Spitting up in the night?

[SilverWolf]

After getting home from the first vet visit, Tricky seemed rather lethargic. The first thing he did was go to sleep after being given the medicine that the veterinarian gave him. After she brought him back he had his eyes closed and when he would open them, he would also gape to show lots and lots of strings of saliva, very thick. it had never been that way before, and I asked the veterinarian if it was saliva, and she said it was. I suppose it is just a side effect from the medicine.

He seemed to be feeling better the more he slept at night, but just a few minutes ago I heard a strange squirting sound from his enclosure. I turned on the lights to check, and he had his eyes closed (still probably sleeping, as it is 2:44 AM) but there was a white fluid from his mouth, stringing to the leaves and branches below him. It looks like he spit up, as I noticed him open and close his mouth quickly, but not wide. I've attached a photograph here; it seemed like bubbly saliva to me. I am supposed to be giving him 0.05 dosage of lactulose twice a day to help with his impaction, but have yet to give him any other than what the veterinarian I think gave him earlier.

 

[Lathis]

That's terrible... Obviously something is very wrong. Could he have aspirated some of what the vet gave him? That could be very dangerous.

I would call the vet asap this morning. Where are you? Might be time for a new vet as well...

Poor little Tricky. I'm worried

 

[Lathis]

I just read the update on the other thread. You should consider giving Dr. Greek a call. Experienced keepers here swear by him.

 

[zlew]

There is something going on here, and it is more than just impaction. You have to get him to Dr. Greek ASAP. I'm sure you can work something out with the money since it is an emergency.

 

[SilverWolf]

There is something going on here, and it is more than just impaction. You have to get him to Dr. Greek ASAP. I'm sure you can work something out with the money since it is an emergency.

He did finally defecate, I noticed. That is a good sign and I will feed him (or make an attempt to) as soon as I get home from school. I suppose him spitting up must have been a reaction to the medicine the veterinarian gave him. Other than that, Tricky seems the same as he did yesterday, so I am going to call this vet and let her know what happened at least.

 

[SilverWolf]

There is something going on here, and it is more than just impaction. You have to get him to Dr. Greek ASAP. I'm sure you can work something out with the money since it is an emergency.

I will call him after school most likely. Do you think he could at least give me advice or provide (as much as he can) a diagnosis just over the phone without actually appointing a visit? Perhaps explain why he spit up. Not that I won't visit at all, but as I'm sure you agree, time is of the essence.

 

[Action Jackson]

From the information you gave and the symptoms you describe I would say it is likely he aspirated on the fluids your vet gave. I have seen the same things with a couple of my Chameleons. I don't know if this will help you but it worked with one of my Chameleons, hold him so his head is pointing straight down and see if he pukes up any liquid.

Always be very care squirting or putting fluids in a chameleons mouth. They can aspirate easy if not done correctly. Someone did a little tutorial here somewhere on the proper way to give meds orally.

 

[SilverWolf]

From the information you gave and the symptoms you describe I would say it is likely he aspirated on the fluids your vet gave. I have seen the same things with a couple of my Chameleons. I don't know if this will help you but it worked with one of my Chameleons, hold him so his head is pointing straight down and see if he pukes up any liquid.

Always be very care squirting or putting fluids in a chameleons mouth. They can aspirate easy if not done correctly. Someone did a little tutorial here somewhere on the proper way to give meds orally.

Yes I had the same thought, thank you. I will do some research, but since he defecated already, is there any need to keep providing the lactulose? I might give him that one 0.05 dosage today at least. My idea was to give it to him while he takes water from me. Sometimes he even opens his mouth for me to squirt it inside.