Impaction, defecated finally, still won't eat

[SilverWolf]

After a vet visit, my Jackson Chameleon, Tricky was given lactulose by the veterinarian. She sent me home with some, saying that I should give it to him twice a day (dosage 0.05). This was because, Tricky had an impaction, and had not eaten or defecated for ten days. Earlier while he was sleeping, aspirated on the fluids given to him by the veterinarian. Thankfully, the following day (this morning) I found that he had defecated, and quite a large amount of fecal matter too. So this tells me that it is a certainty he was impacted. Nevertheless, he still will not eat, and I am not really sure if I'm supposed to give him anymore lactulose (although I haven't given him any yet, he's only had however much the vet gave him yesterday).

The fact that he defecated should be a good sign, but he's still not eating and I am not so sure what else to do.

 

[WilcoxAE]

Congrats on the poo!

Did you happen to look closely at it to see what was in it? I had a male that became impacted because he had a thing for eating dirt, and his stool CLEARLY indicated that as it had dirt in it that was never digested.

Well, when WAS the last time the little guy had any nutrients? Aside from the medicine?

And really, the medicine might be making him feel a little ooky. ?

 

[Action Jackson]

I agree you need to inspect his feces closely to try and determine why or what caused his poopy problem.

 

[SilverWolf]

This is gross but here is the picture of the fecal matter that I found today.

I do not know what caused this. I did see him snatch too big crickets at once before, maybe that contributed? This has happened occasionally but just recently I've taken even more precautions to make sure this doesn't happen; because I added a bit too much water the last time I made a batch of my own gutloading cubes for the crickets, they molded faster. Sometimes (as I said not often) I would see the the second day without switching them for a new one, was super moldy and gross. Perhaps a cricket consumed some mold, that got to, Tricky and made him sick or caused an impaction?

EDIT: Also, I just gave him 0.05 of the lactulose while giving him some water. No unusual reaction although a few minutes later he turned around and gaped for like 3 seconds.

second edit: now he's sleeping again. He has been sleeping pretty much the whole day. He's probably lethargic from not eating anything. I am very concerned that he's gone ten days without eating. Since I was told to give him 0.05 lactulose twice a day I probably will once more. I was actually going to call Dr. Greek just to see if he could say something over the phone but I think his office is closed Wednesdays.

 

[Carlton]

Maybe to get some calories into him you could give him a dropper with Pedialyte. If he'll drink, start dripping it on his nose giving him a chance to lick and swallow on his own. Might perk him up a little. If this helps, maybe the next step would be some "bug juice". Liquids, but some feeder nutrition without the chitin.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Get a superworm , cut off the head, squeeze the good stuff out like toothpaste and put it at the back of his throat. It's easy to digest that way without the exterior. I'd say get about one in him a day and let him alone. I personally wouldn't give any more of the med since he clearly got the blockage out and he's quite weak. Personally I'm still not sure he'll make it for you either way, so you are in the standard chameleon keeper position of "dammed if I do and dammed if I don't". Your call either way. I can only share what I do and I do roll the dice sometimes.

Pedialyte or a little Gatorade would help too if he'll drink some. Good luck.

 

[SilverWolf]

Get a superworm , cut off the head, squeeze the good stuff out like toothpaste and put it at the back of his throat. It's easy to digest that way without the exterior. I'd say get about one in him a day and let him alone. I personally wouldn't give any more of the med since he clearly got the blockage out and he's quite weak. Personally I'm still not sure he'll make it for you either way, so you are in the standard chameleon keeper position of "dammed if I do and dammed if I don't". Your call either way. I can only share what I do and I do roll the dice sometimes.

Pedialyte or a little Gatorade would help too if he'll drink some. Good luck.

All I've got is gatorade...gatorade for a chameleon?

r u 4 real or r u tr0lling?

 

[jannb]

I often mash worms for my old and or sick guys. I've also use Repta Boost. If you don't feed him he will be come weaker and die.

 

[SilverWolf]

I often mash worms for my old and or sick guys. I've also use Repta Boost. If you don't feed him he will be come weaker and die.

After mashing them, how do you go about giving them to your chameleon(s)?

 

[jannb]

After mashing them, how do you go about giving them to your chameleon(s)?

I put them in a syringe without a needle and feed them. The Repta Boost come with is't own syringe but it's a little big for me and I normally us a little smaller one. You can buy Repta boost at petco or Petsmart.
http://t.petco.com/product/117291/Flukers-ReptaBoost-Insectavore-And-Carnivore-High-Amp-Boost.aspx

 

[OldChamKeeper]

All I've got is gatorade...gatorade for a chameleon?

r u 4 real or r u tr0lling?

I don't "troll" when it comes to offering some help. I've used Gatorade for over twenty years in a pinch with sick animals needing hydration. Just make sure you clean up any on the floor of the cage when done so it doesn't get sticky later.

For food you can either go with Jannb's or my way. Both are solid methods.

 

[SilverWolf]

I put them in a syringe without a needle and feed them. The Repta Boost come with is't own syringe but it's a little big for me and I normally us a little smaller one. You can buy Repta boost at petco or Petsmart.
http://t.petco.com/product/117291/Flukers-ReptaBoost-Insectavore-And-Carnivore-High-Amp-Boost.aspx

I'll go buy some now - thank you!

 

[SilverWolf]

I don't "troll" when it comes to offering some help. I've used Gatorade for over twenty years in a pinch with sick animals needing hydration. Just make sure you clean up any on the floor of the cage when done so it doesn't get sticky later.

For food you can either go with Jannb's or my way. Both are solid methods.

I am sorry I did not intend any offense I was merely trying to make light of the situation.

I do have some red gatorade in the refrigerator. Should I give it to him in a small syringe the same way I gave him the medicine - and how much should I give him?

 

[SilverWolf]

Well I gave him a very little bit of Gatorade. Hopefully that will help.

 

[laurie]

I sure hope things turn around. I have kept chams for years, and any time I have a problem OldChamKeeper is where I go for help. He really is the best cham person I know. He can save chams that have o reason to be alive. I have two here that would be dead without his help.

 

[Carlton]

I am sorry I did not intend any offense I was merely trying to make light of the situation.

I do have some red gatorade in the refrigerator. Should I give it to him in a small syringe the same way I gave him the medicine - and how much should I give him?

Years ago before there were herp-specific emergency re-hydration/energy boost options all we had was Gatorade. Pedialyte was a little better, but only to be used sparingly to give a very sick cham some sugars and electrolytes. I've saved a few chams who were literally lying at death's door using it.

 

[SilverWolf]

Years ago before there were herp-specific emergency re-hydration/energy boost options all we had was Gatorade. Pedialyte was a little better, but only to be used sparingly to give a very sick cham some sugars and electrolytes. I've saved a few chams who were literally lying at death's door using it.

That's really fascinating but thank you to everyone who has been letting me know! I did just give him a very little bit of Gatorade last night, but I really wasn't sure on just how much to give him.

Tricky defecated again just now, this time though it was just a very bit of urates. How often do chameleons defecate a day? I'm starting to think that now he is just being picky with food choice, since the blockage seemed to be removed just yesterday.

EDIT: Well looking at this closely...he defecated quite a bit I see several droplets of urates and feces where he was earlier. He tends to defecate in the same spot. If he won't eat the cricket I'm almost certain it is just him being picky. I'll have to offer him multiple other feeders.