Vet Transportation…

[Rango_TheManEater]

I am desperately working on getting Rango to a vet ASAP, but everybody is booked to the brim within my area. I may have to drive a few extra miles for him, but I’m more than willing to do so.

For context— Rango (my male Veiled) is currently blind in one eye. It’s gotten worse since I last posted, and it now appears scabbed shut. He also cannot sense any movement on that side and is forced to turn his head in order to use the other eye to see whatever he thinks is moving (bugs, me walking past, etc).

But I’m struggling to think of a method to transport him. Do I give him a closed box with a stick in it so that he doesn’t slide around in my car? I’m nervous about him getting injured while on his way to a vet.

 

[Rango_TheManEater]

Here are a few photos of his affected eye. I briefly handled him to get a closer look, thinking that may have been shed stuck in his eye… but I was wrong. I have no clue what this is.

 

[Rango_TheManEater]

UPDATE: I finally scheduled an appointment ASAP with a vet who specializes in exotics. Friday at 12:30, Rango is getting seen!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Rango looks to have a closed fused eye not an infection. The vet should fix Rango's eye infection without problems. I have fixed plenty of my chameleons fused eye before. Normally regular misting prevents fused eye from happening.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[Carlton]

There should be lots of descriptions posted how people have transported their chams to vets if you do a forum search. A cham shut into a dark box will stop moving around fairly soon and sit still clutching a stable perch. I usually just wedged a sturdy branch at an angle inside a cardboard box (maybe with a bit of tape to keep the ends of the branch from slipping).

A cham isn't going to injure itself falling off a branch such a short distance. I like to put a folded cloth towel in the bottom just in case the cham does get off the perch. It will have something to grip to stabilize itself.

Some people get fancy and put together a small transport cage or plastic critter keeper with a branch in advance. Not sure the cham will care either way, but you might want to cover a cage or plastic carrier to keep the cham in the dark and more relaxed. The weather you can expect during the trip may suggest heating a bottle of water and laying it underneath a towel folded on the bottom of the box. A trip shorter than an hour or so the car cabin temp may be all you need. You don't need to cook the car. Comfortable for you will be enough. If it's really cold, pre-heat the car before loading up the cham. If it's hot, use the cabin fan but block the vent flow so the cham isn't sitting directly in it. Obviously, park in the shade.

 

[ehdee6]

He'll be fine in a dark box, this is one I use. Hope he has a swift recovery!

 

[LizardLurkin]

I hope all turns out alright for Rango. Chameleon eyes are mystifying, but I hope the vet has some insight and can get his little peeper cleared up.

 

[MissSkittles]

Poor fella. When Lucky’s bad eye had a bit of dried goo keeping it closed, I gently cleansed it with a very wet clean q tip. He seemed to enjoy it and rubbed more of his eye and surrounding area on the q tip. I think it was itchy.
I use the closed box with a secured stick for transport and buckle it into the passenger car seat for safety. I use a ribbon to tie to top down which has always worked, until Kali escaped it somehow.
Fingers crossed that everything is okay. Hope you’ll keep us posted.