sick chameleon

Question

Cleo's pic   QUESTION: Well, we did try the baby food in the syringe yesterday, and that seemed to help her. she seemed more alert. Today, though, we could not get her mouth open. She is no longer spunky enough to open up and hiss at us. Her right eye seems to be getting better, but her left continues to be a problem. I did put a thermometer in her enclosure today, and it read only 82 in her basking area. Maybe this new light is not warm enough. We lowered it a little. Not sure where to go from here. Yesterday I had new hope, but today I am frustrated again. Thanks for all of your good advice. I'm going to try to attach a pic I took.

ANSWER: Hello Tracey,

Oh poor thing!  
Ok, the basking temperatures definitely need to be increased to 90-95 anyway, she is way too cold.  Do you know what the humidity in the tank is?  It does need to be around 50-60% humidity in the tank, so are you measuring the humidity with a hygrometer?
Keep trying!  Try to get more oral fluids into her since she probably is not drinking enough right now.  
Do her eyes look like they are getting infected at all?  

Keep me posted.  You did get a digital probe thermometer, correct?

Tracie          

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, so the temps are up. It is about 92 in the basking are. I don't have a hydrometer, but we do have a drip system, and we spray the cage twice a day. I don't think that's a problem. Her eyes actually seem a tiny bit better. We have tried again, and succeeded in getting some food in her. Her mouth is difficult to get open, and it looks like she has stuff in her mouth. Without a better desciption, it looks like goo in there. I'm not sure if that's just from her not drinking or if she has another problem now. I think tomorrow, we're going to try water only. I have been using the baby food, and I water it down quite a bit to get some water in her. Anything else I can do, in the mean time? I feel like I'm grasping at strings, at this point, but am determined to not give up! Thank you again, for all of the ideas. I am totally new at this!

ANSWER: Hello Tracey,

Ok that is better with the temperatures.  Maybe that will help her out.  The drip system along with the misting should keep the humidity levels pretty good.
Well, if it looks like there is mucous in her mouth then she could be developing a respiratory infection.  That was most likely from too low of temperatures before, which decreases the immune system a little bit.  
Well, definitely keep trying with the baby food, but water it down as much as you need to in order to get her to take some.  Is she losing any weight yet?
Is she wanting to eat on her own at all?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well, I know I haven't emailed in a while, but we are still plugging away. The baby food idea worked well. Thank you for that! She is back to eating and drinking on her own. She does have a little aim problem, but maybe she is just out of practice. She also cannot stick her tongue out as far as usual.?? Her temps are good now. Her one eye seems ok, but the other is just kind of there. She obviously cannot see out of it. She scratches it on everything. We are wondering about the vitamins we are using also. They have beta carotene in them, and we just heard that may not be good. What is a good kind we can use. Right now we have Flukers Repta-Vitamin. Also, the vet said to give them daily, and the breeder said once a week. What's right? She is also had some dandelion leaves today. They are good too, right? Thanks again for all your help.

Answer
Hello Tracey,

Wow, that is great she is doing a lot better at the moment.  At least she is eating & drinking on her own again.  Yes, dandelion greens/leaves are perfect for her, a good source of natural vitamin A as well.
The vitamins with Beta Carotene are safer than the ones with synthetic vitamin A in them.  You can use them 2 times per week so she doesn't get a vitamin overload.  Are you using straight calcium as well, several times per week?
Remind me which UVB you are using again?  I hope she doesn't have a slight calcium deficiency now.  

I am glad though, that she is improving.

Tracie