Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, here it is 6 days after a trip to the "eccentric" vet (which by the way, I liked instantly), and Pudge is still hanging in there. Of course that is not to literal, considering she is still sliding around on the bottom of the enclosure. I am still force feeding her. The exrays showed good bone structure (No MBD thank god), but did show inflamation in her lower intestines. She is on Kytril, and doing better. The antibiotics and high caloric diet is plumping her up to her Pudgy self again. She is getting strong...fighting us when we open her mouth...but she is swallowing much better. Tomorrow, we will try introducing a live cricket into that open gullet. Thanks again to Rylie, my 13 year old daughter, who is constantly monitoring her and reminding of meds and feeding. I am hoping that she continues to be on the mend, however i do wonder if she just isn't enjoying the extra kisses and cuddles. She closes her eyes when we stroke her....we definately are glad she is still around.

Thanks again to all of you that responded. I still haven't figured out how to put in a picture (I am a little computer illiterate) maybe some "specific" instructions will help.

Talk soon.

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CANADIAN CHAMELEONS

Thanks for helping me...here is a picture of Pudge.

I recall you saying the vet put her on A/D - do you mean the Science Diet for cats? I think I may have asked this before (or maybe just in my head). If it is the cat food I really have to wonder if this is a good idea. Feeding animal product and by-product to an insectivore/herbivore jsut doesn;t make sense - to me. Fluker's Repta-aid (made for reptiles) would probably be a healthier. Luna loved the tase of it so it was very easy to feed it to her.

Not questioning your vet, but have never heard of this before. Wondering if others have opinion about this?
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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

This is the third time in a week I have run across this diet and it is available for dogs or cats and is for Anorexia.

It was first mentioned to me by my vet before my Dogie was just diognosed for cancer. But since has been given something different.

*** BUT, I have also heard a fellow collared lizard buddy suggest it, A/D , to a poster for her sick collared she had to the Vet. She says she was told about it by her vet and uses it on all of her thin lizards.

I have certainly used a combo of crushed, dry dog food mixed with chicken/veggie baby food for ailing sick lizards, For brief PICK ME UPS, with great success.

But never on a chameleon. You certainly can not use this long term either because it can cause Gout, I believe.
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Interesting, I am surprised it is used for lizards.

I used it for my 17 year old cat when she was in endstage kidney failure just to give her calories in her final days (she was amazing - caught a mouse one month before dying. Kyndra, then about 3, couldn't get it but Tica did!).

Hope it doesn't cause problems for Pudge
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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

I have never used this, and don't know the formulation. But, if you have a cham that is so low as to need simple calories to keep it going until it CAN eat, that is the only time I'd use it. I would much rather use a reptile support or make a mix of insect abdomens, Pedialyte, a tiny bit of vit and mineral dust, and some cooked egg yolk. As soon as she will chew and swallow a whole insect (hand fed) that's what I would do. Make sure the insects are well gutloaded though.

Hate to burst your bubble about the hugging and kissing, but most likely Pudge doesn't enjoy that kind of attention. Being handled and touched by humans is not something chams like. They may interpret it as "that big predator face about to eat me" and cause her stress.

Tonight Pudge ate 3 hand feed crickets. The A/D formula is very high in calories and in water. This was definately only a short term solution to her anorexia and came recommended by two different herp vets. As stated previously, it obviously worked, she is getting much stronger and walking much better. I will continue to hand feed gut loaded crickets from now on. She is nearly finished with the course of antibiotics.

As for the cuddling and kissing...she has always been very attached to her humans, I guess we got her used to it from the time she was a baby. She has never hissed at me, or never backs away when I put my face near her. She has always (even when healthy) enjoyed hanging out near us. Having animals for so long (and so many types), I have developed a knack for "feeling them out". Trust me, if I ever felt that she was threatened by my presence, I would back off.

Thanks again for all of the imput.

Kris

I don't want any one to get the wrong impression and think that I am an idiot. I know the my chameleon is not like a dog, cat or ferret...I don't handle her extensively. I have had to recently because of the feedings...I understand that they are solitary animals. She spends 99% of the time in her enclosure.

I was just trying to say, that she does seem to enjoy a little human contact.

no one thinks you are an idiot Many of us have been here (on forum) for a long time and have a good idea of each other's experience, so when someone new posts, especially with problems, we have no way of knowing how much - or little - experience and knowledge they may have.

I am glad you cleared up the A/D feeding. I was under the impression that this was ongoing and did not know she was eating "solid food." I also had not heard a vet prescribing this, but obviously, from other input, it is used in extreme cases. Learned something new!

I am thrilled for you that she is doing better! I lost my veiled, Luna, in July after a bit of a rollercoaster of health issues in her short 2 year life so I understand and empathize with your concern for your Pudge. Luna and I didn't cuddle and kiss but because she had been handled from a young age she got used to showers, the vet, the cats and me. Maybe she did not LIKE it but she certainly tolerated it and would often climb on my arm or her branch in order to get out of her cage.

Please keep us posted and hope to continue to see you on the forum.

lele

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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

Well, those of us who have kept chams over the years have known one or two who seem social. It is the exception, but very welcome when it does happen! Such a struggle not to assume they like it, and as this is a public forum we try not to give the wrong info to a lurking newbie. She's lucky to have you! I am glad she's doing better.