| Like all pets and like all living things, | | | | it. If you hear it making cracking noises, |
| chameleons are prone to illnesses and | | | | then there's a big chance that it is |
| infections. Their health is very important | | | | suffering from respiratory infections. You |
| and cannot be ignored. A chameleon may die if | | | | can also see if it opens its mouth to breathe |
| its health and well-being is not properly | | | | repeatedly and if there is sticky saliva in |
| attended to. A malnourished or stressed | | | | its mouth. These are also symptoms of |
| chameleon is most likely to die early. | | | | respiratory infections. To treat this |
| | | | infections, it is important that you take |
| Visible signs of an unhealthy chameleon | | | | your chameleon to a veterinarian. |
| include sunken eyes and body injuries. If you | | | | |
| can see worms under their skin, it is another | | | | Internal parasitic infections are common in |
| sign that it is not properly cared for. It is | | | | chameleons that are caught from the wild. You |
| very important for you to know and understand | | | | should assume that a wild caught chameleon |
| just what a chameleon needs to avoid your | | | | may have this, and it is recommended that you |
| chameleon getting any illness or disease. | | | | have it checked with a veterinarian to be |
| | | | sure. A chameleon will require extensive |
| Dehydration is one of the common problems of | | | | parasite treatment for this. |
| chameleons. If you see that your chameleon | | | | |
| has sunken eyes, you can assume that it is | | | | Nutritional diseases may also come to your |
| dehydrated. To be extra sure of it, you can | | | | chameleon, especially metabolic bone disease. |
| try to pull its skin lightly between two | | | | Check to see if your chameleon has swollen |
| fingers and see if it goes back into place. | | | | joints and swollen limbs. Observe if it has |
| If it doesn't, then your chameleon is most | | | | trouble walking or climbing, or if it doesn't |
| likely dehydrated. | | | | walk or climb at all. It may have metabolic |
| | | | bone disease. Another nutritional disease |
| Obviously you need to give your chameleon | | | | observed in chameleons is edema, which is |
| plenty of water when it is dehydrated. The | | | | pronounced by swellings in the neck and the |
| best way is to shower your chameleon for | | | | throat. |
| about an hour. Make sure there is a plant | | | | |
| with it. Run water with room temperature on | | | | Looking out for and caring for your chameleon |
| the plant. This will encourage the chameleon | | | | is just like caring for any other pet. It is |
| to lick the water from the plant and help | | | | recommended that you give your chameleon the |
| against dehydration. You should also spray | | | | proper attention needed for it to have a |
| its cage before putting the chameleon back. | | | | stress-free and healthy life. You can always |
| You can also make a drip system and put it in | | | | avail the services of a veterinarian if you |
| the cage. You can make a drip system by | | | | feel that there's something wrong with your |
| simply making a small hole on the bottom of a | | | | chameleon. Just remember not to ignore even |
| container and filling it with water. | | | | the smallest sign, for for a small sign like |
| | | | dry skin or sunken eyes can mean that your |
| A chameleon is also prone to respiratory | | | | chameleon already has an illness. |
| infections. It can be due to a parasite, or | | | | |
| because of heavy exposure to the cold. Stress | | | | ============= |
| can also give the chameleon respiratory | | | | |
| infections. You can determine if your | | | | The author of this article is currently |
| chameleon suffers from this by holding the | | | | working on Chameleon Care. Feel free to |
| chameleon close to your ear and listening to | | | | contact her at for any inquiries or concerns. |