Anole not eating and keeping mouth open

Question
Hello! I own a 1 year old Green Anole, named Emmy. She has always been a good eater, and is almost *always* green. Lately (in the past 2 weeks or so), she has stopped eating almost entirely, and isn't drinking. She is also keeping her mouth open all the way. She started shedding her nose 2 weeks ago as well. So, today she started opening her mouth and I read that it could be that the skin was restricting the air she was getting, so I soaked her in warm water and carefuly peeled it off, as gentely as I could. Her nose looks fine, but she is still opening her mouth and not eating. A few times today I put a drop or so of "Zilla Appetite Stimulant" and just dropped it into her mouth, and she's eating that and not spitting it out or anything, but she still is not hunting. I tried giving her mealworms, which she *loves*, but she won't eat them either. I have been soaking her for 5-10 minutes every day, and that has been helping her dehidration. She is green most of the time, but has dark spots behind her eyes. Also, we do not have a vet over here that will even look at a lizard this small. Please, please, please help!!!! I love her so much, and she's a terrific lizard. Thanks,
                                      Montana

Answer
Montana,

Tell me somethings... has she had a bowel movement? Has she seemed sluggish, not like herself or is this the only thing going on that is very different? Can you please describe to me her living environment, diet, lighting, past medical history? Have there been any major changes in her life? Has she moved, etc. Is it possible to send a picture of her doing the thing with her mouth open? I am concerned about several possibilities and will do some research and some thinking on this subject and by the time you get those answers to me, hopefully I can lend some insight into the situation.

As for what to do right now in the mean time, I think it is important for you to try to syringe feed her some fluids through the mouth. I think you should try either just water or water mixed with pedialyte or gatorade.

A dehydrated reptile will not eat, or will not eat very much, as digestion requires considerable quantities of fluids.

The mouth being open is actually a mechanism used to cool the body down. Depending on your temperatures and diet, she may be dehydrated. That is my number one concern. Please find a way to get some fluids into her. Even consider letting her soak in the bathtub in lukewarm water with the water level up to her elbows for about a half hour or so.

Please get back with me as soon as possible.

Sara J Gwerder
President
Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary
Shreveport, LA
www.RaptorRescue.org