Annie's Vet visit today Sad news

laurie

laurie

Retired Moderator
I took Annie to the vet today to have her x-rayed for eggs. No eggs, but what she does have is 2 broken back legs, severe MBD and worst of all a mass in the lung. The vet even got out the book I bought him, Mader's book "Reptile Medicine and Surgery" to show me what eggs should look like. Just to be on the safe side the x ray is being emailed to the reptile vet in Boseman, but the local vet & I know what we saw.

I had such hopes when I had LBonawitz (Laura) send her from Seattle. I had hoped time and attention would help her but I guess it is not to be. Her eyes aren't sunk in now and she is moving better, so I thought she was getting better. What I was seeing based on the vet was just a result of me being able to force feed her water and food 4 times each day. Now we wait to hear from the other vet but the local vet said even if we knew what the mass was he is sure she would not survive surgery in her condition.

I know I need to learn I can't save all the chameleons but it is so hard for me to let one go without a fight. It is days like this when I feel I should never get another chameleon. Even when people on here tell me she is just a chameleon, I can't help having my heart break each time. I don't know why I choose to put myself in this position time and time again.
 
Laurie

Some things aren't meant to be is all. If any good can come out of this is the experience you and Laura got and will be better prepared for the next one that comes down the line. It's sad for Annie because she is the one suffering for it. I think us humans suffer more because of the emotional and cognesent side of things. There is only so much we can do and it comes to a point to let go and move on. I am sorry things didn't work out for Annie and hope you treat yourself for what you tried to do.
 
I'm sorry to hear about Annie. She did not get a very good start in life and, even if she had, she might have been one of those that never thrived and would have been picked off by a predator early on in nature (that's more or less what they told me when I had to have a severely MBD leopard gecko put down a year ago.) You and Laura did much more for her than I could have.
 
I am sad to hear about your cham and I know how lucky she is to at least be with you through all this. I know that chameleons are very fragile and to make it through all of that just goes to show she is a strong one. I hope that the reptile person miraculously says something that is good.
 
Laurie, so sad to hear this. It takes a very dedicated person to do what yourself and laura did to help her. Sometimes you can only do so much
 
Laurie, its time time to let this one go, both of you have suffered enough. There is no shame in defeat after such an effort. I understand you, Im inclined to be overwhelmed with compassion for injured and sickly animals myself, often even when common sense should tell me its hopeless.
Sometimes we have success that brings pride and joy, sometimes nature knows best and we face defeat with a heavy heart. This is the nature of what we (rescuers) do.
In time, experience adds up to better judgement and for most part, you win, but still not always.
What you will have always, is pride in your compassion.
What must be learnt through heartbreak, is the wisdom to accept defeat, and the strength to sometimes say 'enough'.
Best wishes :)
 
So sorry to hear the sad news.
Oftentimes people don't understand how sad one can feel about animals---and that's probably much more true of reptiles, in general.
Your compassion is admirable--and I can say with certainty that the world would be a much better place if more people had your compassion.
It's much better for Annie that you took her to the vet--even though the facts are not what any of us would have wished for her.
I've shed my share of tears over pets, so I understand your pain.
Shed your tears, but know that you have done all that you possibly could have.

Kate
 
I was hoping for the best for little Annie,i am sure that yourself and Laura can rest assured that you did all you could do for her (much more than some)I hope she has a peaceful end,thinking of Annie,Laura and you xxx
 
I am sorry to hear the bad news Laurie. I have been following up on on the progress of Annie. You are doing all that you can please don't be so hard on yourself.

-Clemonde
 
laurie said:
I took Annie to the vet today to have her x-rayed for eggs. No eggs, but what she does have is 2 broken back legs, severe MBD and worst of all a mass in the lung. The vet even got out the book I bought him, Mader's book "Reptile Medicine and Surgery" to show me what eggs should look like. Just to be on the safe side the x ray is being emailed to the reptile vet in Boseman, but the local vet & I know what we saw.

I had such hopes when I had LBonawitz (Laura) send her from Seattle. I had hoped time and attention would help her but I guess it is not to be. Her eyes aren't sunk in now and she is moving better, so I thought she was getting better. What I was seeing based on the vet was just a result of me being able to force feed her water and food 4 times each day. Now we wait to hear from the other vet but the local vet said even if we knew what the mass was he is sure she would not survive surgery in her condition.

I know I need to learn I can't save all the chameleons but it is so hard for me to let one go without a fight. It is days like this when I feel I should never get another chameleon. Even when people on here tell me she is just a chameleon, I can't help having my heart break each time. I don't know why I choose to put myself in this position time and time again.
Click to expand...

Oh Laurie, what can I say? You put yourself in your postition over and over because of your love for chameleons. Annie is not 'just a chameleon', that's an awful thing for someone to say to you.:mad: That really hurts - they are part of the family to people like you and I. To us they are not money makers or baby machines - we have them because we love them, plain and simple.

You have done your best for her, and if it is something that she won't recover from, at least you know that you tried. Like you say, she can move around a bit more now and here eyes are looking better so you HAVE made a difference to her. Keep us updated please. Tiff x
 
oh Laurie, how sad it is to hear this.
you are the best for trying so hard. my heart goes out to both you and Annie.
don't you dare chage in any way. we all love you for trying so hard with spical needs chameleons.

I'm right now sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for my new baby...
as happy as I am, call me please. I want to say how sorry I am to hear such sad news.

Harry
 
I understand how you feel because I have loved all my chameleons like children. My own rescue chameleon Ollie died this morning. I gave him 3 years and 9 months that he wouldn't have had. I spent hundreds on him at the vet but he was worth every penny. Well done you for taking your rescue to the vet. It sounds like you have done all you can for her. Take comfort in the fact she has improved and is obviously well loved. XX
 
Sorry to hear that Laurie. I put myself in the same position. You can't give up on keeping chams, think of how many people there are out there who could care less about a chameleon or even a reptile in general. We can't lose one of the few dedicated people who are willing to go the extra mile to make sure that the chams are healthy and happy. Hang in there.
 
You said..."I don't know why I choose to put myself in this position time and time again"...you do it because you care....and that's a good thing!

The MBD could likely be dealt with and the broken legs too...but the mass in the lung could be a number of things. Any word about it yet?
 
kinyonga said:
You said..."I don't know why I choose to put myself in this position time and time again"...you do it because you care....and that's a good thing!

The MBD could likely be dealt with and the broken legs too...but the mass in the lung could be a number of things. Any word about it yet?
Click to expand...

Well in this little backwater town their is no way to have an x-ray scaned!! I also can't mail overnight out of here, I would need to drive 125 miles each way for overnight service. So the x-ray is being mailed to Dr Alfonzo in Florida (Thanks Jann) tomorrow. I won't know anything for sure until Monday. Guess Annie and I will have a long week. But I can't give up until a reptile vet who knows chameleons tells me to give up on her.
 
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