESTION!!!
Is there ANY recommended commercial food supplements available out there I can use instead of puree of live crickets I am doing here? Something I can use with syringe, thin a little, even puree further if needed...a paste?
This is getting real hard to keep up with ongoing...getting to pet store that often, gut loading, grinding em up...and it only keeping a day or so...80% is going to waste
><(((*<
When I've needed to feed a liquid diet I use Fluker's repti-boost - so much easier than mushing up bugs. I had a male veiled with no tongue and that was his primary diet, with some soft worms like silk worms and horn worms.
this is a link so you know what I'm talking about - I think Petsmart also carries it.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...kers-reptaboost-insectivorecarnivore-formula/
good luck!
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uniquechams
New Member
I am so sorry for your chameleon being sick! I am no expert but I would run to a vet. I almost did when my baby chameleon showed signs of shedding lol first cham first time anyways good luck to you!
anyways good luck to you!
lysinlight87
New Member
Hi, just a concern from reading this- my cham has a heat lamp that stays on at night, as ambient room temp is usually less that 20c (67f), should I turn the heat lamp off at night in spite of this? Is there another heat source I can use? My guy is 3-4 months old & currently has his heat lamp at 25c (75f) during the day and 20c (67f) at night. I have noticed that he's generally not going to sleep at bedtime anymore. Thanks.
you shouldn't have heat lamps on at night if your room gets too cold you can get a small ceramic heat emitter, they are quite expensive but last for years
lysinlight87
New Member
Ok, thanks
. I'll turn it off at night. think I'll turn the central heating up slightly for now, as it's summer, but when winter sets in, I'll get him the ceramic heater.Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. Did the vet test her calcium levels? She isn't showing truncated lifting in some of the photos which might indicate a calcium imbalance....but without testing I can't. Be sure since it might be from not feeling well too. Calcium plays a part in muscle control too...don't know if that could have anything to do with the tongue or not.
Fishead
New Member
Yes, been to Vet 3 times with her. Calcium deficiency believed at root, giving her liquid by syringe. In earlier shots she was letting tongue hang all way out, but she hasn't for a good while now. She is keeping the tongue (almost) fully retracted now...But...the swollen end is still too large for her to fit and close her mouth all the way and it has stiffened and become more rigid. She has more control of it now and laps with it as soon as I begin to drip water from an eye dropper. The tip is black and dries out. Looks like some of the dead tissue would almost scrape off...wish it would just fall off...but it's staying in place. I will post pix this afternoon as it's easier than describing.
THANK YOU, for the supplement tip!
I have been storing and 'batching' the crickets, and the small ones seem to blend up better and guessing they may be more palatable. But as stated it takes 20 or so to make a batch with just a splash of Pedialight...just to work in the blender...or it wont even blend them. Too much liquid and she is getting perhaps only (one) cricket equivalent per 1.0 ml syringe load...of which she only holds about (2) before it just comes pouring back out. She's gotten to be a good sport about it, and perhaps even equates it with feeding now rather than "torture". Poor thing prob thinks I an conducting cruel experiments on her...trying to turn her into a human
THANK YOU, for the supplement tip!
I have been storing and 'batching' the crickets, and the small ones seem to blend up better and guessing they may be more palatable. But as stated it takes 20 or so to make a batch with just a splash of Pedialight...just to work in the blender...or it wont even blend them. Too much liquid and she is getting perhaps only (one) cricket equivalent per 1.0 ml syringe load...of which she only holds about (2) before it just comes pouring back out. She's gotten to be a good sport about it, and perhaps even equates it with feeding now rather than "torture". Poor thing prob thinks I an conducting cruel experiments on her...trying to turn her into a human
Fishead
New Member
Very sad day...had to have poor Bungee euthanized
All was going just as it has been...not great but still staying out of the woods and hanging in there. I had just finished giving her an enjoyable luke-warm soak and feeding of fresh ground batch of cricket puree. All seemed as normal as it's been, when she opened wide and gulped her whole tongue down
Instantly I could see she wasn't breathing! Unfortunately it went quickly downhill from there and was very upsetting. Tried everything I could in a panic to clear her airway, but that fat club of a tongue she had going got swallowed completely...I tried but could not reach it, not with tweezers or anything...still she was not getting a single breath of air.
