Not looking good for Simba :(

KatCham

Established Member
OP here:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/strange-behaviour-simba-123067/

Day 2 of antibiotics and hes not good at all!!! :(:(:(

He's just sat with his eyes closed most of the day, then when hubby just came in he said hes hanging from branch by his tail upside down with all of his legs in the air and his head on the branch below.

He looked dead but I saw his throat moving so picked him up and righted him on the vine so he can go to sleep more comfortably.

It's breaking my heart seeing him like this!! :(:(:(

He's not interested in feeders and I haven't seen him drink. His eyes don't look sunken anymore though.

Will see how he looks tomorrow and maybe syringe some water in again.

He's still managing to keep his jaw clamped when I'm trying to administer antibiotics though!!! I can tell he's really ill as even when im trying to gently part his lips to get syringe in he's just not bothered!

Still expecting to have to let him go next week! :(:(:(
 
Best of luck to you and your Cham. My last Cham I had to put to sleep, it was absolutely awful and painful to watch. Very sad. I hope the antibiotics work. Do you know what caused gout? Are you sure it's gout? I would just make 100% certain there isn't any other factors in play here and I know it can be tricky figuring what's what.
 
Best of luck to you and your Cham. My last Cham I had to put to sleep, it was absolutely awful and painful to watch. Very sad. I hope the antibiotics work. Do you know what caused gout? Are you sure it's gout? I would just make 100% certain there isn't any other factors in play here and I know it can be tricky figuring what's what.

I'm so sorry about your cham!!! Rest in peace little one xxx

The vet is pretty sure its gout because of the lesion on his foot. She has a couple of suggestions of the cause but advised there would be no way of knowing for definite without a very thorough post mortem.

One of the suggestions was Vitamin A deficiency can cause complications in the kidneys causing them not to work properly. As a result of this, the waste products in the body are not removed and can crystalise around joint areas. Gout.

She advised his bone density was very good and as advised has prescribed a weeks worth of antibiotics should a bacterial infection be contributing anywhere in this case. If he is not better after the weeks course, we can be sure it is gout and vet advised nothing more can be done for him.

If it comes to that, I don't want him to carry on suffering like he is. He'll either fall and really hurt himself or he'll just waste away as he's totally lost his appetite. If I come to the end of this week and we are sure it is gout then as much as it will break my heart, seeing him like this hurts 100 times more, so I won't let my feelings get in the way of the decision to let him be at peace, free from pain and suffering.

I truly hope the meds help but I don't want to be too hopeful when the vet is pretty sure of the gout. It will only make it harder!!

Praying for my beautiful blue boy!
 
Oh Kat so sorry to hear this. Thoughts and prayers coming you and Simba's way.
 
Kat that is just awful! I am so sorry. You and Lucas will not even get to share Simba as Lucas grows up. How sad this is for you and Simba. My prayers coming your way.
 
Thank you Melissa, Kath and Laurie! Xxx

I know Laurie. It's so sad!! Lucas waves at him in his enclosure now!!!

He's no better today either :( day 3 of meds. Been out all day and he was in the same spot at bottom of enclosure when I came back in with eyes closed.

Strange because his grip is quite strong when being handled, just his balance is way off!! Managed to get meds and some water into him.

Popped back in under heat lamp n he just sat there again with eyes closed :(

I think if any improvement is going to occur it'll be from now. Although I really can't see it looking at him now :(

Just wish he'd eat! Think I'll get some wax worms tomorrow n try those.
 
Just hand in there and remember, no matter what we do, all our chams will pass sometime. Most will be before we pass, so when we get a Cham, it is a ticking clock on how long we have our chams.
 
So sorry to hear about your chameleon. It is hard watching them go through illness. When Romeo got sick they determined he had gout through xray and blood work. Did his blood work show high uric acid levels? If the gout is bad, it will show up on X-ray also.
 
I really hope you see improvement soon. I have been where you are on the waiting game with antibiotics-very stressful. You are in my thoughts.
 
Thank you everyone

Unfortunately my worst fears have been confirmed
No improvement at all and he won't eat or drink

Force fed a silkworm(thank you Kate) which was pretty much all in his mouth but he spat it out :(

I won't watch him slowly waste away. He's suffered enough and any more invasive tests by the vet will just tip him over the edge with stress :(

Devastated but the vet agrees the kindest thing to do will be to let him be at peace

Made appt for tomorrow :(
 
I'm so sorry to hear about simba.
Heartbreaking decision, but you've done everything anyone could possibly do. And you've put simba first, through any decision. Again,so sorry.kath.
 
Thank you everyone

Have since spoke to vet and she could see him today so I've said my goodbyes and lee(hubby) has taken him

You could see he's had enough when I got him out. Just sat on my hand with eyes closed

Ready for his sleep now

Rest in peace my beautiful boy xxx
 
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