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it's now over a week that i treat him with baytril (antibiotics).
the vet didn't give him much of a chance either.
it's hard seeing him suffer.
everyone is telling me that it's not my fault and he would be a weak one anyway.
today he didn't even resist being handled anymore.
his snout turned all yellow. i think he lost sense of it.
it's a really long time since i saw him roll up his tail neatly.
he has already been a bit better this week.
but then yesterday and today he's much weaker again.

i am really going to miss him. he had character.

hope dies last.

I know how you feel, and I am so sorry.

I am going through a similar case with Jordon, my only male. He hasn't opened his eyes in days and its been a few weeks now since he has been like this. He shows no signs of stress.

Jordon has become completely reliant on me to feed him via saringe and to put him to warm up in the mornings.

His eyes are sunken, saying Im dehydrated, but I treat him daily to plenty of water, and none of my females are dehyrdrated and I've had several longer than I had him.

I have yet to find a vet who can actually say that they at least have seen chameleons before, but the search continues. What I get is "Well we don't really specialize in Exotic Chameleons, but our doctors can take a look." I dont want anyone who hasn't had experiance touching my animal!

Now that I have put him on saringe feedings he seems to be doing a little better, but his eyes still, remain closed.

I just dont know whats wrong with my little guy, I guess its parasites, but eventually if he doesnt pull through and only seems to be getting worse, I will take him to a vet to be put to sleep. I'd rather him go that way, that falling from his branches and dying in pain.

Lu

i just got home...

it's now 11:15pm here and he should be asleep

but he is awake, eyes closed and he was just choking virguosly.

i don't think he's going to make it through the night.

I'm so sorry for you and your guy it sounds like he may have been aspirating with the choking. Hold him if you can and maybe he will go in your arms. I had my 17 1/2 year old cat die in my arms a few years ago - it is a sad but extraordinary experience. My thoughts are with you...

lele & Luna
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)

When a cham loses control of the skin color on a body area it is a sign that they are really close to dying. If he were mine I think I would consider "helping" him pass on at this point. A gentle way would be to chill him (not in the freezer!) by wrapping him in a towel (it will be dark, feel secure and safe with something to grip) and put him in progressively cooler places until he's not responsive. The cooler he gets the less discomfort he will be aware of, the slower his body processes will get, and you could basically put him to sleep physically. Once he is totally non-responsive you could put him in your fridge. I know it's hard, but in some ways herps are a bit easier to help on than mammals, as they are so dependent on external temp to keep their brain and nervous system working. They can become very unaware (and suffer much less). Sorry about your cham!

Lu - did you try the sites I listed for more vet help awhile back? Also try local societies. Here is a link to the thread I posted to you. The Herp Connection had peoples experiences with particulra vets - a good source

lele
Link

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (both MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog (for summer)
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)