Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I lost my precious little Tazzie last night and I am devastated and in shock. I took him to the vet yesterday at 4:30 p.m. because he was a little constipated and by 9:00 p.m. he was gone. He wasn't sick or anything. I just took him to the vet so I could get it taken care of while it was just a "minor" problem. I don't know what could have happened. The vet gave him an enema. He said a lot of fecal matter came out and it looked completely normal. He said that the urates were very hard and dry and there was some water in his cloaca from the soaks I had been doing, but that it just didn't absorb far enough in to loosen things up. He also gave him a stool softener called DSS because he thought there might still be some fecal matter left.

I handed a happy, healthy, 4 year old beardie to the vet and he took him in back to do the enema. When he brought him back, he was limp, completely non-responsive, with a very black beard and closed eyes. I was very upset, but the vet told me that there was nothing wrong with him. He said that Tazzie was just "really pissed off" and was having a "stress reaction". I kept insisting that there was something seriously wrong with my baby, but he just dismissed my concerns as over-reacting and said he'd be fine by dinner time. I took him home, but he got worse. He started having convulsions, his eyes rolled back into his head and got really sunken in, his tongue got stuck outside his mouth and it was light gray and ice cold. I called his vet but he had left for the day and the only vet still there didn't see reptiles. They referred me to a few emergency animal clinics and I called until I found one that could see him. I rushed him to the clinic and on the way there, he was gasping for air and his body was stiffening up into horrible contortions. At the clinic, they put him on oxygen, gave him subcutaneous fluids and kept him warm while trying to figure out what was wrong, but within 1 1/2 to 2 hours, he was gone.

It cost me more than $800 to try and save him, so I don't know if I can afford the necropsy (the vet at the clinic is supposed to call me about it shortly), but does anyone have any idea what might have happened to my baby?? The pain and guilt is so overwhelming. I knew something was wrong. I knew it wasn't a "stress reaction". Maybe if I would have fought harder and refused to leave the office with him in that condition, they could have helped him before it was too late. Please... does anyone have any ideas what might have happened???

Thanks so much,
Lisa

I am so sorry for your loss. What a horrible experience for you and Tazzie. Just a thought, but maybe the vet had an accident w/him when he had him in back and didn't want to take responsiblity for his boo-boo. Not accusing the vet of anything, just thinking.

Sorry I can't help, but maybe someone else can come up w/better conclusions.

You have my sympathies.

sorry to hear about tazzie, could it have been an alergic reaction? or perhaps just the stress itself? giving an aenima isnt exactly stress free, the stress itself may have been hard on the poor fellow, the procedure the handling the meds, i wish i could help more. You definatly did right in taking your friend to the vet, dont blame yourself, certianly it was out of your hands....

i am sooooo so sorry! in my opinion I would blame the vet. not saying you should but that would be my first thing to think. he should of known he was ill if he looked like that,not just 'pissed' or 'stressed'. if he was a good vet he should of known and either sent you to another vet that could take care of that illness or looked over taz hisself!! i am sooo sorry!! hope you feel better soon!!

brittany

If there is ANY way possible for you to have the necropsy done, I would certainly try. NOT by the vet that did the enema
I'm wondering if that vet may have punctured something while giving the enema...If it is found that he was negligent in any way, it doesn't help with the loss, but he surely wouldn't charge you for what he did.
This is really so very sad..
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TheClassyLizard

We are really very sorry to hear this.

Really pissed off" and having a "stress reaction" would result in a black beard but NOT limp.

Again so sorry for youur loss!
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Tom and Jackie Vandiver

Bearded Dragons and More!

but not at yourself. you did the right thing bringing him to the vet. Sounds to me like the vet [bleep]ed up. I would get a necropsy done by another vet and if it is found that the first vet was negligent I would take him to small claims court if he isn't willing to refund your money plus all the other money you spent on him, plus a reasonable amount for a dragon of the same size and sex.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

Sorry for your loss, does your vet specialize in exotics or reptiles? If not you might try to find one that does more work with reptiles. Keep us posted on updates about what the 2nd opinion vet says. You did everything you could, don't blaim yourself. Again very sorry for your loss.

Oh Lisa, I know the pain you experienced. I'm so very sorry.

About a year ago I lost my one year old dragon, Egor, to MBD. He was fine one morning but by the time I got home from work he was pale, weak and started having seizures. From what you are saying, it sounds like your beardie had a seizure. I don't know all of the things that can cause seizures, but severe MBD can certainly cause it. I'll look into what can cause seizures. I have a very good vet friend that often helps me out.

Don't blame yourself. I went through all of that too and in the long run you realize that you were really hard on yourself. This is not your fault at all! You did the best you could! Just try to remember all of the good times and know that Tazzie isn't in any pain and isn't suffering. Sometimes there's a reason why our beloved animals have to leave us. Bearded Dragons are notorious for falling ill very quickly without many signs until it's too late. That's what happened with my Egor. The first sign of his MBD disease was a week or so before he passed away. He had muscle spasms and twitching in his legs and back. I had no idea what it was.

Maybe a necropsy could help ease your mind. I know it's costly, but if there's any way ... Just my two cents worth.

Your in my thoughts and prayers!
Please feel free to e-mail me for support or advice. I've been through it all...
Your friend,
Veronica

P.S. photo below is Egor (Aug. 2001 - August 27, 2002)
Beautiful Dragons

It's definitely sounds like you did ALL you could have done for Tazzie. It is very hard to find good vets that really know about reptiles. I am so sorry for what you are going through. I think, after hearing what happen to you, I will insist on being present for any procedure that needs to be done to my beardies. Thank you for sharing...I know it's hard.

you both went through this.

Anything we could guess, would be just that, a guess. If there is anyway you can afford a basic necropsy or if you are in a town with a fair size to major univeristy or college, call their biology department and see if someone there would be interested in doing one.

I don't think they will have to look farther than the lower bowels to find the problem.

This is something that needs answered, for yourself and for other animals safety in the future. "IF" this vet perforated the bowels, he should be held responsible at a minimum for your cost to try and save your dragon and refunded the cost of your treatment with them.

Nothing can ever replace your pet, I am so sorry this happened to you and him.

Don't put blame on the vet first off. But, follow a few steps. In vet school we learned (not ethicly by any means) to cover your butt. I know it sounds harsh. Get a necropsy. But have it done by another Herp vet that is reputible and that has NOT been involved. If you are going to get one done keep him on ice so he is still in good shape. Ask the Vet doing the necropsy if he will do a full necropsy so he just doesn't say "Oh he was impacted." IF he doesn't know the symptoms of how he died then he will look at all areas. If you tell him the history ask him to see if there were any other factors. You may even ask the front desk if the Vet doing the necropsy refers people to the other or if they are connected in any way. They kinda cover for one another. Ask to speak to the vet who attended him and have him describe what happened in detail when you weren't with him.

Please don't get me wrong there are great vets that have hearts but, if you happened to find a bad one you have to cover your bases even BEFORE you start looking into this.

I am really sorry to hear about your little one. Good luck.