How do u tell if a cham is in pain?

[Becca G]

Hello... I was wondering how you tell if a chameleon is in pain? As some of you have read, my Leon is in renal failure and supposed to be put to sleep on saturday morning. Well if he's not suffering I thought maybe I could let him stay here til he dies. But not if he's suffering. I don't know... both options seem terrible. I'm assuming he has gout snce his uric acid was 3x the normal limit... that's probably exquisitley painful.

 

[GooglezNvincent]

Hello... I was wondering how you tell if a chameleon is in pain? As some of you have read, my Leon is in renal failure and supposed to be put to sleep on saturday morning. Well if he's not suffering I thought maybe I could let him stay here til he dies. But not if he's suffering. I don't know... both options seem terrible. I'm assuming he has gout snce his uric acid was 3x the normal limit... that's probably exquisitley painful.

Cant tell thats the thing about chams, lizards actually, and birds

 

[PardalisGirl]

You can suffer without pain.....

I believe that "pain" thresholds are different in reptiles than they are with humans, dogs and cats. They probably have less complicated nerve setups than we do. Just like their brain is much less complicated. But I do feel that they can suffer and just not feel good. Leon's situation makes it so that he is clearly not able to enjoy being alive any more. He may not feel actual pain but I bet he is very "uncomfortable". And he does not understand why.

It's a horrible decision to have to make. I've done it before. If it was my decision though, I would go ahead and have him put to sleep. Merely existing in discomfort is not really beneficial for him the way it would be for a human or even a cat or dog. Humans have the brain power to use those last days to find peace for themselves and to help their loved ones find it. Dogs and cats have less brain power but can truly feel and experience the love an owner has and get some benefit out of a good-bye period with an owner. I'm just not sure that a reptile with its lowered brain power can get those same benefits from an extended good-bye period. These are the thoughts I had as I've made that decision myself.....I say this all with tears welling up

 

[Syn]

Pardalis those are great words. I say with a heavy heart I am very sorry about this.. I agree with the suffering and pain.. It's hard to put into words..

 

[Becca G]

I guess you are right... he just wants to rest on the bottom... I pick him up to bask and to syringe him water. I guess I'm just having a hard time letting go. It just feels too short. I keep asking myslef what did I do worng, what could I do differently. Ill go through with it saturday, but it's going to be really hard...

 

[sandrachameleon]

Having his put to sleep in the right way will be best. It will be hard on you, yes. But so would watching him linger unhappy.
my thoughts are with you
S

 

[Dave Weldon]

...I guess I'm just having a hard time letting go. It just feels too short. ...it's going to be really hard...

Howdy Becca,

Been there, done that .

I went through a box of Dr. Greek's office Kleenex when I had to have my oldest Veiled put to sleep a couple of years ago .

 

[moody232002]

i feel really sorry for you becca and the decision that has to be made.
i know this is an entirely different situation and i appolgise, but i kept putting off having my cat put to sleep because i wasn't ready to let her go.
i finally made the decision to have her put down on a monday morning but she beat me and died in a lot of pain sunday night when i couldn't get her to the vets and i have felt so guilty ever since.
the decision can't be easy but i think you know what you really want to do just try and be strong and know the little one will be better off and have many tissues to hand for sometime.
good luck i don't envy you at all