Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've only posted here a few times over the years, yet I feel some ownership here in the fact that we all walk a similar journey as we care for iguanas.

It breaks my heart to tell you that yesterday, we had our 10.5 year old Green Iguana, Bailey, euthanized, after she wasn't able to poop, was peeing uncontrollably, and eventually lost the use of her back legs. Our vet told us that it was likely a number of things going wrong for her, and that even if we were able to come to some conclusions surgery was most likely in her future. Because of how tricky anesthesia can be for iguanas, and because we saw what she went through when we had her tail amputated 4 years ago (she's a rescue, we took her home when she was about 6months old) we decided against putting her through that.

I can't tell you how much she meant/means to us, as you all know. We had a bad experience with a vet who wouldn't let us be present during the process (he said, "This is not the iguana you know" the second vet (who referred us to the first because she heard he was dealt with exotics) took us in a room and explained everything carefully, and agreed it wasn't fair to let her go on.

My trauma comes in because it's so hard to know when an iguana was in pain. But the thought of her rupturing her bowel (because she hadn't pooped but was still eating was positive for a time) was too much. For the past 8 days, I've been bathing her, taking her out in the grass, getting her lots of sun, and making sure that she was climbing, because when she's had trouble pooping the past, these things have helped.

My wife (who had Bailey for 5 years before she knew me) finally told me, with tears in her eyes, that Bailey was trying but just wasn't able to do this anymore. Bailey was exhausted, and her bum start to hang out a bit. To see her in the water not able to move her back legs was so difficult but I just didn't want to give up on her. She had a crazy day when she ran from her cage into the walls and was hissing, and she NEVER does this, and the vet had no explanation, except that it was going to be a long process if we followed this aggressively.

Our hearts are broken, and even though this was the right decision, it still feels so wrong because she was our girl, and she gave so much life to us. I can't describe how much this hurts my soul, right now, and I can't let go of the fact that she won't be watching tv with me anymore, or even just letting me carry her outside as she ate dandelion greens. She was the most special and sacred creature I have ever been in the presence of, even when she wanted to steal my grilled cheese sandwhich, and there is such a void where she once was physically. She was free-roaming but her cage is now dark, and that calm center in our home that was her is missing.

The second vet, who did the procedure, was so wonderful and stroked her back softly while telling her she was a beautiful girl. We were both there with her, and despite our tears, my wife was able to tell the vet some funny stories. I'm still crying as I write this, and I'm not a crier.

Even though I'm a lurker, I want to thank you all for your stories, for your great iguana moments, and for sharing in the life of these beautiful creatures. They are hard to care for, but once they let you into their hearts, you don't get out.

I guess that's what I miss most. How much she trusted us to care for her and do the right thing by her, and how much she loved us. Even when she pretended not to.

Peace,

Aaron

I don't know why that happy face inserted up there, it wasn't intentional at all.

I know there are no words that can make you feel better. Only time will take the edge from the pain and feeling of loss. In 13 years of doing rescue we have lost a fair number of iguanas but I still get moist eyed when I remember Thelma, our founding iguana, who taught me just about everything I know about the green kids. Thelma has been gone for 5 years but I still look at her favorite basking spot whenever I enter her room, expecting to see her there.

Kudos to you for loving Bailey enough to know when to let her go.

I do know that it is very difficult to let go. I have had
to do this with several pets due to old age or illness. Keep
one thing in mind. You had her all those years and took care
of her. With all of the iguanas that suffer at the hands of
their keepers she was one of the lucky ones. Both of my
iguanas are rescues but the one that has touched my heart the
most if my girl Beanie. I have had her for 4 years and she
seems to be happy but the neglect she suffered in her 1st
2 years has taken a toll on her right down to her twisted feet
and inability to poop without calcium given daily.

Celebrate your iguanas life! In time there are hundreds out
there just waiting for you.

Linda G

Just know you and your wife had her for 10 years, and she made the whole way healthy and happy. You pulled of a rare succesful rescue, and she obviously lived a long healthy life. Only thing worse than losing a long lived, healthy animal is losing one you know you cared for improperly, and guilt knowing it was your fault makes it worse. I've gone through this personally, and offer my condolences.

Youre one of the rare good ig keepers out there! Spread your knowledge and experiences, and maybe start anew one day with a brand new baby ig! Who knows, maybe something else!

Celebrate the life, dont just mourn the death!

Ryan