Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw your post of frustration, and that it had been suggested you send Beanie on a vacation, I was wondering how things were going? Looks like Digit is doing well, and it did sound like Beanie was making progress! From what I remember, she'd actually eaten a couple of bites of whole food from your hand, which is a great start, and was moving around more as well as more alert. Remember even small steps are good ones, if she ate even a few pieces of solid food from your hand, its better than syringe feeding. I thought of you today while feeding my very lazy beardie, he's getting quite sleepy for the winter and can't quite stir his lazy self to go down to his food dish - he will however devour anything that roams past his nose!

She is looking sooo thin! 5 months of force feeding really
has taken a toll on her. I tried the husband force feeding
thing suggested by my vet. I had him stand next to me to show
him how to do it and Beanie got a huge attitude and would not
accept the feedings for several days even from me. I am
getting very desperate! I hate to say it but I am thinking
of even putting her to sleep. I do not want to see her waste
away. Please don't blast me for this! I am going to schedule
another appt with the University of Madison if I can find
an exotic specialist there and have a full battery of tests
and x-rays done. I am really thinking that something medical
is wrong and we cannot find it. I want to do what is right
for her and I am not sure that living like she is without
eating is the best.

It is so frustrating, I took her from a life that gave her nothing, I have given her everything and lavished attention
on her and this is the result.

Thanks Bexley
Linda

Heya, anyone that blasts you after all you've done, and all you've tried, has no clue! You really have done everything, and asked everyone, that you can. Poor Beanie, but the way you have to look at it is that even if you don't feel her life is ideal or has been ideal in your care, its still been a huge improvement over what she was in before. She would have died from retained eggs, and not pleasantly, if she hasn't had a good ig-mum like you to do all you could for her. I'd still keep trying with putting whole food in her mouth, even if its a bite or two, and see how it goes. You never know, she still may surprise you yet!

By your language it seems like your ig is sick because of lack of care. Not true. Your ig would have died long ago if not for you. Help might be right around the corner.

That said, I agree that euthanasia is preferable to terminal suffering with regard to our pets.

You might be sick of advice by now, but here I go anyway. Has any vet told you that the daily maintenence dose of water for sick igs is 25 ml per pound per day? Your ig might be quite dehydrated. An 8 pound sick ig needs 8 X 25 = 200 ml per day. A 2 pound ig needs 2 X 25 = 50 ml. One ml = one cc. It's a lot, but turn-arounds are common if dehydration is part of the problem and there is ok kidney function. Feed the water in many divided doses over the hours of the day. Pedialyte would be good to use in this situation.

After feeding water, minimize handling, as igs will let water expell out of their mouths if their stomach is squeezed during picking-up too soon after a big dose of water.

All the best,

Roger