URI and CONSTIPATION

Jeag

Jeag

New Member
I need help again! My chameleon has been struggling with an URI which turned into pneumonua and he is so up and down. One Dec nd he is stable and doing well and the next he is vomiting, lethargic, and declining. He is currently on Baytril and he has not had a bowel movement in over two weeks. He didn't eat any solids though for almost two whole weeks though, only critical care supplement. Took him to the vet today again and they did an x-ray, apparently he is constipated but good news is pneumonia has almost cleared up. They don't feel he is impacted severely at this point but I've tried everything to get him to have a bowel movement. Tried a couple drops of mineral oil, baby pears, warm showers, nothing is working. They finally did prescribe him a laxative today and he had it this morning but it's now evening and still no luck. Also whenever he tries to eat a bug he starts gasping for air and acts like he can't breathe but when he's not eating his breathing has been pretty good. Any more advice on helping get a BM? And also if anyone knows of the choking after eating might be due to the constipation or the URI or maybe a combination of both? He is a full sized panther chameleon and I'm only giving him small super worms and crickets currently. TIA!
 
Glad to hear the pneumonia is almost cleared up!

Can he shoot his tongue out all the way? Does he adjust his tongue (move it around in his throat or expand the gular pouch at times)?
Did he have any trouble with ingesting the critical care diet? Throw up after?
 
Last edited:
Can be shoot his tongue out all the way? Does he adjust his tongue (move it around in his throat or expand the gular pouch at times)?
Did he have any trouble with ingesting the critical care diet? Throw up after?[/QUOTE]

Yes he shoots his tounge out and his tongue looks very healthy. He just starts moving his head around and wiggling his body like it's hard to swallow and then he will cough and hold his head up and gasp for air and expands his gym at pouch for a good 10 minutes after he eats a bug.

He did not have a hard time with the critical care. He would gasp for air a little bit he was also very sick. He did not throw up the critical care, he would just do the gasping rattling from the URI.
 
Dang it! I will look when he opens to see if I can visually see anything. The vet had no idea also. I really appreciate what help you have given me. I'm fairly new at chameleons and any help is much appreciated. Any suggestions to help a long a BM?
 
Try to keep him well hydrated....make sure he drinks but don't force him so that he aspirates the water. Dripper is best for this IMHO
.if he'll take insects at all try moist ones like small small hornworms. I'm going to keep looking but I don't know how much I will find.
 
kinyonga said:
I've seen this body wiggling in some people's chameleons on here before but don't think it was ever figured out. It just strikes me like it could be something stuck in the throat or where the tongue is stored but I have no way of knowing. I wish I could be more helpful.

I hate to post this but it sounds like what your chameleon is doing somewhat...
http://chamworld.blogspot.ca/2008/01/health-section-c-impaction.html
Click to expand...

I actually saw that link a while ago and thought the same. The vet said he seems to think that he isn't impacted though. He said it doesn't look as if his feces is hard. They prescribed lactulose for him and I'm hoping it helps. He looks super bloated today after giving it but so far he hasn't vomited today
 
One more thought...I wonder if it could be lung worms?
Lungworms in dogs causes coughing and choking and pneumonia.
 
Last edited:
kinyonga said:
One more thought...I wonder if it could be lung worms?
Click to expand...

Would that show up in an x-ray? Are they treatable? The vet gave me an antiparasitic called metronidazole because he suspects he may have parasites but we can't get a fecal sample because he hasn't gone to the bathroom. We did decide to not treat with the antiparasitic until after we finish the antibiotic and see if we can get a fecal sample first. I'm praying for a BM by morning. It's not 9:22 on my time and he is fast asleep but hopefully by morning
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    279.8 KB · Views: 117
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

laurynholly
Possible thermal burn?
Replies
10
Views
849
laurynholly
laurynholly
D
Broken Nail on my Jackson’s?
Replies
5
Views
679
Beman
Beman
Scoobysnak
Male Chameleon 4.5 years old losing movement in back legs and tail
Replies
8
Views
1K
MissSkittles
MissSkittles
Congo221
Chameleon Closing One Eye Intermittently
Replies
3
Views
658
LizardLurkin
LizardLurkin
Myrthe&Lucifer
Chameleon won't shoot right
Replies
16
Views
1K
Myrthe&Lucifer
Myrthe&Lucifer
Back
Top Bottom