Lung Infection and Parasites - NO appetite!

[TAW229]

After a couple trips to the vet - We figured out that my 2 month old veiled Chameleon - George - has a lung infection and parasites! REASON NOT to by from a pet store!!!!! Ok, learned my lession. He's on Baytril and dewormer. Major issues is he's not eating or drinking at all. I tried the shower method that I read on but that majorly freaked him out. So I have been spraying him with warm water - that works better! I am using a no needle syringe to drop water in his mouth about every 3 hours. I can get maybe 5-10 drops of water in him. I mixed some canned cat food with water today and dropped some in his mouth so he would get some protien. On another blog someone suggested grinding up gut loaded crickets and adding that to the water. I'm going to try that. My questions are:

How often should I feed him water/crickets mix?

Should I mix in some calcium with D3 (that's all I have right now) and liquid vitamin A drops?

What type of water would be best to use? Right now I am using tap water (city water) with reptile dechlorinator conditioner. I don't have exact name right now.
I could get rain water in a clean container as it's supposed to rain tonight, buy a bottle of spring water or other water. What would be the best for him right now??

Is there anything else that I can give him to help him get better as far as suppliments?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[LeeroyJenkins]

These are all questions I would ask your vet since he is on med's now.

I've always gone with mountain spring water since I live in nevada and the water has a lot of minerals in it.

 

[kinyonga]

Did the vet run a fecal test to determine that the chameleon has a parasite?

Cat food usually has lots of vitamin A in it so I don't recommend using it to feed your chameleon. It likely has vitamin D3 in it too. You need to be careful not to overdose the chameleon with both of those vitamins.

When giving it water with a syringe or sprayer be careful not to get any into its lungs.

There is a recipe for bug juice that Susan James and Dr. Lopez created that you could feed the chameleon.

Supplements usually recommended are phos free calcium at most feedings, phosphorous free calcium/D3 twice a month and a vitamin powder with a beta carotene ( prOformed ) source of vitamin A twice a month.

Good luck with your chameleon's recovery!

 

[TAW229]

Yes vet ran a fecal test and it came back with the parasites.

I try to drip the water on his lips are on his teeth. I don't ever spray or squirt it into his mouth. Hopefully, this is ok and I would feel awful if it was getting into his lungs.

Thank you for the info about cat food. I will make the bug juice!

I will also purchase the suppliments you mentioned above.

Mountain spring water sounds like a good idea. I don't really know how the water is here in Tennessee. We only moved here a year ago.

I am doing a lot of praying for my little guy. I didn't think he would make it to this morning but so far he's still with us!

Thank you for the information. I appreciate it.

 

[jannb]

I'm sorry to hear about your little guy. Babies can be hard to keep. This is how I have has success keeping my babies.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[TAW229]

Update on George

It has been crazy! Little George would not take the Baytril Friday or Saturday. He would not open his mouth. Then he started with the gasping again yesterday. I was able to get him to open his mouth and get the Baytril in yesterday afternoon. I also cut back some on the dosage as he's really skinny and a bit dehydrated. The good news is he is eating on his own this morning (crickets), no gasping but again would not open his mouth for the medication so I just applied it between his lips on his teeth. He did lick it off, sort of. I then used a dropper and he licked some water off so I think he got most of the medication again today. If nothing else this has been quite a learning experience. He's still going strong despite me thinking I was giong to loose him about 3-4 times since last Saturday! I can feel his grip getting stronger, he climbs quicker, and has been all over his cage the past 2 days.

I have since stopped using the fogger (as some thought his may cause respitory issues) and now spray his cage 3-4 times a day depending on if he's dehydrated or not. I will use the fogger if I am out for more then a few hours especially because he is drinking but not enough and the air is really dry in my house. I have removed all the silk leafed vines (well the leaves not the vines). Once he has made a full recovery I am buying a small screened cage 18x18x36 (which is what my glass reptile cage is). I have a 24x24x48 screened cage but he's too small for that yet. Also, getting him a live plant to climb on.

One good thing that seems to have come from my experience taking care of George (who I have had three weeks now) is that he willingly climbs on my hand when I put it in the cage as long as I wait a few seconds for him to decide. My other chameleon never did this without come coaxing! FYI - I never grab him and always wait for him to climb on my hand.

 

[DragoLikesReptiles]

It's nice to hear your little guy is doing better and eating. Giving oral meds to chameleons is so heartbreaking, I had to give some to my chameleon after his amputation and it is terrible. You seem to be doing great, and I hope he fully recovers speedily.