Urgent! Chameleon dying or in labour?? **Large photos**

DanielleLb

DanielleLb

New Member
Hey everyone, I'm new. My name is Danielle
Now I'm no chameleon pro, my veiled chameleon Princess Lemi-Winks was originally my boyfriend's so I've kind of become a co-owner since we live together. She's about 3 or 4 and has never laid eggs but we assume now she is trying.

She started out tipping over from her branches, weak grip, not holding herself up. Laying on the palm of my hand with her eyes closed. I thought she was dehydrated because it has been scorching hot lately. So we showered her and gave her water which she drank. She didn't really have any other signs, her appearance and eyes were okay. We thought we must be ready to lay eggs, and she won't eat.

Now she's lying in the tunnel WE had to dig for her, worried she would become eggbound. It's day 3 now and still no eggs. She hasn't left that spot, her eyes look very tired. We rubbed her belly and by her back legs a few time which she seems to like.

She is very green with darker green spots right now. She is normally very healthy, she has a huge area of branches-she isn't confined to a cage and is very strong from always climbing all over it.

Is she going to be okay?? :(

Phase 1:
DSC_0350.jpg
Laying down on her branch, not normal.

Phase 2:
DSC_0353.jpg


Sorry about the mass sized pics...didn't know they would turn out that big off photobucket.
 
That is the issue...we may do that. But the vets are really expensive and we are students but I am worried sick :(

Do you think she's eggbound or just sick? After almost 4 years she has never showed anything like this before.
 
4 years is pretty old for a female Veiled. I would second the Vet visit as I really don't think there is anything else you can do. She may need a shot of oxytocin to get her to lay eggs if she is in fact eggbound.
 
Jannb is correct you need a vet ASAP. If she is egg bound they can give her a shot to help. I have lost a female veiled to egg bound and that is not how she acted but they are all different. if you two care about that cham see a vet. If you choose not to see a vet you can post, after 2 or 3 days of agony for the cham that she is dead. I am not trying to be mean but rather have you understand how serious this is for that chameleon. Best of luck.
 
Julirs said:
4 years is pretty old for a female Veiled. I would second the Vet visit as I really don't think there is anything else you can do. She may need a shot of oxytocin to get her to lay eggs if she is in fact eggbound.
Click to expand...

Yes she must be 3 or 4, I think my boyfriend got her when he was 18 or 19 and now he's 21.
Don't they eventually die when they are eggbound though?? I'm worried taking her to the vet will make it worse, but if we don't, then what?

Should I post this in health clinic?
 
Does she look pregnant? I don't want to lift her up and disturb her. I am already heartbroken about this, I am very fond of her :(

I started rubbing her belly just now because she is really leaning to one side now and keeps trying to close her eyes! She seems to like it, she kind of lifts up when I do it and turns a really nice shade of green.
 
DanielleLb said:
Does she look pregnant? I don't want to lift her up and disturb her. I am already heartbroken about this, I am very fond of her :(

I started rubbing her belly just now because she is really leaning to one side now and keeps trying to close her eyes! She seems to like it, she kind of lifts up when I do it and turns a really nice shade of green.
Click to expand...

Closing her eyes is not a sign of comfort. She is probably very stressed and in pain, I would follow the advice given and take her to the vet.
 
chambabysitter1 said:
Closing her eyes is not a sign of comfort. She is probably very stressed and in pain, I would follow the advice given and take her to the vet.
Click to expand...

I know closing her eyes is a bad sign. I didn't think it meant comfort. I said I went over and rubbed her stomach BECAUSE she kept closing her eyes. When she does that I'm scared she's dead so I touch her and she opens them.

And so like I said, I'm a university student, I can barely pay rent let alone vet. I don't have 80 dollars to take her for a consultation and then pay for her treatment. I get paid Friday but that may be too late. I wanted to know if there is anything I can do myself but if vet is the last resort well then I guess I will have to figure out where I'll come up with 80 plus dollars.

Not to mention, there is one reptile vet where I am, Ottawa. Last time I called they offered me an appointment for days later, which really doesn't help in an emergency!
 
I wish there was something we could do other than offer advice, but in the end a qualified veterinarian for chameleons will be your best bet.

We're all hitting tough times, but I am sorry to say that you may be out of options other than seeing a vet.

Here is a financial tip though, when you do see a vet, make sure they have experience with Chameleons. I would ask a fellow Canadian where a good local vet may be. Taking it to someone who claims to take care of chameleons, but has no experience doing so, could turn out to be a dire financial mistake.

Anyways, good luck to you and your chameleon. If you need financial help, perhaps you can appeal to the animal hospital or local rescues for help. You'd be surprised how much people want to help as long as you seek them out.
 
Yes, she looked very very pregnant.
And, she is digging to try to push the eggs out of her.
In this case, I am afraid you have come to the critical point.

Being eggbound is extremely dangerous for female chams.
Vet is no longer an option.. it's a must, if you want her to have a chance to survive.
There are some Canadian keepers here that can recommend you the best vet.
Make an appointment asap. in the meantime, give her a bit of privacy.
Continuous prodding while a female cham in labor is not helping.

Try to tell your vet about your money problem. He/she might be able to help you.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice! I hope she will be okay.

The next available appointment is June 1st, which is no good. Emergency appointments don't allow payment plans which really sucks for my financial situation. Ugh worst time to be broke!

Letting her just be in agony would be cruel.

I'm asking my mom right now, "you can buy another one with that money...it's a reptile" :mad:
 
Perhaps the best choice of action right now is contacting a local herp rescue and asking if they would take her in.. Or start emailing people you think would take good care of her and has the money to take her to the vet.
 
What vet office?

Where are you located? Perhaps some users can help you find a good trustworthy vet.

Exotic pets come with exotic prices and upkeep. I would definitely do alot of research, and prepare financially for disasters such as this one next time around.

Stuff happens, it does to the best of us, but the least we can do as keepers is prepare for impending disaster and hope for none.
 
I'm in Ottawa, I called a vet, they said they take reptiles but to go to this other place Crown Pointe Animal Hospital, who have a vet especially for reptiles. It's also a hour long bus ride, I'm worried about transporting her too. Is anyone in this forum from Ottawa???
 
I'm bringing her to the vet in 2 hours, wish us luck everyone!
Shes laying on her side now and won't move except for her eyes so I hope she will be ok!!
 
Hey everyone,
I just got back from the vet. He thought her behaviour was very strange, not good :(. It's almost like she's paralyzed, her arms and back legs are stiff in place and so are her claws. Only her eyes are moving!

BUT she is not pregnant, no eggs at all. The vet said it's not true that a veiled female has to lay eggs in her life which I had thought, due to what I had found in my research. He said it would almost be easier if she WAS eggbound, because then he would just spade her and she would be okay. It's very mysterious.

Her liver is very enlarged, he thinks she may have been exposed to something toxic, like in her sand and that is why the liver is so big because the liver is what flushes the toxins out (as is ours :p) she might have liver disease. Her spine also has some little blobs as he showed me on the x-ray so it could also be a spinal problem-which might explain why she can't move.

He's calling me tomorrow when he gets the blood work back. It cost a lot though, and she may not recover, sucks :( She's laying limply on her SIDE with her legs and her arms bent in the air, on a blanket under the lamp like he instructed.

Anyone else know of their cham having these problems?
 
I haven't heard of a chameleon getting spayed all that often.

I really hope she comes out of this fine.
 
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