Reptile & Amphibian Forums

NEWS & STAR (Carlisle, UK) 16 December 04 Coma Chameleon? (Kelly Eve)
Dalston vet Janet Revell has carried out the most unusual operation of her 15-year career – a caesarian on a chameleon.
This week Little Missy, owned by 24-year-old Louise Batey, was given a clean bill of health after a final check-up at the village’s Paragon practice.
But just a month ago it was a matter of life or death for the small 11-month-old Iranian veiled reptile.
Carrying her eggs, Little Missy was taken in looking very grey and dark with splashes of purple. After some tender loving care following the life-saving op, she has returned to a healthy green colour.
Vet Janet, 36, said: “We had no choice. It was a challenge but there was nothing to lose. If we didn’t operate she was going to die. There was no option.
“She was egg-bound. She had a huge abdomen with 25 to 30 eggs inside.”
Janet, who has six tortoises herself, added: “Because it was five or six days after she became egg-bound, we had to operate. Surgery is needed if they are not treated within 24 hours.
“It was quite a technical operation because she’s so small. She’s only about five or six inches in length. It also involved an anaesthetist and the nursing was quite problematic.
“But it went very well and I’m extremely satisfied that it was successful. They are such lovely reptiles.”
Expectant mother Little Missy is now back at her Carlisle home, but she has around six months to wait to see if her eggs will hatch.
Owner Louise Batey, 24, of Longsowerby, said: “It was really hard to know she was quite sick.
“We were thinking she wouldn’t pull through because she’d lost so much weight.
“The vet prepared us for the worse but when she came out of the operation we were able to take her home.
“We hand-fed her and made sure she wasn’t scratching her scar with the stitches in,” said Louise.
On Monday night, Louise returned to the Dalston surgery with her boyfriend Gary Graham for her exotic pet’s final check-up.
Louise, a travel agent, said: “We have to say a big thank-you to everyone at the vets. We’re really grateful for what they’ve done.
“Looking after Little Missy is like looking after any other pet. It’s like having kids. Their health comes first and you’ll do anything for them.
“They’re friendly creatures too. Little Mister, her mate, feeds out of our hands and comes and sits on Gary’s head when he’s watching TV.”
Gary and Louise are now nestling the remaining 19 eggs, keeping them warm and moist in a home-made incubator. If fertilised, they are due to hatch in May.
The young chameleons that hatch will be taken to The Ark in Wigton Road for resale.
Little Missy and Little Mister are now kept in separate vivariums at Gary’s home in St Ann’s Crescent.
Coma Chameleon?

Thanks for posting this! It is a great story with a happy ending but also has the important message of how important it is to get our dear friends to the vet as soon as something seems amiss. We have had some folks here whose chams have had a c-section - with mixed results. Thanks again!

lele
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)