OBJECTIVES

With this study we have developed an action protocol to evaluate the degree of damage to the animal (taking into consideration mucus color differences, colour livery and illness evolution according to species). Taking into consideration the animals origin (captured or bred in captivity), handling and the basic therapeutic administration at the time of giving a treatment in hospitalization regime of a reptile of the Chamaeleonidae family, adapting all of our work to the individual needs, the evolution of the case and the environmental requirements of each species.

MATERIALS

The work has been realized during the year 2001, on 10 species of chameleons with stomatitis; the work included 50 animals. Hospitalization protocol: to correct the deficiencies detected in anamnesis; animal probe; culture and antibiogram, when it has always been possible (always taking the results as a guide); coprologic analysis, radiological study. Action to be taken: hydrate the animal (spray and/or fluid therapy); environmental parameters according to the species; analgesia (Buprenorfina 0.01mg/kg q24h), immunity boosters and homotoxical metabolic regulatories and/or together with Aminolid); most common antibiotics: Ceftazidima 20mg/kg IM q72h, Tobramicina 2.5mg/kgIM q72h, Amoxicilina + Acido clavulanico 22mg/kgIM q24h, Trimethoprim-sulfa 30mg/Kg IM q48-72h, Amikacina 2.5mg/kg IM q72h. The treatment consists in 3-6 cycles of 15 days, with 7 days of rest between cycles. Follow up: watch attitude, colour, weight, possible complications (kidney failure, prolapses), do not carry out oesophagus probe, keep on Aminolid and glucose serum, when the animal does not feed by itself

RESULTS

The percentage of results (cured or dead) in animals that have been hospitalized varies according to the stage of stomatitis that affects the animal. In the initial phases (48% of the total) the percentage rises to 87.6% cured, 8.3% deteriorated, 4.1% died. In the intermediate stages (34% of the total) drops to 70.5% cured, deteriorated 17.8%, 11.8% died and in most advanced phases (18% of the total) an 11.1% healed, 88.9% died. In the months of 2001 the distribution is as follows: J(12%), F(12%), M(12%), A(20%), My(10%), J(4%), Jl(2%), A(8%), S(4%), O(8%), N(6%), D(0%).

CONCLUSION

In all cases to guarantee the correct animal hydration is crucial. The number of the results of those healed has increased since we applied a global vision of each chameleon affected by stomatitis, choosing medicines that permit an administration in intervals as ample as possible, maintaining analgesia, boosting immunity, regulating metabolism and adequate environmental parameters in each case. Animals bred in captivity suffer less pathologic process than those caught in the wild, in which the syndrome of maladaptation with the consequent immune depression is more frequent. Another important data, is that the climate area where we work is prone to a higher possibility of these diseases in the changes of season, which in Madrid are brusk and the change in air pressure is very pronounced.