Newly Acquired blind and dehydrated chameleon..need help nursing him back to health.

[ThreeWhites]

I recently took in a chameleon for a teenager who neglected him. The boy said he was blind and had been for a while. He said he was dehydrated and he just needed a lot of water. I knew there was more to that and wanted to save the poor guys life. I didn't realize how bad he was until a week of no eating or drink despite all my efforts. I have started to force feed him and make him drink. I feel like he is just not getting better and I don't know what to do. Can a VET do anything or will they do the same that I am doing? Can a VET put an iv into a chameleon to give him fluids, foods, and vitamins.

I have never owned a chameleon before but my husband and I have other lizards, snakes, and frogs. We have been wanting a chameleon and previously did research on them. Since aquiring him my husband built a nice screen cage, we put some moss stuff on the bottom to help keep humidity in there and to make it softer if he were too fall. He also has several fake plants and vines. We have one of those reptile drippers in there and we mist the plants thoroughly several times a day. I also pull him out of the cage and use a dropper to make sure he is getting adequate water.

I have tried the shower deal but its extremely hard with a poor little blind guy. I have been putting a bowl full of water on a heating pad and then letting him crawl on my hands in the bowl. I mist over him and also I don't know what else to do and wanted any possible advise on what to do myself or if I should take him to a VET. My main concern with a VET is to just leave him there and them not do any more than I do. I have been giving him a lot of care and dont want him to just sit in a box or something at a VETS office. Not to say anything bad about VETs but I worked for a clinic before and they were treated medically but that was about it.

Thanks,
Ashley and Damian

My husband and I rescue all types of animals and if we can't care for them we pass them to someone who can.

I just read another post about MBD and I have several other lizards and frogs and I dust their food daily with either calcium and multivitamins as required. All my animals also have proper lighting. Im not sure what the previous kid did for him but I hope to turn this guys life around. I can't stand to see any animal suffer. I am pretty positive this guy is going to the VET but before I take him I want to know what a VET can or cant do.


Im in Tampa, FL ---Does anyone know of any good reptile vets?

 

[FFSTRescue]

Definitely take him to a vet so they can give him subcutaneous fluids so they can be rapidly absorbed. Many times their intestines and kidneys are compromised so that giving them oral fluids alone will not be enough. He most likely needs calcium and other vitamins given subQ as well, and vets have vitamin mixtures that they can inject along with saline and dextrose so his liver doesn't shut down as well. You need to go to a good vet that treats more than just dogs and cats, hopefully one that knows reptiles. Good luck and I hope it all goes well...

 

[Elizadolots]

You are very sweet people....

There's a post up above with info on veterinary resources.

I agree that he should get to a vet as soon as possible. In the meantime, I think your warm water bath is a great idea and will likely help a lot.

I think FFSTRescue has done a great job of explaining why a vet is needed.

Where you are, I would think there are great vets with loads of chameleon experience. I'm sure you'll be getting recommendations soon. As long as the vet is known to be good with chameleons, I don't think you need to be overly concerned. I do get why you are concerned so hopefully someone will chime in with an explicit recommendation for you.

 

[FFSTRescue]

Do you have a picture of him you can post on here so we can give a general assessment?

Also, you need to try to find out as much information as you can about what the kid was giving him as far as supplements. If he was giving multivitamins and D3 constantly, then the vet will have to give subcutaneous (under the skin) fluid injections to flush it out and relieve some of the strain on the internal organs. Vitamins A, D, and E are fat soluble and therefore if given in too high amounts, can cause organ damage and be toxic. So if those were given, the vet needs to know. If they were never given, then the vet can give an injection of A,D, and E, because lack of those vitamins can be fatal as well, with vitamin A possibly causing the blindness. The problem is that hypervitaminosis (too much) and hypovitaminosis (too little) of a certain vitamin can show similar symptoms which is why it is important to know as much about the history as you can. You also need to try to find out what lights were used and you need to be careful with what lights you are using now so no further damage can be done to already damaged eyes. I guarantee you that it will behoove you and the chameleon to see a reptile veterinarian and they can do MUCH more than we can do at home, hence their 4+ years of veterinary schooling beyond college. Thank you for being so sweet and taking this wonderful creature in, we need more people like you in this world!

 

[ThreeWhites]

Thank you all for the sweet comments. I found a VET in Tampa that I am going to call tomorrow. I will also post a pic tomorrow for all to see.

I previously called a VET about assistance with an injured snake we found and the VET said they could watch him and keep the wound clear and that was all they could do to help. I was upset with the response and thats kinda of why I was concerned about taking the poor guy to one. I guess thats the difference between one who specializes in reptiles???

I will keep the post updated with what happens with the VET and hopefully he will be on the road to recovery soon.

I too wish there was more animal lovers as well, I hate seeing animals being abused or not taken care of. Thankfully my husband loves animals as well, I can't walk away from an animal in need. I have a partially paralyzed beardie that I love to death. I bought her from petsmart and I never put her down while I was in the store, I didnt want them to see her hurt and not let me have him...lol She is probably the sweetest lizard ever!!!

I will try to get information from the kid who had him. He was at a local petstore asking for help or trying to find him a new home.

 

[Julirs]

Which Vet? There are not a ton of chameleon experienced.