Veiled chameleons, found in countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, etc. are great as pets. They are often favored for those who love chameleons. But, they are also a challenging pet. The captive veiled chameleon can quickly become unwell and unhealthy if you are unable to properly take care of them.

If you need to have a pet, it is better to get home a captive-born chameleon as they have a better ability for adaption inside a cage. Here are some of the common diseases and how to offer proper veiled chameleon care to your pet.

  Stress

 

Well, like other chameleons, veiled chameleons can also become stressed. Ir they are under excessive stress, they might suffer from immune-related diseases. They are highly alert and become stressed if there is a lot of traffic. So, it is better to prevent such conditions rather than wait for your pet to become unwell. You can keep the chameleon in a quieter part of your house, which gets less traffic. It will keep the noise level and handling level to a minimum.

Additionally, they can also become stressed if they are near any other pet or even any other chameleon. Hence, you need to keep the pet away from other pets. If you have more than one chameleon, keep them so that they cannot see each other. Furthermore, it is better to avoid keeping all types of mirrors or reflective surfaces in front of them. The chameleon can mistake its reflection as another chameleon and can become easily stressed.

 Parasites

 

Pet chameleons are vulnerable to gastrointestinal parasites.  The parasites often infest inside the chameleon through their food. Hence, you need to feed them breed insects only. Wild insects are not great for pet chameleons. Additionally, often wild-caught chameleons come with parasites. SO, you need to take care of that too. It is better to buy a captive-born pet for the best experience.

Additionally, you need to contact a vet regularly. It is best if you get the fecal tests of your pet done per year. It can keep the situation under control for most of the time.

Furthermore, parasites are the cause of poor hygiene. Hence, clean the cage of your pet regularly.

 Metabolic bone disease

 

Metabolic bone disease happens if your chameleon has any bone defects. Often chameleons die due to this health syndrome. The chameleons need UVB rays regularly for at least 12 hours to get proper calcium inside their body. The UVB ray helps them to process and synthesize calcium from their food. They are unable to synthesis without UVB rays and develop deformed bones. 

The unfiltered sunlight is best for the chameleons, But, if you are unable to provide them, a simple UVB ray lamp will be enough. Make sure to keep the UVB ray lamp on for 12 hours.

The clinical syndrome of the metabolic bone disease includes bowed eggs. Rubbery jaw and clumsiness. In the later stage.  It is a grave disease and often kills the chameleon.  There are very few treatments. So, you need to provide your pet with a continuous source of light for preventing the disease.

Upper Respiratory Infections

 

Upper Respiratory Infection is a common disease among pet chameleons. It often happens for the environment. The clinical signs include excessive mucus, wheezing sounds, popping sounds, gaped mouth, inflammation, bubbling around their nose and mouth. If the upper respiratory infections are diagnosed in the early stage, it is curable. But, if it is diagnosed in a later stage, the treatment becomes difficult.

It is better to maintain the temperature of their cage or enclosure. Additionally, you also need to keep the air quality inside the cage. You need to clean the cage regularly and remove litter to maintain hygiene.

 Kidney failure and gout

 

Kidney failure is the most common cause of deaths of the chameleons. Kidney failure happens due to chronic dehydration and some medication side effects. It can also cause gout. Hence, your chameleon can get welled leg joints. Make sure to maintain the humidity level inside the cage to provide your pet enough water.

If there is an emergency, you need to connect to a vet and get your pet enough treatment. Please make sure to provide them a safe and hygienic environment to live.