Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Pudge is my 2 year old veiled cham. She has always been super healthy and a joy for all of our family. Case: Fed a pinky about 4 weeks ago (recommended by my trusted pet store folks). She continued eating, then noticed she was "lazy" when trying for a meal worm. Didn't think much...went out of town and left her in the care of my mom. Fed gut loaded crickets. There were 3 to 4 left in the bottom of the cage when I picked her up. Wouldn't take any meal worms. After home, found her on the bottome of the cage (several days in a row). She was shaky and dehydrated. Offered vitamin loaded water (via syringe) for several of the critical days. Have recently moved her to a small enclosure (to monitor her), new UVB light, cage is warm. Will drink every other day, won't eat and is skinny. Tonight she had a large BM that was white and greenish. She does climb when I hold her, but is still weak while in the cage. I am concerned about MBD, but was told that the new UVB lamp would reverse. She has been sick since before Xmas and is still hanging in there. Good ol' Pudge (she's a fighter). Would a blockage cause this? Usually feed gut loaded food and crickets sprinkled with CA pwdr once a week. Can a vet really do anything for her. Sorry for the book, but I just want to help her.

There is nothing more important to do besides taking her to a vet specializing in herps. I can not stress this enough. It may be expensive and time consuming, but it is worth health and life of your chameleon. Its good that you are using CA supplement with your feeding, and make sure your bulb isn't more than 6 months old. Make sure to offer a wide variety of fruits and veggies so she is getting a lot of nutrients. I occansionaly use baby food, it is cheap, yet you have to use an oral syringe.Make sure you take her to the vet. Good Luck and best wishes.

Really, I can spell...meant to spell "sick" girl. PS...how do you post pics.

there is a bar on the bottom of the message screen called 'image url' you just put in the site address for your pic. Aside from that, do as the guy said and get your cham to a vet soon. I kringed hearing you say that you fed your veiled a pinky. And mealworms....

I can't believe it. I trusted my pet store. The advised me to switch between mealworms and crickets and eveny the pinky. The have a ton of reptiles, and you'd think they know....my heart is broken...I love my Pudge and now I find that I am possible the cause of her illness... I am trying to find a vet now...even though my hubby says no...good thing I am the boss.

Thanks,

Kris

I don't know enough about feeding these (I can't feed a mammal to any of my animals, thus I do not keep snakes) bit I know they come frozen and live - can they harbor any parasite or disease that may be the problem? Mealworms are high in chitin, thus more difficult to digets if they eat a lot. Feeding them is fine, but a softer bodied insect should be more frequent (crickets, silkworms, roach nymphs).

I agree on the need for a vet. Do you have a good herp vet? S/he may need to do ultrasound to see what is going one. Since this seemed "sudden" after eating pinkie and it was before christmas I would wait no longer. Try to bring in a fecal as well.

That said, it may not have been sudden and the pinky feeding coincidental. If you post some more of your setup and feeding info maybe we can help troubleshoot (see link below for setup questions - vet listing are there, too). As for reversing MBD it will depend on the damage done.

Please keep us posted!

lele
-----
Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Has she ever produced infertile eggs? Even if never bred female veileds can produce a clutch. I know you said she's skinny, but there might be something going on such as a ruptured egg follicle. The fact that she did pass something means no blockage, and I really doubt the pinky had anything to do with it. There may be a intestinal infection (the green stool) going on too. I agree...take any fresh fecal (the vet may be able to get a sample with a swab too) along with her to a vet...ignore your husband! Why have a beloved pet and not give it vet care? Good luck!

Thanks so much for all of your support! Update: First off, I didn't even know (until I reached this forum) that there was a vet I could take her to. I would have acted sooner had I known. Anyway...talk to one today and have an appt tomorrow afternoon (soonest). I have her in a small, glass enclosure and am maintaining 88-90 degree temps. Thanks to my brave daughter (happy 13th to Rylie) she managed to get her mouth open and we feed watered down A/D wet food (vet only). If she surrvives this ordeal, I will definately change things. No more pinkies, limit the mealworms (if i feed them) and try to find silk worms for her to supplement the crickets. I have learned about gut loading with dandilion and kale. I was told to offer other veggies...do I give these to her or to her food. If to her, will she just eat it? Anyway.....cross your fingers for me tomorrow...I really love my Pudge. Hubby will live, my mom (bless her heart) said she would help foot the bill. Thanks again!!!!
ocuments and settingspudge attacks.jpg[img]" alt="Image">

PS....I would love to send you a picture, but I am computer ilit. I guess....can't figure it out. Specific instructions may help.

I found a vet...She was a little escentric, but seemed good. She gave a fluid bolus and a Vit B6 shot. Said to continue with the A/D (RX pet food) 3 time per day. The xrays didn't turn out (over-exposed), but she said she could see her bones well, so no MBD. She did feel something in the gut, but has to wait until tomorrow to develop the xrays at her other clinic. All in all, Pudge is doing better. The fluid and food really helped. she perked up and is even trying to climb up. Keeping my fingers crossed that she pulls through.

Thanks to all.

Kris

Eccentric? You'll soon find that BOTH keepers and vets for chams just have to be a bit off the beaten path! Welcome to the club! We think you're normal anyway.