Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female jax has been sick and despite trips to the vet and injected meds she has really gotten worse...stopped drinking/eating and now she sleeps on the ground and falls out of her trees and rolls around on the ground with her limbs waving around.she cant even walk straight so i decided its time to end it all...i heard putting them in the freezer works but i dont know how long it would take...any other suggestions..im not gonna bring her to the vet to do it i am already in debt with them for her visits and medication

First, do not put her in the freezer. If you are avoiding your vet, then find another one. I'd like to think you want to put her to sleep humanely. Our vet charges a modest fee of $15 bucks to give a lethal injection. If you have them dispose the body then its a little more. If you want to save money, then dispose her yourself. But don't resort to the freezer to save a little money.

Vince.

Oh dear...this might open a can of worms. I'm sorry to say that it's a sad misconception that putting them in the freezer is a humane way of euthanasia. There was some discussion on this somewhere, but I do not remember which list or if was on this forum.

The absolute only way that I would ever euthanize is by taking them to the vet and having them do it by injection. It's not expensive, and it is the most humane way.

Kristen
-----
1.2 pygmy leaf (r. brev)
1.1 carpet chameleon (f. lateralis)
0.0.3 red eared sliders

I agree that your chameleon deserves a humane end, so a final Vet visit should be done.
I just REALLY hope that others seeing your post will remember the HUMAN side of this story. That Dr. Octagon here is a caring, human being who TRULY wants what is best for his pets. I hope that others don't rush to judgement and begin bashing for suggesting putting her in the freezer. I hope that others show some compassion in what I'm sure is a stressful time for Dr. Octagon and his chameleon.
I'm sorry for your loss, and my hearts goes out to you and your pet.
-----
Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

thanks for your compassion...i in no way want people to think i am some kind of monster this is just somthing i read in a book. I tried very hard and invested alot of money in trying to nurse her back to life but it really is no use anymore

I sometimes freeze some of my dying luna moths and others leps that I breed as a hobby, but freezing is not painless b/c once the ice crystals form in tissue it is painful - I don't like even doing it to them. I too, would recommend a vet and if you need to see another than so be it. You have spent so much on trying to make her healthy a bit more to get her out of her misery hopefully won't stop you.

I know it is an extremely difficult decision for us to make about our beloved companions and my heart truly goes out to you - and her. We know you did your best. You may also consider a necropsy to determine just what was wrong with her - just a thought, but I know it is an additional expense.

lele
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I sincerely believe you when you say you tried everything to nurse her back to health, but now that it has come to the final decision of euthanasia, please continue to do right by this animal and put her to sleep humanely. Quickly, too, if she is suffering.

I do not think anyone has questioned that you have not done enough for her, but we all, so far, agree that freezing is not a humane form of euthanasia. So, get her to a vet ASAP so it can be done the right way.

I, too, have read about freezing as a form of euthanasia, but later I read more and more things that have contradicted what I previously read about it being humane. I believe that the more that was learned about what goes on when freezing a chameleon, the more people have seen that it is, in fact, not humane.

I'm very sorry about your girl.

Take care
Kristen
-----
1.2 pygmy leaf (r. brev)
1.1 carpet chameleon (f. lateralis)
0.0.3 red eared sliders

i think that would be one of the hardests things to do to not just a chameleon but to any animal that is a companion, at least she will not be in anymore pain.

I sincerely apologize to you if you took my post, in any way, to be an attack on you. It was not my intention, and I just wanted to stress to you that freezing is not the answer. A long time ago, I read the same thing. And I'll be honest to say that I've done it before, but I'll never do it again. We've come a long way since what we've read about freezing, and 15-20 dollars is a small price to pay to have our beloved pets put to rest. I am sorry to hear about your loss. Just remember that you gave her a good life while she was in your care, and did what you could to save her. Take Care.

Vince

Most people have gone through this type of situation with the animals they care about. And for those that have not, In my opinion, its not a very good feeling. I always remind myself that eventually, I will lose an animal and ti give each animal the attention they deserve. It makes it somewhat easier to deal with this type of situation knowing, or at least thinking, that the animal was happy and content while it was in your care.

Vince

www.research.psu.edu/arp/euthanasia.shtml

www.anapsid.org/decap.html

-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta