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