HELP ME! I know this is the wrong website for this but ...

tiggerhammon

Okay, first of all, the chances of finding someone on here to answer me that knows much about chameleons is probably pretty low. Secondly, I know this is the wrong website for this but it is the only website that I am a member of. Third, yes, I know I need a vet but this closest one is in Vegas - 150 miles away.
That being said, my husband has a Jackson Chameleon. We have had him a year now and my husband has owned chameleons since he was 12 and isn't inexperienced in their care. But, my husband is not here. He has been gone 2 weeks and won't be home until Sunday and I can't call him!!
I have been feeding, watering, caring for the chameleon sine he has been gone and have followed vitamin schedules, proper feeding, temperature control, exact lighting shut off schedule, humidity control, everything! Just to clarify, I really don't think it is anything we did wrong!
He is lying on his side, wriggling and writhing on the bottom of his cage as if he is in pain!
Besides the obvious, a vet, which I have no control over - does ANYONE know if there is ANYTHING I can do!?!
I feel like if I don't do something STAT he won't live until my husband gets home. But, I have NO CLUE what to do!!!

0somuchbetter0

Uh oh, I'm sorry to say that sounds pretty bad. I'm no expert, but I had a Jackson's until about a month ago.

Pick him up and examine look in his mouth, maybe he got something (a cricket?) caught in his throat. It's gross, but you'll have to reach in there and get it out. How is his tongue?

How old is he? How long have you had him? Has he been sick?

Boogage

I have no idea. Could you not phone your other half and ask him?

Oh, just read you can't call him....sorry I can't be of any help

Ed98043

http://www.chameleonforums.com/

Tulipgirl1223

Do you have a local petsmart/petco or pet store you could call?

Contrarian

Can you at least phone a vet for advice?

BITEME_GRRR

Um, take it to the vet...

BrainyBurro

Can you at least phone a vet for advice?

^ this. call a vet. tell them you are afraid that the animal is in imminent danger of death and won't survive a 150 mile trip.

tiggerhammon

My husband is working out in the middle of nowhere. He is doing some construction work on a reservoir and has no cell service there. He drives the 45 minutes- an hour into town a couple times a week to get cell service and call me. I cannot call him, I can't only wait and hope he calls me tonight. He most likely will call tonight.

Looking into the chameleon's mouth certainly isn't a problem as he opens it wide and hisses at me whenever I walk near. (Not normal behavior for him at all) There is nothing in there except a little dirt just inside his mouth around his jawline ( I am fairly certain this was caused by all the wriggling around in the dirt.)

Sovictorrious

So Sorry....

www.google.com

Thomasm198

Can you at least phone a vet for advice?

Also:

www.google.com

tiggerhammon

I have googled it to death, checked chameleon forums too. Everything says either 'take him to a vet' or 'turn off his light and let him die in peace.'
I have called the pet store here already. They had no advice and told me that no vet around here would be helpful and that the closest reptile vet is in Vegas.
I phoned the vet's office in Vegas already. The female receptionist was rude, refused to give advice. She said they won't take legal risks of giving advice over the phone because they could be wrong and there is no way to tell what is wrong with out s seeing him.

tiggerhammon

One of chameleon forums said to use a dropper to water him directly.
While I don't see that helping a ton, I am still going to go try that ...
I'll be back on later, if anyone else has any other advice I would appreciate it!

0somuchbetter0

What happens if you pick him up and put him back on a branch?

Ed98043

I'm sorry you're going through this. I've owned and rehabbed many little critters in my life and it's never fun when they take ill and you can't help them. Maybe he has an obstruction in his bowel that will work it's way through, or maybe it's his time. I agree with whoever said to just give him some peace and quiet. Lowering their stress level is important, and if he's uncharacteristically hissing at you and you're hovering, then that's stressing him out. If you can't take him to a Vet then maybe it's time to put a towel or something over his cage and just let him be.

tiggerhammon

Thank you everyone!
My husband called, and as always, he has all the answers, lol.
He has owned at least one chameleon at all times his whole life except when he was in the military. He has them get sick, and die, but I personally have never seen it.

