euthanasia

[jcocks]

I feel so horrible.
I had to help a baby chameleon die last night...
don't read the rest of this post if you are easily upset.
There are potentially disturbing descriptions.





I gave a trusted friend one of two baby veiled chams to my friend to take care of, as well as all the equipment to do so... I trained him of the needs of the veiled and how to use the equipment. She was thriving for the entire 2 months... And then I guess she fell from her cage and was swatted by a cat. He brought her over to my house instead of the vet for? financial reasons.

I observed acute trauma to the left front dorsal, and a wound on the wrist. There was also a noticeable yet slight bulging in the base of the sternum and and odd positioning of the abdomen/ribs. She seemed that she wanted to be left alone on a scheflerra plant and was very aggressive to do so where her condition started to get worse.
She then fell into the base of the plant she was on and began to lose lucidity.
She began writhing in pain, staying off of her arm and eventually worsening to the point of losing consciousness, drooling, visible rapid eye movement and labored breathing. The decision was then made to supply a diluted concentration of nitrous oxide into the hand of my friends that she was at rest in... She expired within a minute. This was easily the saddest thing i have seen in entire my life.

 

[junglefries]

I recently had some premie jax that hard decisions needed to be made. so i understand. mother nature is not always alert to the priority of the care of her creatures. what you did was to help reduce the suffering and agony that was unwanted by the veil, it's caretaker, & you. three people benifited from your hard decision. now, make sure your friend has learned from this experience (not intended to be harsh in any way) & give him another baby. allow himself to heal & give yourself the comforting feeling of doing another good deed. (by my count: a total of 3)

 

[ridgebax1]

I totally understand how you feel. My boy Pete died in my arms and it was so painful to watch. I do not think he suffered as he was very quiet the whole time but I still felt horrible as I was his caretaker and did not do a good job of it. I listened to what I thought was correct advice as the pet store was not a big box store and the employee claimed to have several chams of his own. I was devastated by his death and my friend knew how much I missed him and got me another baby veiled to care for. I joined these forums right before Pete died and wish I had found it earlier. I also think that though it is painful it is a loving decision. I hope you and your friend heal quickly.

 

[Tay And A]

It's very hard to lose a Cham. one of the reasons why I have decided to down size.

 

[Psychobunny]

Welcome to the forum, but I am so sorry you and your little cham had to go
through that because of, what sounds like, your friends negligence.

Cats and small reptiles do not mix!! as much as you may think a cat is well
"domesticated", it will never loose it's preditory nature.

The best thing right now that would make you feel better would be to buy another baby cham, slap your friend....and shoot the cat!!

 

[CyBeRr]

So Sory for lost