Help please

[vgaines]

Worried again

OK, so Raine's eye looks 100% better, she is still active and always exploring her home and isn't very happy when I have to hold her still for eye washing and drops but doesn't seem to mind roaming around on my hand and arm. Only problem now is that she isn't eating. I put her feeding cup in the same place every day but I have not seen her eat since I took her to the vet on Monday. When the vet called on Wednesday to check on her I informed Dr Scott that she was not eating and she said it was probably because of the stress caused by the vet visit and the daily handling to medicate her. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to encourage her to eat. I am gonna try a shower tomorrow afternoon on her new ficus.

I am open to any suggestions. I just don't want her to get sick again.

Thanks
Virginia

 

[vgaines]

Please help....eye problem on right eye !!!!

OK, so Raines left eye looks great but now her right eye looks funny and she is rubbing it. I put her entire enclosure in the shower for about 15 min. and she did drink but she started rubbing her eye a lot. She was crawling around upside down on the top of the enclosure under the area that was getting wet.

Inow have her cage on a stand so she is above eye level (top of cage almost 5 ft from the ground.) She is still hanging out on the side of the cage at the top. She is a little dark so I'm hoping its from the stress of me putting drops in her left eye.

My main question is should I start putting the drops in both eyes just in case or should I give it a couple of days to see if its just irritated? Should I just use the sterile eye wash to clean both eyes and just use the drops on her left eye. I know that chameleons can go down hill fast especially when they are so young. I could use some advice.. Vet is out of town until Monday.

I have attached photos of her eye. Also you can see her color now. Its been over 30 min since i have handled her and she is still darker than normal. I am sure I am being paranoid but I what to make sure she is healthy...

Thanks so much,
Virginia

 

[Lovereps]

She might be about to shed or it could an infection in the other eye.
Have you added the live plants yet?
Maybe the dry air is irritating her eyes and creating a susceptibility to infection.
Since she is already getting eye drops, I know that I would be tempted to do both eyes but would be sure to up the humidity to required levels, if they aren't already.

I know that Philippe DeVosjoli wrote books on a number of lizard species but I suspect that his books are now outdated, as the latest edition was done 14 years ago.
The books in the chameleonfroums bookstore might be better titles to read:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/bookstore/

 

[vgaines]

She might be about to shed or it could an infection in the other eye.
Have you added the live plants yet?
Maybe the dry air is irritating her eyes and creating a susceptibility to infection.
Since she is already getting eye drops, I know that I would be tempted to do both eyes but would be sure to up the humidity to required levels, if they aren't already.
I am adding the live plants tonight. I will be keeping a close eye on humidity this weekend. I may be adding a plastic shower curtain around sides and back and see if that helps.
I know that Philippe DeVosjoli wrote books on a number of lizard species but I suspect that his books are now outdated, as the latest edition was done 14 years ago.
Are there any good chameleon books on iBooks or other e books?
The books in the chameleonfroums bookstore might be better titles to read:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/bookstore/

Thanks for the advice.. I will keep posting updates...

Virginia

 

[absolutbill]

It sounds like you are doing all the right things for your little girl. I'm normally a "go check the books" kind of girl, but in the case of chameleons, most of the people on this forum have more updated knowledge than you'll find in books. We have the "real-world" experience, and while I own quite a few chameleon books, they are primarily for the pictures.

Also, because it hasn't been mentioned, I'll chime in on another point. You mentioned that you have a bearded dragon. They can carry coccidia, which is harmless to them, however can be quite dangerous to a chameleon. Always remember to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after handling Fire and before handling (or even touching anything) in your cham's cage. I have 3 chams and 3 dragons, so on feeding day I make sure do feed the chams first, then the dragons, just in case.

Also, I like where you are looking to move your cage to. Your little girl will feel a lot more secure up high, and you can always pull over a chair to adjust anything at the top of the cage. Best of luck!

 

[vgaines]

Rain not eating/drinking

I have not seen her eat or drink for two days now. I feed her from a feeding cup and I dump it every evening to make sure they are re gut loaded and put them back in before I go to work at 6:30am so they are there when her lights come on at 7. I have taken her out to do the eye wash and eye drops and I have been dripping warm water on her nose and she has been drinking that way. I make my hand mister drip onto the plants and vines in her enclosure but she runs from the dripping water.

Her left eye looks great but now she is squinting her right eye. Should I take her back to the vet? I am supposed to call to day for the follow up. Dr Scott said that if everything looked good not to bring her back because of the stress issue. Could the stress of her being handled twice a day to treat eye be causing her not to eat? She has been sleeping a lot this weekend and I really am worried. When she is awake she is active. I know she is very young (under 2 months) and I am hoping that is the reason for her sleeping.

I have added one live plant , hibiscus, to the bottom of her enclosure and have wrapped three sides with a clear shower curtain which has helped a lot with keeping the humidity levels up.

I know that these chameleons of ours like to keep us guessing and stressed so I just wanted y'all's opinion on this matter.

Thanks in advance,
Virginia

 

[vgaines]

OK.. Think I figured out the no eating problem. I decided to try and free feed. Well, as soon as she saw a cricket running around the enclosure she came straight over to the closest one and grabbed it. I am thinking I need to use something different as far as cup feeding. She seems to not be interested if the crickets are just crawling around on the bottom. I watched a video on making feeding cups on this forum and I think I'm gonna see if that works better.. Now she is sitting under her heat light with her head tilted up towards the heat. I will be sure to get all crickets out when I get home from class this evening.

Her right eye is still looking funny. But the skin on her head looks a little dusty so I am thinking she is about to shed. Could that be why she is keeping the one eye closed most of the time? I know she can open it all the way because she did when I was putting the drops in her left eye this morning..Today was last day for the drops so I am just gonna leave her alone for a couple of days and see what happens.

Thanks
Virginia