Upper respiratory infection URI among chameleons

A female panther chameleon in the latter stages of U.R.I.,
the chameleon was struggling to breath but it was
cleared up completely with antibiotics.

Upper respiratory infection is a relatively common problem in chameleons and is usually a direct result of improper caging or husbandry techniques.
It is normally brought on by temperatures being too low, or humid and stagnant air in the enclosure, but it can also be caused by dirty conditions where the bottom of the cage becomes littered with faeces and feeder insects.

Respiratory infection is caused by a bacteria that manifests itself in the respiratory tract or sinuses (upper respiratory infection), and in severe cases can enter the lungs (lower respiratory infection) causing pneumonia.

If left untreated, respiratory infection will rapidly progress and immediate, aggressive treatment will be needed for a full recovery.

Signs of respiratory infection can include

Gaping of the mouth (this can be normal if the animal is close to a heat source)
Excess stringy mucus inside the mouth (although a very small amount is normal)
You may hear a very quiet popping noise when the animal is held close to your ear
Forced raspy exhalations
Wheezing
Small raised areas of inflammation around the nostrils
A slight opening of the mouth and gular extension (not to be confused with threat posture)
In very advanced stages - bubbling at the mouth and nostrils

In the early stages of respiratory infection symptoms can be quite subtle, but they are easily detected with a keen eye. The first thing you may notice is your animal extending the gular pouch (the area around the throat) and opening its mouth slightly, you may also hear a short, sharp hiss that accompanies this.
This behaviour will probably be seen along with gaping, even in the cooler areas of the enclosure. After these initial signs, if treatment isn’t started the infection will then progress to the more severe symptoms described above.

The first thing you need to do when any chameleon has respiratory issues is raise the temperature to the maximum acceptable levels for that particular species. For panther chameleons it is a good idea to elevate the top of the enclosure to around 90⁰-95⁰F. Also try and keep the night time temperature around 70⁰-75⁰F.

If symptoms are detected early then is usually very easy to clear up with a broad spectrum antibiotic prescribed by a reptile veterinarian. There are also mucolytic powders than can be prescribed to help clear mucus from the chameleon’s mouth thus helping it to breath. New alternative treatments for U.R.I involve nebulization, this is where the chameleon is placed into a small chamber, and the tiny nebulized drug particles are directed into the chamber via a tube and inhaled by the chameleon. These treatments are being used with great success in other countries but are not generally practiced on chameleons yet here in the UK.

With the correct treatment and environmental changes it is possible to clear up respiratory infection in 4-10 days as long as the animal is otherwise healthy and does not have any other underlying issues. If you suspect your chameleon is showing any of the symptoms above you must seek the advice of a qualified reptile veterinarian to give the best chance of a full recovery.