Fortunately...I have a Vet just two blocks away (who's boy happens to school with my own son). I couldn't stand to have her suffer any more after fighting all this time...so quickly drove down the hill and had them put her to sleep, which he did at no charge.
Bum deal. An awesome little critter...I had no idea I would become so attached, or feel such a loss. The care and helpless sad state of her all this while, made me feel a lot for this lil beast. Over the whole ordeal, she shifted from (normal) unamused and standoffish lizard with attitude, to completely helpless, needy, and trusting as a baby. Allot of personality. She will be sorely missed.
R.I.P. Bungee
Thanks ALL for your shared knowledge and words of support!
Peace & Best,
><(((*<
All was going just as it has been...not great but still staying out of the woods and hanging in there. I had just finished giving her an enjoyable luke-warm soak and feeding of fresh ground batch of cricket puree. All seemed as normal as it's been, when she opened wide and gulped her whole tongue down
Instantly I could see she wasn't breathing! Unfortunately it went quickly downhill from there and was very upsetting. Tried everything I could in a panic to clear her airway, but that fat club of a tongue she had going got swallowed completely...I tried but could not reach it, not with tweezers or anything...still she was not getting a single breath of air.
Fortunately...I have a Vet just two blocks away (who's boy happens to school with my own son). I couldn't stand to have her suffer any more after fighting all this time...so quickly drove down the hill and had them put her to sleep, which he did at no charge.
Bum deal. An awesome little critter...I had no idea I would become so attached, or feel such a loss. The care and helpless sad state of her all this while, made me feel a lot for this lil beast. Over the whole ordeal, she shifted from (normal) unamused and standoffish lizard with attitude, to completely helpless, needy, and trusting as a baby. Allot of personality. She will be sorely missed.
R.I.P. Bungee
Thanks ALL for your shared knowledge and words of support!
Peace & Best,
><(((*<
Elizadolots
New Member
I'm so very sorry.
Fishead
New Member
Oh, one more bit of information I think may be important enough I should share as a potential caution to others...
It did not occur to me till way into this but I later remembered a possible OTHER cause to all this. I may have exposed her to CHLORINE poisoning...
We live in a smallish apartment, and the kitchen sink started smelling so I poured a generous amount of bleach down the drain and took off to work for the day. I recall coming home that evening and being hit with strong chlorine smell when I came in, and quickly opened the windows and doors to air it out. Looking back this was reasonably close to time her tongue started swelling and she began acting lame and loosing muscle coordination and ability to climb...she looked and acted clumsy and..'drunk'.
I cannot say for sure of course, but realistically it is a possible cause. I wasn't gasping for air when I hit the door...but I can imagine a small cham might be far more sensitive...and breathing even lower levels (all day)...
Hate to think I may have caused it, but have to say it may be a possibility.
That she didn't really (respond) to antibiotics, or calcium...other than bottoming out and pretty much staying there...I dunno what that to reason of that.
Anyway, thought I should mention. Something that didn't occur to me one bit at the time...and over-killing it as I did with the bleach...I wouldn't recommend doing so around chameleons...even if it didn't cause poor Bungee's demise.
Peace all,
><(((*<
It did not occur to me till way into this but I later remembered a possible OTHER cause to all this. I may have exposed her to CHLORINE poisoning...
We live in a smallish apartment, and the kitchen sink started smelling so I poured a generous amount of bleach down the drain and took off to work for the day. I recall coming home that evening and being hit with strong chlorine smell when I came in, and quickly opened the windows and doors to air it out. Looking back this was reasonably close to time her tongue started swelling and she began acting lame and loosing muscle coordination and ability to climb...she looked and acted clumsy and..'drunk'.
I cannot say for sure of course, but realistically it is a possible cause. I wasn't gasping for air when I hit the door...but I can imagine a small cham might be far more sensitive...and breathing even lower levels (all day)...
Hate to think I may have caused it, but have to say it may be a possibility.
That she didn't really (respond) to antibiotics, or calcium...other than bottoming out and pretty much staying there...I dunno what that to reason of that.
Anyway, thought I should mention. Something that didn't occur to me one bit at the time...and over-killing it as I did with the bleach...I wouldn't recommend doing so around chameleons...even if it didn't cause poor Bungee's demise.
Peace all,
><(((*<
Elizadolots
New Member
That's certainly something to factor in. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