Anyways, my husband said it is a bowel obstruction. Short of taking to him to a vet, which at this point is out of the question until Monday, there is only a couple things I can do.
(According to him, me acting like an emotional pregnant woman is not one of the things I am supposed to be doing, lol)
He may pull through and be fine, he may not make it until Monday

FrauHaas2013

How old is the chameleon? Is there anyway it could be natural causes? Google the symptoms. Lots of herp people out there. Someone may have experienced something similar. When chameleons go to the ground that's never a good sign in and of itself since they're arboreal.

http://www.chameleonforums.com/can-anyone-help-me-diagnose-my-chameleon-117688/

tiggerhammon

Uh oh, I'm sorry to say that sounds pretty bad. I'm no expert, but I had a Jackson's until about a month ago.

Pick him up and examine look in his mouth, maybe he got something (a cricket?) caught in his throat. It's gross, but you'll have to reach in there and get it out. How is his tongue?

How old is he? How long have you had him? Has he been sick?

We got him as a baby, just over a year ago. No sickness, symptoms or problems with him until today.
I hope he will be okay

supermuslimgirl

http://voices.yahoo.com/caring-sick-iguana-10356313.html

try feeding him that

tiggerhammon

http://voices.yahoo.com/caring-sick-iguana-10356313.html

try feeding him that

Thanks, unfortunately, the chameleon will not eat right now but will keep this one in mind.
I am dropper feeding him water mixed with a little pedialyte and his vitamins (since he isn't eating, this is probably the only way to get him nutrients.) And, I my husband said to give him a bath and mist him with really warm water. I just got done soaking him and he is sleeping now.

0somuchbetter0

Poor little guy. I'm sorry you're going through this. My chameleon died after a long-term infection brought about by a vitamin deficiency. At the end I was injecting him with antibiotics. It was crazy. My vet, who is really great, says that they're really not meant to live in captivity. If I could have flown him to Kenya to let him go I would have...

GardenGirlie

I am sorry you are having to deal with this. I am sending positive thoughts your way that all will work out well!

Directionerme

its seems hes probably sick. i dont know very much. im sorry i hope your chameleon get better!

jofjltncb6

Thank you everyone!
My husband called, and as always, he has all the answers, lol.
He has owned at least one chameleon at all times his whole life except when he was in the military. He has them get sick, and die, but I personally have never seen it.

Anyways, my husband said it is a bowel obstruction. Short of taking to him to a vet, which at this point is out of the question until Monday, there is only a couple things I can do.
(According to him, me acting like an emotional pregnant woman is not one of the things I am supposed to be doing, lol)
He may pull through and be fine, he may not make it until Monday

At least your husband sounds like a reasonable guy. I feared this would end with him being mad and (incorrectly) blaming you.

Best of luck.

tiggerhammon

Um, take it to the vet...

Even if I would have left here right after speaking to the pet store and discovering I would need to drive to Vegas, I would not have made it even TO Vegas by 5pm, forget trying to actually get somewhere in Vegas that time of day.

tiggerhammon

Thank you everyone!
My husband called, and as always, he has all the answers, lol.
He has owned at least one chameleon at all times his whole life except when he was in the military. He has them get sick, and die, but I personally have never seen it.

Anyways, my husband said it is a bowel obstruction. Short of taking to him to a vet, which at this point is out of the question until Monday, there is only a couple things I can do.
(According to him, me acting like an emotional pregnant woman is not one of the things I am supposed to be doing, lol)
He may pull through and be fine, he may not make it until Monday

At least your husband sounds like a reasonable guy. I feared this would end with him being mad and (incorrectly) blaming you.

Best of luck.

Yes, my husband is a very good guy, I think I am pretty blessed to have him! He wouldn't blame me.
... And, thank you

GardenGirlie

How are things going? Any updates available?

tiggerhammon

Chameleon made it through the night but died in my hands only 15 minutes ago
I have never witnessed anything die in my life and it was stomach wrenching and made me cry! I should not have sat and watched that.
I am devastated that he died and wish there was more I could have done for him. At least he is no longer hurting.

Contrarian

I'm very sorry to hear this. You did what you could to help him.

parys1

I'm so sorry about your chameleon. You tried.

auroranflash

Hugs. ... wrap him up in a towel so you and hubby can bury him together.

You did all you could.