I REALLY need some help... :(

[PenelopeLove]

Hi Everyone...

It seems things are still not going as well as hoped..

Although Penelope is getting stronger and her colours are not as dark, she is EXTREMELY light.. almost white with green and now a little blue along the top of her back.

She still isn't eating on her own and I have had to go back to force feeding everyday as she has lost the weight she put on. She is digesting properly and I get a urate everyday from her.

Day before yesterday I noticed that one of her eyes isn't opening. I flushed a bit of water over it and then she started to open it again. it isn't swollen and I have been monitoring it to see if anything is changing, but haven't noticed anything there is no discharge and besides the fact that she's keeping it closed, it looks normal.

She also has a little cut on the heal of one of her hands.. it doesn't seem to be bothering her and is healing without infection.. this hand actually has stronger grip than the other (another thing we're still working on!) but both front hands seem to be getting a tiny bit better as far as her grip goes.. she still isn't able to climb, but she is trying. Poor darling just gets so frustrated that she cant climb and she puffs up and hisses at herself! I just want to pick her up and give her a cuddle and tell her everything will be ok!

If anyone has anymore advice, PLEASE TELL ME! I feel a bit like there's something I'm still not doing right and I'm not helping her... I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks from next week so I will be able to dedicate lots of time to her

 

[Kate]

With all the changes you have made she is perhaps getting used to it. Could her basking temps be a little high? You and penelope have come a long way in the last few weeks. Well done both. It can be frustrating when things go slowly. Could she have hurt her hand while trying to climb? Keep it clean and keep an eye on it.

 

[PenelopeLove]

With all the changes you have made she is perhaps getting used to it. Could her basking temps be a little high? You and penelope have come a long way in the last few weeks. Well done both. It can be frustrating when things go slowly. Could she have hurt her hand while trying to climb? Keep it clean and keep an eye on it.

Yes I think she might have scratched it when trying to climb.. poor little love.. she is just so frustrated..

I will keep an eye out on the cut... I don't think her temps are too high.. actually I think she is a little cold because she is so low all the time! But after I feed her I'm giving her a warm bath (just run water from the tap onto my hand and let it gently fall over her body) to help her digest.. she seems to really like this.. she relaxes and her colours come out really lovely...

Do you have any other suggestions you think might help?

 

[jannb]

I am sorry to hear that Penelope is not showing that much improvement. If she is spending most of her time on the bottom you should lower her lights down so she can stay warm or make her a net so something across her cage for her to stay on so she can be up closer to the lights.

I have lost several females and they turn a light color before they pass. I sure hope this is not what's happening to Penelope.

 

[camimom]

whats her basking temp at?
do you have her in her regular cage, or a hospital cage?
how long has the eye been closed?
any chance you can get your hands on some terramycin? its a medication that can be used for eye infections. even if her eye isnt oozing or swollen yet, a drop or two wont hurt in case she did somehow damage it.

her pooping regularly is a great thing.

i would try a very warm shower misting for her right now, instead of the bath.

If you need directions on that, lemme know.

have you used bug juice on her yet?

ive forgotten what else she was on.. can you remind me please?

 

[mcbdz]

Can you post new pics of her and of her enclosure? Will help refresh memory and let us see changes.

 

[PenelopeLove]

Jannb, Camimom and mcbdz - thanks for your replies..
Basking temps are around 70.. Might try the net thing to get her up closer.. She's in her 18x18x18 for now till she gets better and then I'll be building her big grl cage..
I need to go in to pick up some stuff for pin worms from the vet.. He said that normally the amount found wouldn't be treated as its pretty normal but because she's been unwell he'd like her to have something for it.. Maybe I'll get him to check her out when I go.. I'll show him her eye and see if I can get the stuff for her
I have given her a veggie/fruit juice before which seemed to help things a lot.. I might make that again and do a juice and cricket feed so she's getting plenty of nutrients..
I know about the warm shower misting.. I'll give that a whirl.. When I most her cage I'm using warm water as well for her
I'll send in a pic once I get home so you can see her little hospital and see how she's looking.. I just want to help her get better!

 

[camimom]

Well part of her problem is her baskng tmep, it needs to be around 84.
make bug juice. then you can feed that to her.

 

[PenelopeLove]

Well part of her problem is her baskng tmep, it needs to be around 84.
make bug juice. then you can feed that to her.

Thanks camimom I'll get that sorted for sure!

 

[PenelopeLove]

Ok this is her little house for now...

 

[camimom]

I would suggest removing those taller plants, and putting in some low sticks and vines, as well as a soft towel on the bottom.

 

[PenelopeLove]

I would suggest removing those taller plants, and putting in some low sticks and vines, as well as a soft towel on the bottom.

Most of the vine in her cage is along the floor at the moment and I often find she has climbed up into the potplants to snooze... but I will see if I can find a towel for her

Just waiting for pics of her to show you all..

 

[PenelopeLove]

This is her tonight.. a little sleepy as I had to wake her so I could get some pics for you guys..
She's a little dark in some of them, then gets a little more relaxed..






I have one of the cut on her hand which I'll send shortly.

 

[camimom]

She looks dehydrated and underweight.

I would get some bug juice in her asap, as well as water.

can you get reptiaid?

 

[PenelopeLove]

She looks dehydrated and underweight.

I would get some bug juice in her asap, as well as water.

can you get reptiaid?

Yes, she lost weight she gained in the last week as I was trying to give her a chance to eat on her own but have started force feeding again. I give her a few mls of water each time I weight her and give her the ZocalD.. I'll try to give her a little more though.. I've been misting with warm water to help keep the temps up for her..

Just trying to get the pics of her hand so you can see the cut.

 

[camimom]

Ok just keep feeding bug juice. and the booster, and water..

 

[nimmitz]

poor little gal
i hope things get better for you and your cham, truly

bug juice, such a great idea hah I will keep that one in mind in case of a feeding emergency.

 

[ChameleonMom]

I hate to say this but she doesn't look good. She looks severely dehydrated and underweight - both of which you already know. I am sorry as I know you have been really doing everything you can for her. One thing I will suggest...for the cut on her hand, if you have access to Polysporin or an antibiotic cream similar to this you can put it on her cut until you have a chance to get her to the vet. This will facilitate healing and hopefully keep it clean in the meantime. You are in good hands with the more experienced members on this forum, so I won't add to the already good advice. I will keep checking back to see how she's doing....good luck and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Penelope.

 

[PenelopeLove]

Yes, I know she still isn't looking good... I'm going to keep trying with her and as long as she seems ok and I can see improvements each day, then I will keep helping her.. if thing turn the other way and things get worse, then I will take her to the vet and ask his advice on euthanasia.. I don't want to be unfair to her.

I have some of the polysporine at home and have started to put that on for her.. I've moved her plants around and made everything in her cage much lower and easier for her to move around.. she isn't sleeping as much and is moving spots a fair bit in the day, so it's nice to see some energy coming back... her eye (which she was keeping closed) was opening up a little more today but I will continue to watch out for it.

I've put a few pics below of her that show her colours when she is relaxed.. also one of the cut on her foot (it looks pretty yuck cause she had some dirt on it.. I just took her out of her potplants..

 

[Kate]

She definatly has a long way to go but IMO she kooks better in these latest pics than the avatar. Keep up the good work.