Not looking good..

[RedSrt007]

Not looking good..PLEASE HELP

Hello, my Panther is not looking good

https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-member-new-blue-panther-31970/ (original post should read 1-2 years not months)

He is about 4-5 years old now, and Im not sure if it is old age or what, but over the past few weeks he is getting worse.

His eyes are now WAY sucked in, and white and he is not moving around (just laying on the bottom of the cage). He is an indoor Chameleon with good UV & automatic misting for the last 3 years. His diet is mainly powdered crickets. Now he is lethargic and looks really bad

Just today, I put his cage outside for only this afternooon, incase he wants some sunlight to bask, and Im hand misting him to keep him comfortable.

Is there anyone in san diego that has some experience to look at him; I feel if he doesn't get looked at by a person who has experience (most vetts around here do not "work" on them a lot) he might not make it. He is in a 18x18x48 screen cage with fresh (cham approved) live plants...nothing has changed in the last couple weeks ?!?!

PM me and I will give you my number if you can give me some help / want to see Spike (his name)

 

[jannb]

Here's a good chameleon vet in your area. Get him there ASAP.
Thomas H. Boyer, DVM
Pet Hospital of Penasquitos, 888-F Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, CA - (858) 484-3490
Pet Hospital of Penasquitos

 

[RedSrt007]

Here's a good chameleon vet in your area. Get him there ASAP.
Thomas H. Boyer, DVM
Pet Hospital of Penasquitos, 888-F Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, CA - (858) 484-3490
Pet Hospital of Penasquitos

Called Emergency line, explained to them the situation (they are not open), they said he is extremely dehydrated. So what should I do now? Force feed him water? Take shower with him? Opinions?

 

[lindawaz]

you can drip water on his nose in hopes he will lick it off.
Put him in the shower on a plant have the warm water hit the wall and bounce onto him.

Thats all I know maybe others will be here to give you more tricks.

 

[RedSrt007]

Per searching on the forum, Someone recommended putting in warm water bath.

Pics

 

[VeiledChams]

He is severely dehydrated. What you want to do is put him in his plant and in your shower. Aim the shower nozzle at a wall so that the water (luke warm) bounces off and falls on the plant where he is. you can also get him horn worms as they are good for rehydrating.
Here's a blog for rehydrating chameleons.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ataraxia/454-dehydration-solutions-force-fluid-tips.html

 

[Elizadolots]

You might add some butterworms or waxworms to his diet. They are easy to come by (Petco and Petsmart usually have them) and will help hydrate him as well as maybe give him some more calories.

 

[RedSrt007]

Update #1

He wont drink or eat or anything, and slowly slipping away color-wise and almost dead So I tried a last ditch effort by taking a guitar pick and opening his mouth gently. Then gave him some water and Repta-Aid.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753955&cp=2767037.2769289

So here is were it gets strange....as soon as I get his mouth opened (which seemed to be glued shut, making a weird saliva / stuck noise when it opened) he starts to act normal again?! I put him in the shower per recommendations on the forum and he starts to drink a ton! Still not eating, but color is coming back, and he can hold himself up!

Seems the little guy might come around...Im going to keep on the Repta-Aid for a few more days to get his calorie count up.

 

[carol5208]

do you change out your uvb bulbs on a regular basis? Just wondering.... when was the last time you seen him drink prior to the drinking in the shower?

 

[jannb]

If he were mine I'd be on the way to the vets now.

 

[RedSrt007]

do you change out your uvb bulbs on a regular basis? Just wondering.... when was the last time you seen him drink prior to the drinking in the shower?

Every 6 months 5.0 UV - Gonna buy him a new bulb today..its been about 4 months just to be safe.

Have mist king - so I dont check / See him drinking, just assume he is from the timed mists. I have it set to 4x daily for 3-4 min per.

 

[lindawaz]

Have you called your Vet yet?

 

[Elizadolots]

Is there someone in the San Diego area with Panther experience who might be willing to do a house call and see if they have any advice?

 

[SilverDragoness]

Yucky saliva makes me wonder if there is mouthrot on board. Does he have a foul odor? Is he doing any wheezing or gaping?

 

[RedSrt007]

Update - With me feeding him 2x a day, and giving him water he is definitely gaining some weight back. He still cannot really climb and when he tries he shakes / quivers - very weak.

For the first time he pooped, and it was a tan very mucus looking...Anyone have an ideas what that could be (maybe the repta-aid?)

Thanks..

 

[Elizadolots]

It might be. He's also probably not getting his normal diet simply because he can't. I'm glad you are seeing improvement. I hope he continues to improve.