Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
Im taking my Cham to the vet for the first time. Any particular way that is best to transport them there?
Vet Clinic
- Thread starter Nicholasdeaan
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Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
I'll try to Set up a large box with branches in it so she doesn't have to sit on the bottom. Would it hurt to lay a towel on the bottom and put a small heat pad underneath it?
Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
Ok I'll do that then. Thank you for the advice!
Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
That's great, I love it. I'm going to have to come up with something like that for the summer.
Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
Not a heat pad, a warmer. You know, like the ones you use for your hands? I'm doubling up a towel and putting the towel over it. She isn't going to get burned that way. That should be enough heat to keep her warm.
Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
Those don't give off a significant amount of heat. I feel it'll be fine. Thanks tho.
hand warmers...temperatures...
http://www.outsideonline.com/1785906/what-are-best-hand-warmers
http://www.outsideonline.com/1785906/what-are-best-hand-warmers
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
A hot water bottle might be better for heat. Even so, I always worry more about cooking an animal when adding heat to a small container. Once my vet sent me home with a heated IV drip bag after a several hour wait in a cold office. Most should be fine without any extra heat--you have a heater in the car. I've used the seat heater on occasion, but only for a short amount of time--again, I worry about cooking them. They do better with cold than overheating, but if your animal is quite sick, you probably don't want them to get chilled.
One thing, make the box small and dark. If it is light in their box, they will likely stress and struggle to escape. If it is dark, they will grab onto that branch (if you have one in their box) and curl up as if it is night. I use small plastic totes with holes drilled in them. They are about 7" x 7" x 10" long. I wad up paper towels but you can also add a small branch that is firmly attached to the box. A shoe box would work fine, but I would tape a shoe box shut (just throw a roll of tape in your car so you can tape it for the return trip. Smaller is better as you don't want them thrown around in the box in case t he box gets dropped or you have a sudden stop in the car. I will seat-belt them into my car or put them on the floor.
I carry mine in their totes inside a dark cloth bag with a dark towel thrown over the top. Make sure you are careful as you carry it and don't jar him when you put the box down, etc.
I do not recommend you carry your chameleon to the vet outside of a secured box. Aside from the risk of him getting lost in your car and possibly escape, there is the risk of distraction while you are driving. You don't know what other animals are in the office and whether or not the owners have them under control. Dogs are a huge danger, even leashed dogs. Even if you are dealing with a strictly exotic vet practice, you don't know what kind of animal is coming in that is not under their owner's control. Plus they can see too much and be stressed. If it is a crowded general animal practice, you might have the whole waiting room gathered around wanting to bother your chameleon.
One thing, make the box small and dark. If it is light in their box, they will likely stress and struggle to escape. If it is dark, they will grab onto that branch (if you have one in their box) and curl up as if it is night. I use small plastic totes with holes drilled in them. They are about 7" x 7" x 10" long. I wad up paper towels but you can also add a small branch that is firmly attached to the box. A shoe box would work fine, but I would tape a shoe box shut (just throw a roll of tape in your car so you can tape it for the return trip. Smaller is better as you don't want them thrown around in the box in case t he box gets dropped or you have a sudden stop in the car. I will seat-belt them into my car or put them on the floor.
I carry mine in their totes inside a dark cloth bag with a dark towel thrown over the top. Make sure you are careful as you carry it and don't jar him when you put the box down, etc.
I do not recommend you carry your chameleon to the vet outside of a secured box. Aside from the risk of him getting lost in your car and possibly escape, there is the risk of distraction while you are driving. You don't know what other animals are in the office and whether or not the owners have them under control. Dogs are a huge danger, even leashed dogs. Even if you are dealing with a strictly exotic vet practice, you don't know what kind of animal is coming in that is not under their owner's control. Plus they can see too much and be stressed. If it is a crowded general animal practice, you might have the whole waiting room gathered around wanting to bother your chameleon.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
I believe, a lot of those give off fumes.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
A short car ride around the neighbor should be done before any long trips. You will want to see how your little guy reacts to the ride. I would also be a good idea to have a passenger in the car to take care of him for the first few rides so you want be disturbed while driving. All of my guys have always loved riding and very rarely get off there trees.
Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
It's not a long trip to the vet. About 25 minutes tops. And she isn't getting put into a tiny box without having ventilation. She'll be in fairly large box with sticks and what not for her to climb on. Those hand warmers reach high temps when put into a small, confined area. I asure you she won't get burned. I'd rather do that than crank the heat in the car. It'd be to dry.
Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
And yes I'll get a tote approximately that size. If it feels to hot with the head pad, I'll try a water bottle with warm water instead. Thank you all! I'll post how it goes tomorrow.
